Operation Door Knock - campaign against car dooring

It would seem that there will be a campaign to raise awareness of car dooring with drivers in Victoria in 2012 http://www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/93916/.  It would be great if a similar campaign could be run in SA.

Being car doored is one of the hazards which concerns me most on the roads as there often no time to react if someone flings a car door in front of you at the last minute.  Of course I try to take the appropriate precautions to avoid being in a door zone in the first place, but sometime where space is tight or the door is large, one can still get caught out.

Tags: car, door, hazards, safey

Views: 2802

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Bowler on March 21, 2012 at 13:50

Heather,

Are certain that the offender only received a caution and that the police have not issued any penalties in this case

Permalink Reply by heather on March 21, 2012 at 16:04

David, reported on ch 7 that driver was cautioned.

Need to think of another avenue. Already received a response from Senator Nick Xenophon's office: "Nick does not have a current campaign to get tougher penalties for hit-run drivers. His campaign is to see Mr McGee referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal on a charge of unprofessional conduct."

Permalink Reply by David Bowler on March 21, 2012 at 18:27

I did think about writing to some politicians, but I like to be a bit surer of my facts than a news report. 

Permalink Reply by Dario Gautama on March 21, 2012 at 15:18

Just went back from Melbourne (for watching Formula 1, yeah!) and i was surprised how good their bicycle lane.

The put bicycle lane at most left of the road and side road car park space are on the right side of the bicycle lane.

Between them there is kinda footpath to leave the gap between parked car and bicycle which the gap is big enough for passenger open car's door without risk to "door" cyclist.

The thing that i like most is they painted cycling lane with distinctive color like green color so it is very beginner cyclist friendly.

Permalink Reply by heather on March 21, 2012 at 16:08

Dario, called kerbside running bike lanes. Told by a traffic planner that it is the new standard. When will see it in SA? Some pictures on AC group Look For Cyclists under topic Design For Cyclists at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/lookforcyclists/forum/topics/...

Permalink Reply by Michael Murray on March 21, 2012 at 16:26

Hi Heather

Interesting. Something like this:is pretty minimal when you think how wide a card door can be and that you are trying not to let the extreme right of your handlebar clip it or you are likely to go head first into that tree on the left!

Do you know if traffic planners have some  idea in their mind of what sort of average speed a cyclist should be doing?  I look at some of these things and wonder if they all have a vision of Cycle Chic style "slow cycling".  

Michael

PS: Ah I've just found this manual you posted. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by heather on March 21, 2012 at 16:35

One of the photos I posted. If the cyclist kept a little left of centre in the bicycle path, the average car door would not open onto a cyclist. In the picture, the open car doors do not protrude into the bicycle lane. Note that the grey car in the foreground has its tyres on the white vibraline. If a 4WD or large coupe with wider doors was on the vibraline, definitely best for cyclist to keep to the left.

I believe the kerbside running bike lanes are safer that what is in Adelaide. Here the bicycle lanes are marked within dooring range, and if hit by a door could go under the wheels of a passing vehicle. Here drivers do not look before moving away from the kerb. If a driver's eyes are focusing on an empty car park, they do not see the cyclist.

Permalink Reply by David Bowler on March 21, 2012 at 18:25

Just looking at the photo, my concern would be if the car door did fling open far enough to block the lane or someone stepped onto the lane from between the cars, if you are already to the left, you don't have anywhere to go.  A kerb is probably still better though than the alternative of swerving into a line of traffic with a bike lane on the other side.

Permalink Reply by heather on March 21, 2012 at 20:00

Yes. I would rather be hit by a pedestrian than a truck.

Permalink Reply by Dario Gautama on March 21, 2012 at 17:02

That's what I mean ^^

The manual it self is very interesting to me because I am studying design in UniSA now and i found cycling lane in urban planing is quite challenging.

Permalink Reply by heather on March 22, 2012 at 9:14

Police Complaints Authority
50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001
Phone (08) 8226 8677

The above in case useful to an injured cyclist. I did not know of this authority when 3 negligent drivers who injured me were not charged or fined.

Permalink Reply by Paul Jorgensen on March 22, 2012 at 11:29

Thank you all for your concern.  My face is sore but healing.  I am a little nervous riding still.  I am still looking at legal action.

For those asking about the camera, it is a GoPro 2.  I use it for surf life saving (it is waterproof and is IRB mounted or surfboard mounted).  The footage is much clearer in original, but I lose quality when I edit using Windows free editing software.  It adds weight to helmet, but is not inconvenient for commute.  It can be mounted on bike, but would be a bit more bumpy.

News stories are below.

Seven News Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5_IVLLTNVA

Nine News Story  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5oBOEc_ORM

RSS

Support our Sponsors


© 2013   Created by Gus K.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service