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Where did our bikes take us today?
Bowl Leader
First ride on my new Core-5 this morning
Is anyone still riding fixed gear?
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I have been doored between a line of parallel parked cars and a passenger in a ride share exiting into the bike lane. He got sick of waiting northbound on Sheffield on a cubs night and just decided to get out and walk the rest of the way. I was shaken and had a bloodied left hand, but made a full recovery.
I would love the see the “Dutch reach” take hold in Chicago. Every person in a car should use their inside hand (not their door-side hand) to open their door. This forces the person to turn their body far enough to look for approaching bikes.
Ahh I used to live in Chicago so I know the neighborhood and chaos there 😬 Did you later file a police report or anything? Paying for those injuries yourself is a bloody rip off (pun intended).
I’ve been in 3 collisions with cars. One of which was being doored. It was by far the least painful to me and my bike of the 3.
Fortunately for me I was going up hill so speed wasn’t that high and I basically just fell into the road, which could have been bad as it was a busy street.
Since this has happened if I’m on a busy road where cars are parked along the side I do my best to look in the rear window of cars to see if there’s a person in it. If there is I veer a little more left to give myself space.
Far larger issue for me on busy roads is when cars underestimate how fast I’m going and try and over take me for right turns and often merge into me where I have to stick my hand out to tap their car and let them know I’m there.
Oh of course they’re mad at us for existing. It comes with the territory. I’ve always looked in the back of car windows and for any lights on. Then, I’ll build some space if I see anyone.
With regards to right hooks: since your post, I have tapped on one person’s car door and it made her very mad 😂 I’ve reconsidered tapping on people’s window though because there are some scary, car-possessive people who could get violent.