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If you get doored, who's at fault?

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If you get doored, who's at fault?

Old 06-29-20, 03:41 PM
  #76  
Chistophe516
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Originally Posted by mtb_addict
bicyclist or driver?
The onus is on the driver. While the cyclist should ride as far away from the door zone, as possible. When the driver and/or their passenger(s) open a car door. They need to look for any traffic. So, That would include, looking for cyclists.
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Old 06-29-20, 09:32 PM
  #77  
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Originally Posted by JoeyBike
If you make the decision to venture out into auto traffic on a bicycle the name of the game is "Do what it takes to make it home alive". It really is all on YOU. "Fault" is irrelevant to a dead cyclist.
So, The motorist doesn't bear ANY RESPONSIBILITY. That is EGREGIOUSLY WRONG. Cyclists are not the only 'entity'. That they have to look out for. When opening a vehicle door.
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Old 06-30-20, 07:00 AM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by Chistophe516
So, The motorist doesn't bear ANY RESPONSIBILITY. That is EGREGIOUSLY WRONG. Cyclists are not the only 'entity'. That they have to look out for. When opening a vehicle door.
Quite a bit of creative reading on your part. He never suggested such. Like so many others, he noted that the cyclist
has absolute control over whether or not they get doored.

Last edited by Paul Barnard; 06-30-20 at 08:01 AM.
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Old 06-30-20, 07:46 AM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
In pure contributory negligence jurisdictions, if the injured is in any way responsible for their injuries (typically 1%), you get NOTHING. (That's Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. DC too, except if you are on a bicycle or on foot.)
^This, exactly. I ride mostly in Virginia, Maryland and the District. Also in North Carolina. The bicyclist is responsible for his own safety. Do not ride in the door zone. If you must, then slow down, ride defensively, check parked cars that you approach for signs of a driver sitting or moving, have your hands poised on the brakes, and get the heck out of there as you're able.
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Old 06-30-20, 01:54 PM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
^This, exactly. I ride mostly in Virginia, Maryland and the District. Also in North Carolina. The bicyclist is responsible for his own safety. Do not ride in the door zone. If you must, then slow down, ride defensively, check parked cars that you approach for signs of a driver sitting or moving, have your hands poised on the brakes, and get the heck out of there as you're able.
With many parked or stopped vehicles it's nearly impossible to see if anyone is in the driver's seat. That can be the case if the driver is short and is hidden by the headrest or if the rear window and rear passenger compartment windows are heavily tinted or if the vehicle is a truck or a van. That's why I tell people DON'T RIDE IN THE DOOR ZONE!

Cheers
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Old 06-30-20, 03:25 PM
  #81  
Chistophe516
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Quite a bit of creative reading on your part. He never suggested such. Like so many others, he noted that the cyclist
has absolute control over whether or not they get doored.
Creative, no. Realistic, yes.

While a cyclist shouldn't ride in the 'door zone'. The cyclist doesn't control, when a door will open. Even so, when a motorist opens their door on the traffic-side. Not only should they look for motorized traffic. They should also look for pedestrians, and cyclists. So, The responsibility is on the motorist.
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Old 06-30-20, 08:26 PM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by Chistophe516
Creative, no. Realistic, yes.

While a cyclist shouldn't ride in the 'door zone'. The cyclist doesn't control, when a door will open. Even so, when a motorist opens their door on the traffic-side. Not only should they look for motorized traffic. They should also look for pedestrians, and cyclists. So, The responsibility is on the motorist.
BUT... If a motorist does open their traffic side door and it hits a bicyclist then that bicyclist is most likely going down into the traffic lane or is knocked into t he traffic lane. If the bicyclists sees the door opening their first instinct is to swerve into the traffic lane to avoid the door. Any of those can lead to a severely injured or dead bicyclists. Best to stay out of the door zone rather than depend on a distracted or uncaring driver not seeing you.

Cheers
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Old 07-01-20, 07:15 AM
  #83  
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Best to stay out of the lane rather than depend on a distracted or uncaring driver seeing you.

Skål!

-mr. bill
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Old 07-01-20, 11:43 AM
  #84  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
Best to stay out of the lane rather than depend on a distracted or uncaring driver seeing you.

Skål!

-mr. bill
You've got a far greater chance of being doored in a door zone than you have of being hit whilst riding in a lane of traffic.

Cheers
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Old 07-01-20, 01:43 PM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by Miele Man
You've got a far greater chance of being doored in a door zone than you have of being hit whilst riding in a lane of traffic.

Cheers
That simply is STILL not true. Further, you'll want to look at killed, or killed and seriously injured as well.

Good luck with your "research."

Skål!

-mr. bill
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Old 07-01-20, 05:27 PM
  #86  
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Originally Posted by Miele Man
You've got a far greater chance of being doored in a door zone than you have of being hit whilst riding in a lane of traffic.

Cheers
Originally Posted by mr_bill
That simply is STILL not true. Further, you'll want to look at killed, or killed and seriously injured as well.

Good luck with your "research."

Skål!

-mr. bill

​​​​​​This is going to turn into one of those '90s movies where you'll be having a great time talking to each other when you sit next to each other on a plane, then after a three day bar crawl together you suddenly realize who it is you're hanging out with.
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Old 07-01-20, 06:47 PM
  #87  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
​​​​​​This is going to turn into one of those '90s movies where you'll be having a great time talking to each other when you sit next to each other on a plane, then after a three day bar crawl together you suddenly realize who it is you're hanging out with.
No it won't since I'm done with it. Ride in the door zone at your peril. It might be a driver's fault for opening a door that hits you and knocks you under the wheels of the truck beside you but it's still you that's seriously inured or dead.

