In the event you did not learn about “dying”, you do now. Many motorists do not suppose twice about opening the door after parking on the road, however when The Occasions’ current article in regards to the terror, harm and demise inflicted on cyclists by automotive doorways instantly thrust their approach, they actually ought to.
On a private stage, the timing of this piece is impeccable. On my approach house from work Monday night time, whereas driving north on Figueroa Road at USC, a driver pulled into the bike lane proper in entrance of me and stopped (his first harmful mistake), then nearly hit me together with his door (his second harmful mistake) error) as I maneuvered round his automotive. The following day, Tuesday, Occasions reporting colleague Angie Orellana Hernandez’s article appeared.
“Dying” occurs, and cyclists should not be the one ones conscious of it.
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To the editor: I grew to become painfully “doored” in 2022 whereas driving in a single-file line of neatly dressed cyclists on a Sunday afternoon. We had been on Washington Boulevard close to the Venice Pier car parking zone the place the seaside bike path begins. A line of automobiles huddled collectively subsequent to us, ready to enter the car parking zone.
With out warning, a younger lady threw open the precise rear door of a stopped automotive, inflicting me and my bike to tumble violently into the steel fence defending an out of doors eating space.
After getting up with a twisted shoulder, some painful scrapes and bruises, and a bloody, torn shirt, I confronted the girl with the plain query: “Why did not you look earlier than you opened the door? There was an entire line of cyclists proper exterior your automotive. Did not you see us?”
Her response nearly stung me once more. She mentioned she did not look as a result of her father, the motive force, instructed her to get out of the automotive.
Drivers ought to pay attention to what’s round them or developing subsequent to their autos after they see bicycles on the street. They need to inform their passengers when it’s protected to open the door.
Shel Erlich, Santa Monica
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To the editor: It is unhappy that cyclists are injured and even killed in “door” collisions, however the thought of placing bike lanes on each busy road is just not a great one. Why not require cyclists to make use of streets which can be a block away in residential areas?
At any given time on a busy road, I hardly ever see multiple rider at a time on bike lanes. Nonetheless, a whole monitor is faraway from car use for a number of riders.
It might be a lot safer and simpler to cycle on residential roads.
Marcia Jacobs, Culver Metropolis
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To the editor: I’ve been a bicycle commuter in Santa Barbara for greater than 50 years and have solely acquired the “door prize” as soon as.
Luckily, I used to be solely hit by the door and never the automotive behind me. The motive force who opened the door for me was busy. He was at work delivering meals to a boutique lodge.
Even when there’s a painted bike path subsequent to the car parking zone, I trip a bit of approach into the road to get away from automotive doorways. Drivers behind me will typically honk and scream profanities at me.
Typically a driver yells at me, speeds previous after which slams on the brakes on the cease signal 25 meters away. I pull up subsequent to the motive force and provides a confused look as a result of I am working towards avoiding street rage.
Cannot all of us decelerate a bit?
Daniel Diamond, Santa Barbara
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To the editor: Your article jogged my memory of a case I presided over as a decide within the Santa Monica courthouse a number of years in the past.
A younger lady driving in a motorbike lane, sporting a helmet and really seen clothes, continued in the precise route on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. A driver opened his door and “killed” the bike owner, inflicting her to fall onto the road.
She testified that, as she lay on the street, she considered how fortunate she was to not have been injured, after which one other automotive ran over her arm, inflicting critical and everlasting accidents.
Joe Hilberman, Westwood
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To the editor: Your illustration of protected bike lanes to the precise of parked automobiles exhibits the absurdity of forcing the sq. pegs of motorbike lanes into the spherical holes of current streets.
That is clearly out of compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Not solely does a wheelchair need to navigate straight by means of the bike lane to get to the passenger door, however as your illustration exhibits, the bollards typically block the wheelchair from reaching the automotive and opening the door totally.
Passengers leaving a automotive should additionally enter the cycle lane. This truly occurred to me in Lengthy Seaside on this an identical setup: After dinner, I opened the passenger door for my spouse and nearly acquired hit by a rushing bicyclist who yelled at us to get out of the bike lane.
I did not have time to reply that I used to be compelled by design to undergo and stand within the bike lane. I assume the answer for automobiles is “no passengers allowed.”
Kirk Jordan, Lengthy Seaside