rlmalisz

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/car-door...140000845.html

JW Fas

I don't think this technology is a bad thing, but it's a lot of R&D money for something that only requires a low-tech solution. Plus, this warning system doesn't physically prevent the door from being opened. I think the most effective solution from a practicality and cost standpoint is for cyclists to ride outside the door zone, and in tandem the legal system should provide them a lot of leeway for doing so.

Rick

I couldn't agree with you more. There has been much pandering on this subject recently. I prefer the chance of being ticketed and having to discuss the point with the police or some judge in court in lou of being carried by six.

Iride01 

Considering that the current and existing vehicles on the road won't be banned from the road, it's not going to keep dooring from happening or significantly reduce it's numbers anytime soon even if it was required on all new cars tomorrow.

This sort of thing was actually talked about quite a few years ago. I think it was here on BF along with other things that could be done to add technology to cars that will impact cycling safety in a good way. But still, the actual impact of them will be like trying to eek out the difference between DuraAce and Ultegra. Only that one person that would have been doored otherwise if it hadn't been for the sensor, or that one person that needed the marginal gain to get over the line first with the DuraAce will benefit.

alcjphil

My car, 2016 VW Golf already has the needed sensors. All that would be necessary would be to update the car's software. When I back out of a parking space in a parking lot, the car warns me if there is a car or pedestrian passing by.

Troul 

given the times, it needs to start at some point...
so just roll out the tech & the law changes all at once. double down.

rlmalisz

Agree this won't solve the problem, but it may increase driver awareness some. I'd be surprised if such a system didn't warn a potential door-opener if a car was approaching as well...seems like they'd have to really jump through tech hoops to limit the sensing to just cyclists. When driving, I constantly have brain-dead motorists blithely open their door to get out with barely enough room/time to avoid hitting them and/or their door. I'd be fine if just got them to check the mirror.

Interesting that the article is about this going into effect in Australia...and the stock photo used shows left-hand driver placement. Ah, well.

Troul 

i would even add a haptic feedback to the inside door lever that will inherently draw the attention to look towards that direction which happens to be in a view of the side mirror too...

epnnf

wouldnt it discourage car drivers from looking for a cyclist? The same logic as bike helmets discourage safe riding? idk

zandoval 

I once quietly and politely held my breath at a conference as my wife squashed my elbow to prevent me from mouthing off.

I was listening to someone complain about the cost of the damage to their inner car door after some fool bicyclist slammed into them...



You Idiot!

FBinNY 

I was doored for the first and last time in 1966. Since then, I've managed to avoid the hazard despite 10s of thousands of miles in NYC (before bike lanes) and the burbs.

Avoiding the door zone is often impossible in NYC, so I use a variety of tactics. Keep LEFT on all one way streets. Watching ahead and noting any cars parking. Checking, when possible for occupied cars, especially cabs.

Technology is welcome, but I won't be relying on it. It can also be counter-productive as drivers come to rely on it, and reduce their attentiveness.

Also keep in mind that it takes over 10 years for 80% of the b fleet to turn over, and much longer for the rest.

Fredo76

I hope the tech makes it over here, too.

But, there should be an exception for big pickup trucks, as long as the rider can pass safely under the door...

base2 

Finland cut traffic deaths to zero a few years ago. All they did was slow down the cars and seperate traffic out by mode.

Just throwin' it out there.

zandoval 

Finland... Ain't that just north of Texarkana?

Rick

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It took once for me to figure it out also. I just don't ride in the door zone. there is no penalty for opening a car door into traffic. There are laws but they are not enforced. The chances that even with the new tech that people will pay attention are slim to none. I will just keep not riding in the door zone.

Frkl

I had to redo my driver's license when i moved to Germany from the US; technically just take the tests, but i paid for a bit of behind the wheel training since it is different enough here that I would probably have failed without it.

And from the first lesson, you are trained to look behind you when turning right at an intersection, and when opening your door. And if you don't do it in your test, like really make a point of doing it, you fail. I was specifically told this by my instructor.

​​​Proper training is the key, not technology. Technology leads to operator dependency. For instance , I really like my parking sensor for backing up, but I bet I am not as good at parallel parking anymore if it were to die. And then there was the time one of my kids turned it off by accident. I realized it just in time.

FBinNY 

This. There are countless examples. All too often it becomes zero sum as the technical improvement is offset by operator complacency and skill loss. Sometimes, the net result is negative.

Mtracer

Unless the system prevents the door from being opened, I see it as close to useless. Drivers, turn off their engines and immediately open a door. All in a few seconds, if not faster, or if not my wife who seems to have to fumble around for multiple things in her purse for several minutes. I don't think a warning light or alarm will help. Mostly because it will happen so rarely for most drivers, they wouldn't even know what it's for when it does happen.

Obviously, keeping the door from being opened, has its own risks, so is not likely to be implemented.

I think this is one of those things where the infrastructure and road laws need to be designed to NOT put cyclist in these inherently dangerous positions.

FBinNY 

Not arguing about whether drivers will actually respond to the warnings. However I believe (believe, not know) that these systems remain alive for a few minutes after the engine is turned off. So, the sequence as drivers park and exit won't matter.

OTOH- cars already have a number of alarms, and experience shows that drivers are more than able to tune them out. So, this may be of some limited use for a conscientious driver, but will have minimal effect on the vast majority that simply don't give a hoot.

Mtracer

Yeah, my point wasn't that the alarms would shut off after turning off the engine. It was that people, quickly shut off the engine and exit the vehicle without much thought. Very much an automatic thing. Maybe if the alarm were like an air horn that was really loud it would help. Just because it would make the driver stop just to figure out why their car was making so much noise. By then the cyclists passes and the driver is probably left wondering what the hell just happened.

13ollocks

"I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six"
There is something called the "Dutch Maneuver" or "Dutch Reach" (don't know if it originated in The Netherlands, but it's the sort of sensible approach that those hell-bound socialists would adopt) - basically it involves training people to open their door with their "off" hand - so in the US, opening the door with the right hand. This forces one to rotate in their seat, making it easier to look behind before pushing open the door.
Can't imagine US drivers twisting in their seats, though - sounds too much like exercise. I won't be depending on pinging alerts or Dutch Reaches - I'll just assume that any door could open into me, and give cars distance.