661-Pete wrote:The simple fact of the matter is this: it must be the responsibility of the car occupant - be it driver or passenger - to check before opening a door. And there should be severe penalties for offenders. As for children - well I think it should be an offence to allow a child to be in a vehicle - even when stationary - without the childproof locks activated. Teaching cyclists to 'avoid the door zone' is effectively a workaround for someone else's problem.
+1
Having said that, yes I do avoid the door zone - like the majority of cyclists - if I can't see into the vehicle to be certain it's unoccupied.
FWIW,I always avoid the door zone whether cars are occupied or not,and I've been honked at for doing so,but it won't change my riding.The door zone is the door zone,and I ride clear of it,I'm of the opinion that if every cyclist did then motorists would get used to it,and accept it.
As to technical solutions to the problem - or at least to reduce the risk - how about this for an idea which just occurred to me? When someone tries to open a car door from the inside, it won't open at first, instead the hazards start flashing. Only after they've been flashing for five seconds, will the door open. That way the cyclist gets some warning - and so does the motorist. Modern cars have so much electronics packed in them, I'm sure this could be contrived for future designs...
Which in itself sounds like a good idea but many's the time both whilst driving an cycling I think the vehicle with the hazard lights flashing is indicating to move off because it's nearside indicator is obscured by the vehicle parked behind it,which gives a false impression.
We have a situation in many towns and cities where the cycle lane design is a potential death trap for cyclists,that is
the problem in all this and as myself and others have stated,it's a scandal,because the most vulernable are being put in danger for the sake of those safely belted up in motors who'll never been in danger at those speeds,and where their journey times will be hastened by a matter seconds due to other's lives and limbs being put at risk.
It's simply another form of 'might is right'
The bottom line is that motorists journey times are more important than vulnerable road users lives.
FWIW,the cyclist in the video will have a bent bike and some scrapes and bruises,and he'll get over it,but I bet he doesn't ride the done zone again.
However OTOH,one of the vets group I ride with had his life ruined due to the very same thing,he was a high mileage cyclist even in his late sixties riding upward of 150miles three or four times a week.He hit the opening door edge on with his left knee.
After numerous operations still only has very limited movement in it,and can no longer ride,or a whole lot of other things too,including driving a manual car.
To make matters worse the driver claimed it was his fault for riding too close to her car,there was a protracted legal battle which he won.But in his own words his life was ruined in an instant,and he's very bitter about the whole thing.
I certainly wouldn't have the courage to tell him shouldn't have been riding in the door zone.
Over the years I've on numerous occasions had car doors flung open in front of me when riding,and if I'd been in the door zone would've either been bought down or possibly,as a natural response,swerved to avoid the door only to be possibly hit by an overtaking car,which all to frequently overtake too close anyway.