Tuesday, March 20, 2007

How not to get doored


(*Ok, so technically the injury pictured here didn't happen as the result of getting doored. It happened in a cyclocross race a few years ago. Plus the broken collar bone would probably be on the other side if you were doored... unless you're in Australia, the UK or Hong Kong. I just put it in for dramatic effect.)

HOW NOT TO GET DOORED:

1) Don't ride your bike where there are cars. Find a bike path (you'll have to deal with joggers, strollers, squirrels, dogs, bladers, weavers, etc. though) or ride your bike on the trainer in the basement.

2) Ride more than a doors length away from parked cars. Older Lincoln Continentals and AMC Pacers have doors that are like 6' long, so this option doesn't always work.

3) Don't ride close to the row of parked cars. Ride far enough away to give yourself an exit strategy.

4) Look though the rear window of cars for someone sittling in the driver's seat.

5) If the rear window is tinted, look in the driver's side rear view mirror.

6) Did the car just pull to the curb and stop? Maybe someone is about to get out!?!

7) Always know what's coming from behind so you can post up in your lane and not get squeezed against the parked cars.

Ride safe,

John

3 comments:

John said...

Regarding point #3. Good point, when passing by the driver side door of an AMC Pacer be sure to leave an extra 12" or so since the driver side door is longer than the passenger side. BTW, nice image of death opening the car door. Since when does death need a car?

LJ Martin said...

But if you'll notice: Death's car has a really nice rear window defogger, since it's so "COLD" in Death's car! Maybe it's a Miata; I've have been hit 4 times in Tallahassee!

Unc LJ

Jeri said...

Maybe you are the "other" Man From Tallahassee??!??