The Dutch Reach: A No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists’ Lives
10-05-18, 05:07 PM
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The Dutch Reach: A No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists’ Lives
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/s...y-drivers.html
'If Michael Charney has his way, more Americans would adopt a simple method to prevent “doorings,” a type of collision when a driver or passenger in a parked car opens a door into the path of a cyclist.
He calls the maneuver the “Dutch Reach,” and it works like this: When you are about to exit the car, you reach across your body for the door handle with your far or opposite hand. This action forces you to turn toward the side view mirror, out and then back over your shoulder to be sure a bicyclist is not coming from behind. Only then do you slowly open the door. '
He calls the maneuver the “Dutch Reach,” and it works like this: When you are about to exit the car, you reach across your body for the door handle with your far or opposite hand. This action forces you to turn toward the side view mirror, out and then back over your shoulder to be sure a bicyclist is not coming from behind. Only then do you slowly open the door. '
10-06-18, 10:55 AM
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Great... now train the millions of "entitled" motorists how to do this.
I saw a PSA on this morning's News show about how to adjust car mirrors properly... gee if we can only get drivers to do that, and the Dutch Reach... and drive the speed limit...
I saw a PSA on this morning's News show about how to adjust car mirrors properly... gee if we can only get drivers to do that, and the Dutch Reach... and drive the speed limit...
10-07-18, 01:35 AM
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I guess I'll just save my own life by not riding within reach of any car door that may open.
Funny, it sounds so easy and yet I find myself going well out of my way just to stay off of roads with door-zone bike lanes because staying clear of the door zone, though legal, isn't something that the typical motorist understands. If we can't get them to understand why many of us won't ride in the door zone, how in the world can we get them to take effort to lessen the hazard? (Not that I really care how many of them don't open their door into passing cyclists; it only takes that one time.)
Funny, it sounds so easy and yet I find myself going well out of my way just to stay off of roads with door-zone bike lanes because staying clear of the door zone, though legal, isn't something that the typical motorist understands. If we can't get them to understand why many of us won't ride in the door zone, how in the world can we get them to take effort to lessen the hazard? (Not that I really care how many of them don't open their door into passing cyclists; it only takes that one time.)
10-07-18, 04:05 PM
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The Dutch Reach: A No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists’ Lives
Captain Bringdown here:
In fact, even cyclists can be dense about cycling when they are behind the wheel. :
'If Michael Charney has his way, more Americans would adopt a simple method to prevent “doorings,” a type of collision when a driver or passenger in a parked car opens a door into the path of a cyclist.
He calls the maneuver the “Dutch Reach,” and it works like this: When you are about to exit the car, you reach across your body for the door handle with your far or opposite hand.
This action forces you to turn toward the side view mirror, out and then back over your shoulder to be sure a bicyclist is not coming from behind. Only then do you slowly open the door.’
He calls the maneuver the “Dutch Reach,” and it works like this: When you are about to exit the car, you reach across your body for the door handle with your far or opposite hand.
This action forces you to turn toward the side view mirror, out and then back over your shoulder to be sure a bicyclist is not coming from behind. Only then do you slowly open the door.’
Great... now train the millions of "entitled" motorists how to do this.
I saw a PSA on this morning's News show about how to adjust car mirrors properly... gee if we can only get drivers to do that, and the Dutch Reach... and drive the speed limit... :innocent
I saw a PSA on this morning's News show about how to adjust car mirrors properly... gee if we can only get drivers to do that, and the Dutch Reach... and drive the speed limit... :innocent
Keep talking to people, that's the best way to educate them
…Personally, I find any discussions about cycling with motorists futile, especially those exchanged while en route, often with hostility.
When off the bike, e.g. at work they are usually pleasant, but vacuous, for example when I’m called a saint. When they complain, it’s often about cyclists riding two or more abreast, no lights, ninjas, etc…valid complaints IMO… .
When off the bike, e.g. at work they are usually pleasant, but vacuous, for example when I’m called a saint. When they complain, it’s often about cyclists riding two or more abreast, no lights, ninjas, etc…valid complaints IMO… .
”When YOU are the Motorist”
I am a very cautious motorist and I take driving safety very seriously. But, like everyone who has driven as long as I have, I've had some "close calls" where I thought I could have been better in retrospect…
I also had an incident once where I didn't see a road cyclist because he was obscured by my pillar. It made me realize what a small profile cyclists present, and now I always double check that pillar.
Have you had any incidents that you're not quite proud of?
I am a very cautious motorist and I take driving safety very seriously. But, like everyone who has driven as long as I have, I've had some "close calls" where I thought I could have been better in retrospect…
I also had an incident once where I didn't see a road cyclist because he was obscured by my pillar. It made me realize what a small profile cyclists present, and now I always double check that pillar.
Have you had any incidents that you're not quite proud of?
As a cyclist, I always look particularly hard for cyclists, making me a more cautious driver than usual, especially in Boston. I agree that viewing rearward on the right side is one of the most hazard-fraught manuevers.
