The Dutch Reach: How Drivers Can Fight "getting Doored"
10-13-18, 08:51 AM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
The Dutch Reach: How Drivers Can Fight "getting Doored"
The NY Times here has an article about the phenomenon of "getting doored" - and how drivers can use a simple technique started in Holland to combat it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/s...y-drivers.html
The idea is, instead of opening the driver's side door with the left hand, relying on the rear view mirror, the driver opens the door with the right hand, and making eye contact with the road before opening the door.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/s...y-drivers.html
The idea is, instead of opening the driver's side door with the left hand, relying on the rear view mirror, the driver opens the door with the right hand, and making eye contact with the road before opening the door.
Last edited by parkbrav; 10-13-18 at 08:56 AM.
10-16-18, 03:53 PM
#2
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
In Georgia it's still illegal to exit your motor vehicle on the traffic side of the vehicle.
You have to climb over the console and exit to the curb.
I have a friend in New York who opened his door and a passing car ripped it right off. They said it was his fault. He was given a ticket for not exiting his car properly or opening the door into traffic or some such thing.
-Tim-
You have to climb over the console and exit to the curb.
I have a friend in New York who opened his door and a passing car ripped it right off. They said it was his fault. He was given a ticket for not exiting his car properly or opening the door into traffic or some such thing.
-Tim-
10-17-18, 11:47 AM
#3
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,972
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
10-17-18, 05:22 PM
#4
Senior Member
The only way to make people do the Dutch-Reach without them requiring to think about it is for auto manufacturers to design the car handle to make it impossible to open the door with the closest hand.
All they need to do is move the door handle backwards until it's almost right beside the backrest. The only way to open the door would be to reach for it with the hand that's farthest from the door.
All they need to do is move the door handle backwards until it's almost right beside the backrest. The only way to open the door would be to reach for it with the hand that's farthest from the door.
10-19-18, 01:55 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
too bad there's nothing here for a cyclist to do. but it's nice to know there are ways for drivers to protect themselves ... 
10-20-18, 11:31 AM
#6
Banned
Like Daniel 4 's Idea..
But, I doubt the car makers will ever go that way..
Given, Factory retooling is very , and deemed , too expensive.
no car makers in NL, any more..
....
All they need to do is move the door handle backwards until it's almost right beside the backrest.
The only way to open the door would be to reach for it with the hand that's farthest from the door.
The only way to open the door would be to reach for it with the hand that's farthest from the door.
Given, Factory retooling is very , and deemed , too expensive.
no car makers in NL, any more..
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-28-18 at 10:56 AM.
10-28-18, 07:16 AM
#7
Full Member
Thread Starter
Well, we can always get out the good word. Cyclists do lots to accommodate drivers, this might be an arrow in the quiver of cyclists to suggest something like driver's ed changes. what do people think?
11-02-18, 07:21 PM
#8
Full Member
Thread Starter
It's funny how you start to notice this stuff once you read about it. This morning, the driver of a pickup-truck ahead of me on a "main" street in a suburban zone, across the street from a well known coffee chain, got out of his truck using the "Dutch Reach." I was super impressed. Also, he didn't "door" me.
