Anonymous, Oxford Brookes University, England

Getting Doored...

Had my first and only experience of being doored today.
When I first moved to Oxford I thought it was a really bike friendly town,
and yes, it has more cyclists and cycle lanes than most UK town, but that
doesn't save us from the almighty door attack!

I was riding up St Clements up towards Headington hill on the green cycle
lane, the traffic was at a stand still waiting for the light to change.
All of a sudden someone opened their car door right in front of me. I
could almost see it open in slow motion. I think my front wheel hit the
door, and I tumbled over the bike and onto the pavement. Luckily I ended
up on the pavement with a bruised leg and slightly mangled knee. The two
guys in the car were super apologetic, and offered to drive me home or to
A&E but I didn't think it was necessary. ( I should have got someone's number,
because i now have to repair my bike!)

Apart from hobbling round for the next few days I'm fine, but I recognise I've got away lucky as hell. It's amazing when you talk to people, even people who don't cycle, how many of them either know someone, or know someone who knows someone who's been harmed or killed by getting doored.
This really needs to be be more universally acknowledged as a serious issue.

-- Anonymous Cyclist from Oxford Brookes University, England