My worst transgression(s) have been since a bike lane was positioned in front of our condo, outside the parking lane. At the beginning I was lax to look for oncoming cyclists, but no incidents...
My worst transgression(s) have been since a bike lane was positioned in front of our condo, outside the parking lane. At the beginning I was lax to look for oncoming cyclists, but no incidents...
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-07-18 at 04:34 PM.
10-07-18, 04:22 PM
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I perennially post:
Note that I look for opening doors on both sides.
…Over the past few months I have come to realize that my safety aphorisms, collected over the years by personal or vicarious experience,are my way of actively aligning the stars in my favor, to anticipate those unseen and otherwise unanticipated dangers.
FWIW, for my own information at least [to include…]:
FWIW, for my own information at least [to include…]:
- Like a weapon, assume every stopped car is loaded, with an occupant ready to exit from either side…
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-07-18 at 04:27 PM.
10-10-18, 03:59 PM
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I never heard of this before I read about on an English or American Internet forum. I also never use it in a car. We just get taught to look for bikes before opening a car door. I'm from the Nether Lands.
10-15-18, 07:18 PM
#10
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My idea to mistake proof this is a low tech one. Design car doors such that they can only be opened when two latches are pulled vice one. If you're in the front, you would first have to hold open a latch on the car's B-pillar and then pull the door latch. This would force you to twist your body around whether or not you like it. The same design would be applied to the rear seats and also double as a backup childproofing measure.
10-15-18, 11:25 PM
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My idea to mistake proof this is a low tech one. Design car doors such that they can only be opened when two latches are pulled vice one. If you're in the front, you would first have to hold open a latch on the car's B-pillar and then pull the door latch. This would force you to twist your body around whether or not you like it. The same design would be applied to the rear seats and also double as a backup childproofing measure.
You are expecting 98% of the population to learn something new, or buy a less convenient vehicle to "support" the mere 2% of the population that cycles.
Won't happen.
Learn to ride out of the door zone... even take the lane... don't depend on drivers to do the right thing... ever. You will live longer by riding defensively. Even other motorists are taught to drive defensively. Think about this... DRIVERS don't expect other DRIVERS to always do the right thing.
10-17-18, 06:37 PM
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WOW, I was taught to look, before I opened my door after parking on a street, to see if there was a car coming before I opened the door on a street With traffic.. and, No, it wasn't about bicycles, but it was about traffic... and about not getting your door ripped off by a passing vehicle...
10-19-18, 07:14 AM
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The so-called "Dutch Reach" is BS. It was invented by an American. There's nothing "Dutch" about it. And it doesn't do what he claims it does. I can easily reach my right hand over in my car to pull the door handle while still looking ahead. Or, if I do turn my head, I certainly can't see backwards alongside the car due to the B-pillar. That's what the side mirror is for. We don't need some superfluous maneuvers taught to us. We need it drilled into our skulls to simply LOOK before opening car doors.
10-19-18, 11:28 AM
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If people can remember to use their right hand, wouldn't also stand to reason that they could remember to use mirrors.
10-19-18, 06:20 PM
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10-19-18, 09:16 PM
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All that is needed is a simple redesign of the doors. Move the door handles backwards just in front of the backrest. It will make it impossible to open the door with the hand closest to the door but easy for the other hand.
No need for the occupants to try to remember.
No need for the occupants to try to remember.
10-19-18, 09:21 PM
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They already have a door that won't open when it senses a side hazard.
10-20-18, 05:34 AM
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10-20-18, 07:38 AM
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Okay, the guy who ordered the vehicle...
10-21-18, 08:36 AM
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My idea to mistake proof this is a low tech one. Design car doors such that they can only be opened when two latches are pulled vice one. If you're in the front, you would first have to hold open a latch on the car's B-pillar and then pull the door latch. This would force you to twist your body around whether or not you like it. The same design would be applied to the rear seats and also double as a backup childproofing measure.
10-22-18, 03:05 AM
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Still there's always a chance of someone not paying attention, but usually you can see if someone is in the car and there's nothing wrong with a pre-emptive use of the bell.
10-22-18, 08:37 AM
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10-22-18, 08:47 AM
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While I do agree wth you 100%, bear in mind that through the ages "bad engineering" has been mandated before, due to the proclivities of humans... the most common keyboard layout is an example of this... it was intentionally designed to slow down "fast fingers," to keep from jamming the poor type mechanism. The Touch Tone phone keypad suffers the same fate.
10-22-18, 12:22 PM
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To be fair, I don't remember those instructions either. I do remember my parents getting angry when opening the door without looking.
Still there's always a chance of someone not paying attention, but usually you can see if someone is in the car and there's nothing wrong with a pre-emptive use of the bell.
Still there's always a chance of someone not paying attention, but usually you can see if someone is in the car and there's nothing wrong with a pre-emptive use of the bell.
I didn’t ride in the door zone in Amsterdam (and there are a lot of so-called DZBL in Amsterdam). Virtually EVERYONE else I saw on a bicycle was not at all worried about car doors. But then again, I showed my incompetence by wearing a bicycle helmet too.
-mr. bill