Editor, Bicycling
In the June issue, Susi Wunsch ("Square One", pg 21) tells prospective
riders to "Keep at least three feet between your bike and parked cars to avoid
opening doors...". This is not adequate distance.
Our 4 door Subaru Impreza driver's door projects 37.5 inches from the side
of the car when open. A truck or coupe can have even larger doors.
A rider, to avoid hitting a door or suffering a loss of control due to
grazing handlebar contact, must be sure his or her right handlebar tip clears an
opened car door. Elsewhere, on bicycling.com**, Bob Mionske tells cyclists to
avoid "...the 3- to 5-foot area next to a parked car." I would personally choose
the larger number as a minimum, as do many other experienced cyclists, to make
sure you have a margin of error.
** http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2013/02/08/avoid-the-door-zone/
In this video, Preston Tyree coaches students through a good door zone avoidance drill.Thanks to Ian for reminding me of this video.
In this video, Preston Tyree coaches students through a good door zone avoidance drill.Thanks to Ian for reminding me of this video.
1 comment:
Here's a video on Youtube that shows that, in order to avoid a dooring, the very least a cyclists should leave between themselves and a parked car is 6 feet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPA-ZcYGT94
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