"Dooring" Accident Risks For Bicyclists

City streets are often crowded with many different forms of traffic occupying the same space. On a single street you may see cars, buses, scooters, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians all negotiating traffic to get to their destinations. In these types of road situations, it is important for all road users to be vigilant of everyone nearby to avoid an accident. Bicyclists must be especially careful around parked cars to avoid a serious "dooring" accident.

Road Risks for Bicyclists

One of the greatest road threats to bicyclists is the risk of not being seen by another road user, particularly a driver. Bicyclists often ride in the bike lane or on the side of the road where they may not be as obvious as other traffic on the street. One common cause of a bicycle collision in urban areas is "dooring". "Dooring" accidents occur when a driver who is parallel parked on the side of a busy street opens his or her car door street-side in front of an oncoming cyclist. The cyclist may then hit the door and be severely injured or may swerve to avoid the door and risk getting hit by another vehicle.

Precautions to Take as a Motorist or Bicyclist

There are precautions that both motorists and bicyclists can take to avoid a "dooring" accidents on the road. Safety tips for motorists include:

Always look for bicyclists before opening a street-side car door.
Do not rely solely on your mirrors to check for oncoming traffic; instead, do a quick head check by turning your head slightly to make sure that the way is clear before opening a door.
When returning to your car, wait for oncoming bicyclists to pass before you open your door to get back in your car. Even though a cyclist may see you, he or she may not be able to merge with other traffic to avoid you if you block the bike lane or rightmost lane.

Bicyclists should exercise the following precautions to avoid accidents with car doors:

Maintain at least a three foot distance from parked cars on the side of the road.
Look ahead for drivers who have recently parked, are sitting in their cars, or are returning to their cars on the side of the street and carefully change lanes or slow down.
Signal your approach by politely calling out to a parked motorist up ahead or using a bell.

These simple safety tips can help both bicyclists and motorists avoid "dooring" collisions that could cause serious injury and damage.

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