In the past week I've seen two news stories about bicycle riders who were killed when they fell into traffic after slamming into a car door opened by a motorist in a parked car.
On Monday, Clinton Miceli, 22, was killed as he was riding his bicycle in the bike lane on La Salle in Chicago, hit an open SUV door, fell into traffic, and was struck by a car. Miceli was an art director at Plan B ad agency.
On Thursday, Stanley Wang, 67, was killed as he rode his bicycle on Main Street in Moorestown, New Jersey. The driver of a parked pickup truck opened his door, Wang slammed into it, fell into traffic, and was struck by a passing car. Wang was former general counsel of Comcast.
While its usually a violation to open a car door into traffic, that doesn't prevent people from doing so.
At his website, “How Not to Get Hit by Cars,” Michael Bluejay gives this suggestion on how to avoid getting “doored:”
“Ride to the left: Ride far enough to the left that you won't run into any door that's opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can't pass you easily, but you're MUCH more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can clearly see you.”
How far left do you have to ride? I'd say at least 4 feet. Just because short-sighted municipal street planners have placed a bike lane in the door zone, doesn't mean you have to use it if it's unsafe.
You can read more about getting “doored” at the Door Zone Project.
Also see Chicago's bicycling tips website, although the city has been criticized for putting bike lanes next to parked cars. Note that in the diagram above, they recommend riding in the left side of the bike lane, above.
Jennifer at General Carlessness lives in Chicago and is familiar with the Miceli dooring.
By the way, the “How Not to be Hit by Cars” website has 9 other bike safety suggestions to avoid getting struck by a car.
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