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I thinks it's a little weird. Denmark has cyclists all around as well, and cars. We're just taught not to open the door without checking for traffic (be it cars

I thinks it's a little weird. Denmark has cyclists all around as well, and cars. We're just taught not to open the door without checking for traffic (be it cars, bikes or pedestrians). You're taught that as a kid by your parents. It's pretty obvious that when you park anywhere that's no a booth or your driveway you need to look before opening your door. I honestly don't understand that this is a problem. Do people else where constantly open their doors into traffic? Just "WHAM, door gets pulled off by a passing car". If you're not used to driving places with bikelanes I can maybe see it being a problem in the passanger side of the car.

jerrre 5y ago
I think the main difference is that bikes generally ride closer to the parked cars than cars. But yeah, looking before making any movement on the road seems like a no brainer.
- tokai 5y ago
  >ride closer to the parked cars than cars Not really. It's the same - as close as a few finger widths.
  - michaelt 5y ago
    Many American cities' roads are absolutely gigantic, compared to in Europe. And I'm not just talking about their multi-lane freeways - this goes for residential streets too. To pick a city street at random, look at [1] - a road so quiet you can't see a single moving car in either direction, and it's wide enough you could fit five vehicles abreast. Americans don't pass within a few finger widths of a parked car, because they can leave a six foot gap just as easily. [1] https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.438309,-122.1449024,3a,75y,233.3h,82.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVOXhkh444wwwSUFE79fFuQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVOXhkh444wwwSUFE79fFuQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.64203%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.438309,-122.1449024,3a,75y...
thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
It's a problem whether you were aware of it or not. >Do people else where constantly open their doors into traffic? If by traffic you mean cars, then they have a much more obvious noise and appearance in mirrors. Bikes are easier to miss.
dashundchen 5y ago
I realize the article is about the UK, but yes, people on the US open the doors into traffic because they never would consider a cyclist is approaching. Car is default, lanes are huge, and most drivers don't even imagine cycling for transportation. Cycling infrastructure in the US is typically a painted line along the gutter or parking lane, if we're lucky to get that. Because of that I'll often ride in the car lane even if there is a bike gutter, because it is so dangerous to ride next to people pulling in and out and opening their doors. I dream of visiting the Netherlands or Copenhagen to cycle one day.

jerrre 5y ago

I think the main difference is that bikes generally ride closer to the parked cars than cars. But yeah, looking before making any movement on the road seems like a no brainer.

tokai 5y ago
>ride closer to the parked cars than cars Not really. It's the same - as close as a few finger widths.
- michaelt 5y ago
  Many American cities' roads are absolutely gigantic, compared to in Europe. And I'm not just talking about their multi-lane freeways - this goes for residential streets too. To pick a city street at random, look at [1] - a road so quiet you can't see a single moving car in either direction, and it's wide enough you could fit five vehicles abreast. Americans don't pass within a few finger widths of a parked car, because they can leave a six foot gap just as easily. [1] https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.438309,-122.1449024,3a,75y,233.3h,82.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVOXhkh444wwwSUFE79fFuQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVOXhkh444wwwSUFE79fFuQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.64203%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.438309,-122.1449024,3a,75y...

thrwyoilarticle 5y ago

It's a problem whether you were aware of it or not. >Do people else where constantly open their doors into traffic? If by traffic you mean cars, then they have a much more obvious noise and appearance in mirrors. Bikes are easier to miss.

dashundchen 5y ago

I realize the article is about the UK, but yes, people on the US open the doors into traffic because they never would consider a cyclist is approaching. Car is default, lanes are huge, and most drivers don't even imagine cycling for transportation. Cycling infrastructure in the US is typically a painted line along the gutter or parking lane, if we're lucky to get that. Because of that I'll often ride in the car lane even if there is a bike gutter, because it is so dangerous to ride next to people pulling in and out and opening their doors. I dream of visiting the Netherlands or Copenhagen to cycle one day.