Avoiding the Door Zone

[John the Monkey]

Might be useful to watch if you're new to cycling around parked cars.

Video is from the 'states, so remember that you're viewing this as riding on the right of cars parked to the left if you're a left pondian.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TQ7aID1jHs

 

[Futures]

This is useful, thanks for this.

 

[PaulSB]

I'm far from new to riding past parked cars and I'll be rethinking my technique after watching the video.

 

[Rollon]

Thanks for that.
Dave.

 

[wafflycat]

Good illustration.

 

[magnatom]

Good video. I think I'll blog that and point people to it when they suggest I shouldn't be 'in the middle of the road'.

 

[Bokonon]

I thought I passed parked cars reasonably wide, but I think I need to re-assess this.

The point that a 2-door car has longer doors was made, but should have been stressed further - maybe a 2-door should have been used as the demonstrator car. Otherwise, a very good video - short, simple and to the point. Now it needs to be made as a correct-hand drive version!

 

[John the Monkey]

I'm far from new to riding past parked cars and I'll be rethinking my technique after watching the video.

+1

It's a real eye opener, and graphically demonstrates why cycle lanes next to parking spaces are, for the most part, a complete waste of money.

 

[blazed]

How many people get hit by car doors a year probably a couple compared to all the cyclists in the country the chances of it happening to you are tiny. I dont really care but it is annoying when you have some turd in the middle of the lane doing 15mph and you cant overtake because the other lane is full of cars. So what you are supposed to just sit there with your speed being dictated by some fat shoot in front, he has no right to hold everyone up and that is when people pull dangerous overtakes.

If im riding far out to avoid something i will usually still be doing 30mph on an average flat and im not causing any problems. I really think there should be tests to ride a bike like there is a car and unfit people shouldnt be able to ride on roads. Your fitness is the most important thing to staying safe on a bike, the less fit you are the more chance you are going to crash so this should be looked into.

 

[tyred]

How many people get hit by car doors a year probably a couple compared to all the cyclists in the country the chances of it happening to you are tiny. I dont really care but it is annoying when you have some turd in the middle of the lane doing 15mph and you cant overtake because the other lane is full of cars. So what you are supposed to just sit there with your speed being dictated by some fat shoot in front, he has no right to hold everyone up and that is when people pull dangerous overtakes.

If im riding far out to avoid something i will usually still be doing 30mph on an average flat and im not causing any problems. I really think there should be tests to ride a bike like there is a car and unfit people shouldnt be able to ride on roads. Your fitness is the most important thing to staying safe on a bike, the less fit you are the more chance you are going to crash so this should be looked into.

All well and good but how do you become a good, fit, confident cyclist if you're not allowed to ride on the road?

 

[wafflycat]

+1

It's a real eye opener, and graphically demonstrates why cycle lanes next to parking spaces are, for the most part, a complete waste of money.

Like this one in Cambridge..

 

[John the Monkey]

I dont really care but it is annoying when you have some turd in the middle of the lane doing 15mph and you cant overtake because the other lane is full of cars. So what you are supposed to just sit there with your speed being dictated by some fat shoot in front, he has no right to hold everyone up and that is when people pull dangerous overtakes.

"Sitting there" is EXACTLY what you're supposed to do if it isn't safe to overtake. (It's a while since I took my driving test, but I'm fairly sure that was the gist of it, at least).

How many people get hit by car doors a year

For cyclists, left turning HGVs are the number one cause of death, "dooring" the number one cause of death and serious injury, if I recall correctly.

 

[magnatom]

Why does anyone bother replying to blazed's comments?

 

[4F]

How many people get hit by car doors a year probably a couple compared to all the cyclists in the country the chances of it happening to you are tiny. I dont really care but it is annoying when you have some turd in the middle of the lane doing 15mph and you cant overtake because the other lane is full of cars. So what you are supposed to just sit there with your speed being dictated by some fat shoot in front, he has no right to hold everyone up and that is when people pull dangerous overtakes.

If im riding far out to avoid something i will usually still be doing 30mph on an average flat and im not causing any problems. I really think there should be tests to ride a bike like there is a car and unfit people shouldnt be able to ride on roads. Your fitness is the most important thing to staying safe on a bike, the less fit you are the more chance you are going to crash so this should be looked into.

 

[John the Monkey]

Why does anyone bother replying to blazed's comments?

I'm unfamiliar with the gentleman and his previous works - anything I should know?