Cheers
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Old 07-01-20, 06:59 PM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by Miele Man
Ride in the door zone at your peril. It might be a driver's fault for opening a door that hits you and knocks you under the wheels of the truck beside you but it's still you that's seriously inured or dead.

Cheers
Ride in the road at your peril. It might be a driver’s fault for running you over but it’s still you that’s seriously injured or dead.

Skål!

p.s. So many heathens, so few messiahs. Fourteen feet.

-mr. bill

Last edited by mr_bill; 07-01-20 at 07:04 PM.
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Old 07-01-20, 07:06 PM
  #89  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
Ride in the road at your peril. It might be a driver’s fault for running you over but it’s still you that’s seriously injured or dead.

Skål!

p.s. So many heathens, so few messiahs. Fourteen feet.

-mr. bill

What's your take on riding in the glove compartment zone?
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Old 07-01-20, 07:25 PM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
What's your take on riding in the glove compartment zone?
If you are riding in the glove compartment zone you are doing it wrong.

Frankly, whatever you are doing in the glove compartment zone you are doing it wrong.

(Unless you are storing or retrieving gloves.... Does anyone really store gloves?)

-mr. bill
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Old 07-02-20, 05:47 AM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
If you are riding in the glove compartment zone you are doing it wrong.

Frankly, whatever you are doing in the glove compartment zone you are doing it wrong.

(Unless you are storing or retrieving gloves.... Does anyone really store gloves?)

-mr. bill

Everybody knows that the real action is in the cup holder zone.
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Old 07-13-20, 06:20 PM
  #92  
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Per Colorado Drivers manual p.31

Cause of Collision: Motorist opening a vehicle door without looking behind for a passing bicyclist.

How to prevent: Always check behind you before opening a door into the roadway.

I'm pretty sure I would look in the mirror on the door also.
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Old 07-14-20, 06:48 PM
  #93  
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Originally Posted by mr_bill
Ride in the road at your peril. It might be a driver’s fault for running you over but it’s still you that’s seriously injured or dead.
-mr. bill
This response goes back to my question I posted in this thread "If you ride on the road and get struck, whose fault is it, bicyclist or driver?"
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Old 07-15-20, 01:32 AM
  #94  
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and i think it is only beginning
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Old 07-20-20, 08:07 PM
  #95  
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In general:

Legally: The driver/passenger
Morally: Whoever decided to put a bike lane adjacent to door zone (if this was the situation)
Practically: The cyclist
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Old 07-21-20, 12:58 PM
  #96  
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
In general:

Legally: The driver/passenger
Morally: Whoever decided to put a bike lane adjacent to door zone (if this was the situation)
Practically: The cyclist
Legally: The driver
Morally: Whoever decided that bikes may use full lane
Practically: The cyclist

Hope this helps.

-mr. bill
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Old 07-21-20, 03:29 PM
  #97  
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Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
Quite a bit of creative reading on your part. He never suggested such. Like so many others, he noted that the cyclist
has absolute control over whether or not they get doored.
This conversation is ridiculous. Why are so many bike riders in here so eager to blame bike riders for the irresponsible behavior of other people? If someone puts an object into the roadway directly in front of you, it is completely their fault.

Yes, bike riders should be aware of the risk and try to take proactive precautions, but all this "stay out of the door zone," stuff is wildly oversimplified. In many places, staying out of the the door zone means you will never be able to get anywhere by bike.
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Old 07-21-20, 05:15 PM
  #98  
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Originally Posted by Chistophe516
So, The motorist doesn't bear ANY RESPONSIBILITY. That is EGREGIOUSLY WRONG. Cyclists are not the only 'entity'. That they have to look out for. When opening a vehicle door.
??? No one said motorists don't bear any responsibility.

Originally Posted by Chistophe516
Creative, no. Realistic, yes.

While a cyclist shouldn't ride in the 'door zone'. The cyclist doesn't control, when a door will open. Even so, when a motorist opens their door on the traffic-side. Not only should they look for motorized traffic. They should also look for pedestrians, and cyclists. So, The responsibility is on the motorist.
WHO is SAYING they shouldn't do this?

Last edited by njkayaker; 07-21-20 at 05:19 PM.
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Old 07-22-20, 05:22 AM
  #99  
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A&S is fault-obsessed. I'm a lot more concerned with avoiding the crash than I am figuring out who would be at fault for the hypothetical crash I haven't had.

mr_bill has it right. Riding on the road involves constant balancing of risks, when city riding, you always have to figure out where in the road you are safest, and each position has its own risks. The only way to be risk-free is not to ride, but then you run the risks associated with whatever else you do instead.

Only the dead run no risks.
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Old 07-22-20, 01:38 PM
  #100  
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Here is how to avoid getting doored in heavy traffic. This applies to moving cars, but it also applies to parked cars.

Beware of your surroundings, but also watch the head of the motorist that is next or a length ahead of you on your right. Invariably, right before opening their door into you their head position will change.

Typically they will look left seconds prior to opening their door into you. Follow the head, if you see them turning left than chances are good they are going to open their door into you.

So, always keep their head in your peripheral vision. If it turns left you need to be on your brakes prior to them opening the door. Also, stay aware of what is on your left, so that if you need an out and were not on the brakes you can escape. The problem in heavy traffic is you will often have a car a couple of inches away from you on your left, so you can't take evasive action. If you are on your brakes as soon as you see the head turn you should be OK.

Assume that anyone in a parked car is going to open their door.
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