Thats what I mean.
If a car hits me from behind then its their fault for following too close but if a cyclist hits my door from behind its my fault? I don't get that at all- its contrary to all norms of traffic common law
New Rules of the Road in effect today
- Thread starter Mr Bret
- Start date
If a car hits me from behind then its their fault for following too close but if a cyclist hits my door from behind its my fault? I don't get that at all- its contrary to all norms of traffic common law
I'm not a cyclist and prefer to ride leisurely only on trails. I'm worried that some car or truck will hit me, so I don't use my bike to go to the store, etc.
If I rode more (especially if I lived downtown and didn't have to drive like I do in the burbs), I'd probably want more protection too.
Sometimes I feel that way when I clearly see them disobey the road rules (saw one go through a red light).
BTW, can a cyclist get on the left lane at an intersection and make a left turn like a car, or do they have to dismount and cross using the pedestrian crossings?
Why is it my fault? Why are they not watching? I rode downtown for years and never ran into a door.
If I stop my car suddenly and get rear ended- the guy behind me is at fault for following too closely- why should it be different for a bike?
Then you are likely going to get a ticket if he gets hurt and the police attend.
You have TWO mirrors in your car.
One on the door and another one on the windshield!
You check BOTH, then turn your head around to look out the door as you slowly open your door to make sure there is no one coming.
The way it is now, there is little public awareness and otherwise decent people just whip open their door fully without even thinking.
I'm not a cyclist but I've seen this happen twice and the cyclists were both young women, not riding fast, wearing a helmet etc and they got REALLY badly hurt. Happened to another friend of mine. A young Russian college student here on a student visa. She had her beautiful smile smashed out of her face. Spent a week in a drug induced coma while the brain swelling went down, then another week recovering in the hospital and another two years having reconstructive surgery. Her schooling got all fucked up, she lost her personal confidence as a result of her facial disfigurement and the long lasting effects on this person's life are incredible.
So, the consequences of a dooring are far more significant than a $500 fine.
When these things happened a few years ago, I put some bright reflective tape strips inside the outer edge of my door as an extra measure in addition to me being very careful when I open the door. I'd hate to be the person who hurt someone so badly regardless of their contributory culpability.
red,
To preface, I am not a downtown cyclist. I would LOVE to get around the city on my bike for many reasons. Exercise, convenience, parking etc. But he reward/consequence balance is too much for my personal values as I see riding in city traffic to be perilous.
But on the occasions when I have ridden, I bet I pass a thousand parked car doors in 15 minutes. I have a lot already to be aware of with moving traffic and keeping my distance from the car passing me that might be squeezing me within striking distance of a door. And the door that nails you is the one that you have NO time to react and take evasive action. So it is a pretty risky and dangerous hazard that really is, in practical terms, difficult to mitigate the risk as a cyclist.
The following too closely argument is not appropriate here.
A directly appropriate example would be if you are parked, and then pull out into traffic without looking and smash into the path of a moving car. Or bike.
The moving vehicle has the right of way when passing a stationary vehicle.
You have the obligation to ensure your action does not interfere with his passage.
So the same applies to you opening your door into the path of traffic. You have the obligation to make sure your action can be completed in safety whether you door a cyclist or a car or a truck.
I am not interested in hurting anyone. In fact I have been hurt by a cyclist hitting me as I got out of my car. Did I check my mirrors? Of course. But the cyclist who had been on the right decided to come around to the left of my car just as I got out- note the door was already open as at my age I dont leap out of the car in the same motion ass I open the door. Under this law I would be at fault- I dont think thats right
Cleary, if you were already out of the car, that gave him ample time to see and avoid. I think in that situation, the fact that he hit your body that was already out of the car, that there would be no charge laid against you.
Sadly, few charges are laid against cyclists even in circumstances like this where they are clearly at fault.
Same when they RIDE ON THE FUCKING SIDEWALK!!!!!! WTF!!!! Black letter statutory LAW prohibits riding bicycles on the sidewalk yet the police do nothing to enforce it.
Sadly, few charges are laid against cyclists even in circumstances like this where they are clearly at fault.
Same when they RIDE ON THE FUCKING SIDEWALK!!!!!! WTF!!!! Black letter statutory LAW prohibits riding bicycles on the sidewalk yet the police do nothing to enforce it.
Actually I do it quite regularly in some narrow stretches where there aren't bike lanes, room to be safe, or an easy bail out. In fact the law says that cyclists are entitled to the lane. I won't do it for extended periods but my safety comes first. If drivers are inconvenienced for 30 seconds then then too fucking bad.
The simplest solution is for a system of separated bike lanes throughout the downtown and bikes and cars would all have their own places. Also enforcing some of the major rule violations for bikes might take away the sense of entitlement some cyclists have.
Geeze rhuarc, took the words right out of my mouth. Again!
I would say the risk to life and limb is very high when cyclists put themselves in danger by blowing through stop signs/lights, riding at night wearing dark clothes and no lights, and not wearing a helmet. This I see all the time.
You'd have to be an idiot to put yourself in unnecessary danger when you have so little protection. But so many do...
It has been a law for a very long time that someone opening a car door into traffic has an obligation to make sure the way is clear (whatever the oncoming hazard is). This has nothing to do with following too closely. All that has changed now is the fine and demerits. This applies to doors on the traffic side of the car. If you doored a cyclist with a passenger door I would assume that the cyclist would be charged with passing on the right hand side.
It's not against the law to make a left hand turn from the left hand turn lane. If there's no traffic I'll turn left as a car would but most of the time I ride through the intersection stopping at the corner then continue on my way once the light changes. It may take a few seconds longer but infinitely safer.
What I do and I suggest everyone does, is open the driver's door with your right hand. This forces you to twist your body toward your mirror and prevents you from unlatching the door and swinging it open with your elbow all in one motion. Try it!
Yes but say I check and no-one is there. I open the door and as I said am slow getting out. A cyclist not paying attention hits the door. The law seems to blame me
I disagree. The risk is equal whether the driver breaks the rule or the cyclist does. The cyclist is the vulnerable party, but that doesn't mean more responsibility for a collision should be put on the motorist. Both parties have equal responsibility to follow the rules of the road.
If you're referring to sheer number of incidents, the number of vehicle/vehicle and vehicle/pedestrian incidents certainly outweigh vehicle/cyclist incidents simply because there are more vehicles and pedestrians on (or near) the road than cyclists. And that's not really relevant to the discussion.
Reading this thread makes it clear Toronto needs more dedicated, bike only lanes, even if it slows down vehicle travel time. Many vehicle drivers just don't give a fuck about cyclist safety.
Many vehicle drivers are fed up with cyclists who have a holier-than-thou attitude towards drivers, blatantly break the law and who take no responsibility for their own safety on the road.
There aren't enough cyclists to justify retrofitting roads for bike lanes. I have no problem with the few cyclists there are sharing the road, but they should be held to the same standards as drivers. Drivers should take extra care around cyclists because of their vulnerability; yet the same is true of cyclists around motor vehicles.
Motor vehicles and bikes sharing the same real estate is a dangerous proposition, one without a great solution. We all need to take responsibility for our own driving habits to make things as safe as possible, no matter what our ride is.
