As a cyclist, you understand that you face additional dangers that other drivers on the road do not necessarily have to worry about. This is a given, considering you have much less coverage than drivers of cars, trucks or even motorcycles.
Dooring is just one of the many dangers you may face. But it is a relatively common one, and one you should know as much about as possible.
Dooring a cyclist
Momentum Mag looks into the type of accident called dooring. Dooring generally involves someone inside of a parked car opening their door into the path of an oncoming cyclist. It is most common with bike lanes on the road, which often end up sandwiched between driving lanes and parking lanes for vehicles. However, it can also occur on sidewalks.
Injuries from dooring
Many injuries can result from dooring. First, it is possible for a cyclist to crash into the door and fly over the top of it. Even if they do not land in the way of traffic, this alone can result in broken bones, friction burns and injuries to the head or back when crashing down onto the ground.
Of course, a bigger risk is the possibility of getting pushed or knocked into oncoming traffic. Depending on traffic flow, a person could easily end up falling in front of a car that simply does not have the time to brake. Naturally, this can lead to even bigger injuries that create more life-threatening problems.
Cyclists should thus do what they can by avoiding hugging cars when possible. Likewise, drivers should always check that they are in the clear before opening their car doors.
