Cyclists and Boarders Know! Cardoors are a Deathtraps! When you hear a "Click" get out of the way fast! Watch Out! Always look inside parked cars as you pass! Look for faces in the side mirrors! Assume every door you pass will suddenly be thrown open! Taxi cab passengers are the worst! Be extra careful around taxis! Take the Lane! Keep riding! Don't be afraid, be aware! We pay taxes and have the same rights to operate on the streets! Don't give up the fight! You car drivers out there Remember to check your mirrors! Then check again just before you open your door! Cyclists and Boarders can appear faster than you might think! Always assume a cyclists or boarder is about to pass your door! Lets work together! Share the streets! We can prevent these types of accidents! An injury to one is an injury to all!

Friday, January 28, 2005

Darren Rosebrugh, Newton, MA USA

I am one of those who would like to ride a bike instead of drive to work, but fear the inhospitable atmosphere that exists for cyclist (especially in the burbs). I just wanted to applaud Toronto's use of stickers on the rear passenger windows that warn Taxi passengers to look for cyclists before opening the door. I have yet to see this simple, but effective use of warning stickers on other cabs in other cities. Since others here have lamented the taxi as a number one culprit in dooring incidents I would encourage you to concentrate your efforts on getting stickers into the rear door windows of taxis around the world.

--Darren Rosebrugh


Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Matthew Pickett, Cambridge, MA

Cambridge gives away or at least did give away stickers for side mirrors that remind the driver to look before opening their car door. You put em right on the mirror where the usual "objects in this mirror" text goes. It is a nice idea. My brother-in law Charlie had his good friend Dana run over and killed by an MBTA bus a few years ago. She clipped an opening door of an SUV and lost control of her bike and was run over by the bus. There was no way for the bus to have stopped in time. She was a brilliant and charming woman who apparently had even gone kayaking in Alaska on her own. Many of her friends and family feared for her survival on that trip (one of many adventures apparently). I didn't really know her...these are just some of the stories I heard at her wake. I ride all the time and have been doored twice and almost doored numerous times. Be careful out there, cut your bars narrow, make sure your brakes are adjusted properly, wear a helmut and watch for drivers sitting in parked cars. That will give you a little advance warning they may open their door unexpectedly. Watch out for cabs the most though, passengers get out all the time without looking. Even if a cab appears to be waiting at a light the passenger may pay there and get out. It has happened to me twice recently. I stopped in time but it was close. Be careful out there.

--Matthew Pickett


Paul, Dunun Liberation Front. Oakland, California

Jerry,

I saw your stickers and I wanted to find out if I could get some of them, I love the graphic and the idea. I did see a woman get doored once in berkeley, she was older and I think broke her hand or arm. Its no bullshit, doors are the number one hazard out there, that's why I will take the lane, fuck it if people honk.

-- Paul



Monday, January 24, 2005

Rob Grey, New York City, NY

Picture this....

Riding my bike on East 57th Street at 5th Avenue in NYC. Right in front of Tiffany & Co., the van driver for the aforementioned company hurled his door open. One of those extra large size Econoline van style driver doors. Me of the fast reaction swerved instantly, avoiding a headon, but taking the edge of the door on my right thigh. I went down like a rock and being on a road bike that at the moment of impact was traveling at 20 mph, I slid about twenty feet on the pavement. Immediately to my left, traveling on a parallel route, was the Crosstown bus. Its wheels were about a foot from my head. The Van driver was very young, inexperienced, and apologetic. The police came and gave him a summons for "unsafely opening a door into traffic". Tiffany paid about $2500 to make me whole again. I spent about 5 years avoiding my bike.

--Rob Grey

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Barry Spencer, Berkeley, CA

The Dooring

I've cycled for 40 years, raced, never owned a car, rarely drive, yet have only been doored once. In 1994 or thereabouts I was heading North on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, having just crossed Ashby Avenue, when I ogled a woman walking on the sidewalk. A man opened his car door, I tried to swerve around it, but my ogling had cost me precious tenths of a second, and the door caught the end of my handlebar. I was pitched forward, and my foot got hooked onto the frame of my bicycle somehow, and while I flew through the air some torque was applied to my knee. This was painful, because I had dislocated that knee several times in the past, the latest time only about two years earlier, and the knee has some torn ligaments. Then I hit the asphalt. I couldn't get up and off the street because I was busy writhing in pain, but a police officer, along with the man who had doored me, helped me to the sidewalk. The lady police officer asked me questions about my health, which I could not answer because of the severe pain. But soon the pain subsided. I was not injured. The funny part was when the woman I had been ogling came along and stepped over me as she continued on her way. I thought it was funny, anyway. The man who doored me owned the restaurant he was parked in front of. He was apologetic and offered to buy me a new bike. I told him that was unnecessary. He may have worried I might sue him. He offered that I may have run into his car, as there was a scratch on the side of his car behind the driver side door. I just said, "Nah." This was wishful thinking on his part; he was casting about for some way he would not be responsible for the accident. The bicycle I was riding at the time was an old mountain bike with very wide handlebars. If the handlebars had been a more normal width I would have eluded the door. I went home and sawed about four inches off both ends of the handlebars. The bike had a very long wheelbase, too, which may have contributed to my failure to avoid the door. That particular block of Shattuck Avenue is dangerous for bicycles. It's busy, fast and narrow; there's not enough room to stay a safe distance from parked cars.

--Barry Spencer


Jamez Sassy, Boston?

Car doors etc.

I've been a courier for over 13 years, and in that time I HAVE NEVER seen a car door open further than it was intended to. That being true, smart riders DON'T RIDE WHERE THE POTENTIAL TO GET DOORED LIES! sure I got "doored" once but then I woke the hell up and left room for the OBVIOUS. Learn how to ride and beware of whats going on around you, it's pretty easy to ride 365 days a year WITHOUT GETTING DOORED, if your paying attention. I hope you post this letter because it might actually make someone question how/where they ride.

Thanks,

James


Friday, January 21, 2005

Joel Gwadz, Somewhere in the USA

last night splitting bumper to bumper traffic I had to watch out for all the people jumping out of taxis an limos never thinking to look back. That is why I was in the middle of the road riding on the double yellow line when an officer told me the law was to ride to the right. I corrected him and said the law was to ride as far to the right as is deemed safe by me at that point the center of the road was as far right as I felt safe considering the door zone and double parkers!

-- Joel



Thursday, January 13, 2005

Fred Pipes, Brighton, England

Hi Jerry,Cheers!

Added your message to the blog!! I nearly got doored this morning on the London Road -- by a bin lorry (garbage truck)! I was overtaking it, then got hemmed in by another truck and was about to get squashed!!! -- but it only moved forward a couple of yards -- then the door opened!

-- Fred


Thursday, January 06, 2005

Visit cardoordeathtrap.org

New site coming soon to help create awarness of cardoors as the death traps they are. Byciclists and skateboarders the world over are being injured and killed every day. Most of these accidents do not get any media exposure. Its something many drivers don't think much about till it's to late. We need to educate the public and reduce the high number of senseless injuries.