Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

99percentinvisible.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 612 posts

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#31

Post by honkhonkpants »

FullMtlAlcoholc wrote: post #15

Or, as a bike rider one can simply look into a cars cabin and see if a person is inside. I assume everyone is a terrible driver, have no idea I'm on the road. I am a regular bike commuter on traffic heavy Los Angeles. I'll never understand the mentality of bicyclists who are more concerned with asserting their rights as opposed to exercising caution and restraint. Graveyards are full of people who had the right of wa…

I just ride way out in the middle of the lane, at least five feet from the cars. If that doesn't leave enough room for cars to pass me, too bad for them. Maybe some day they will realize how much of the road is being wasted on parking.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#32

Post by honkhonkpants »

pooper wrote: post #29
msandford wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cyclists are already second class citizens on the roads. People who ride bikes are upset about this and would prefer not to become third or fourth class. It's also very frustrating to have to assume everyone is so ignorant that they wouldn't mind accidentally killing you for the sake of saving a second or two. I completely agree that being aggressively paranoid is the way to stay alive. But agreeing that it is the sm…

> Cyclists are already second class citizens on the roads. People who ride bikes are upset about this and would prefer not to become third or fourth class. It's also very frustrating to have to assume everyone is so ignorant that they wouldn't mind accidentally killing you for the sake of saving a second or two. I'll bite. Any cyclist who rides on the sidewalk, runs a red light, or flaunts traffic convention in gener…

You sound not only rude but also ignorant and wrong. Welcome to the Internet!

In California many bicyclists do in fact belong on the sidewalk, and this includes any child and any adult riding with a child.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#33

Post by ScottBurson »

pooper wrote: post #29
msandford wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cyclists are already second class citizens on the roads. People who ride bikes are upset about this and would prefer not to become third or fourth class. It's also very frustrating to have to assume everyone is so ignorant that they wouldn't mind accidentally killing you for the sake of saving a second or two. I completely agree that being aggressively paranoid is the way to stay alive. But agreeing that it is the sm…

> Cyclists are already second class citizens on the roads. People who ride bikes are upset about this and would prefer not to become third or fourth class. It's also very frustrating to have to assume everyone is so ignorant that they wouldn't mind accidentally killing you for the sake of saving a second or two. I'll bite. Any cyclist who rides on the sidewalk, runs a red light, or flaunts traffic convention in gener…

Riding on the sidewalk, for short distances and with a good reason, can be done safely and courteously, though it may require slowing to walking speed.

How many car drivers never exceed the speed limit and always come to a complete stop at stop signs? Your absolutism should apply in both directions, no?

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#34

Post by __d »

pimlottc wrote: post #26
paulsutter wrote: post #10

How do existing self-driving cars handle this case? Perhaps regulation could cover this if the manufacturers aren't. The cars should have sensors to know it's not safe to open the door. Getting rid of parked cars will be a good start. EDIT: obviously the car can sound a warning or even briefly prevent the door from opening. Similar case, what if a car or truck is passing by very closely at that moment.

How does the car being self-driving change anything? They don't open the doors for you.

Given the sensors required to be self-driving, a self-driving car should be able to detect a bicycle in the "dooring zone", and prevent the door from opening and/or alert the car occupant.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#35

Post by tschellenbach »

Cycling here in Boulder is definitely much more dangerous compared to The Netherlands. A lot of cars turn right without checking for bikes. What's up with that?

On the other hand the bike sharing program here in Boulder is the best I've ever seen.

(I'm Dutch and live in Boulder, Colorado)

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#36

Post by ScottBurson »

I guess this is not a bad idea, but just looking in the side mirror before opening the door is easier to do, and probably easier to teach people to do.

As a cyclist, I give parked cars as much room as possible. I've never been doored... though I've never ridden in NYC either.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#37

Post by Mithaldu »

jawbone3 wrote: post #7

Right, Large scale change of driver habits is a simple solution... a more enforcable suggestion is that the car owner is by default liable for any damages that happen from dooring, and that dooring is a fineable offence. Give car owners a real motivacion to check for bikes

You get my downvote just for opening with sarcasm.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#38

Post by Ar-Curunir »

FullMtlAlcoholc wrote: post #15

Or, as a bike rider one can simply look into a cars cabin and see if a person is inside. I assume everyone is a terrible driver, have no idea I'm on the road. I am a regular bike commuter on traffic heavy Los Angeles. I'll never understand the mentality of bicyclists who are more concerned with asserting their rights as opposed to exercising caution and restraint. Graveyards are full of people who had the right of wa…

If you're riding at any sort of speed, how can you reliably check that every car you pass doesn't have anybody sitting by the door?

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#39

Post by pooper »

ScottBurson wrote: post #33
pooper wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Cyclists are already second class citizens on the roads. People who ride bikes are upset about this and would prefer not to become third or fourth class. It's also very frustrating to have to assume everyone is so ignorant that they wouldn't mind accidentally killing you for the sake of saving a second or two. I'll bite. Any cyclist who rides on the sidewalk, runs a red light, or flaunts traffic convention in gener…

Riding on the sidewalk, for short distances and with a good reason, can be done safely and courteously, though it may require slowing to walking speed. How many car drivers never exceed the speed limit and always come to a complete stop at stop signs? Your absolutism should apply in both directions, no?

I wouldn't have to be rude if cyclists rode at walking speed safely and courteously. Some cyclists are incredibly self-entitled.

Of course, I think we need stiff penalties for cars hitting cyclists. However, cyclists need to know they are second class citizens on the side walk.

Yes, cars not coming to a full stop is a problem. But saying something else us wrong doesn't make me right.

I'm glad you guys have a hug box going on here but if you can't ride safely on a bike lane, don't ride a bicycle. I shouldn't have to give way to cyclists speeding on the sidewalk. If you're at walking speed, you can ride behind me. No need to pass.

Re: The Dutch Reach: Clever Workaround to Keep Cyclists from Getting “Doored”

#40

Post by dpark »

diamondo25 wrote: post #24

As a Dutch person, this is probably the cause of our parents always telling us to carefully open the door by looking first. And if you are not sure, open it a bit to see more. Also, in our license test, you'll have to learn the following rule: Getting out of the car, is just like turning the car, a special operation and you need to give everyone else priority so that your action will not cause problems. So take your…

This is far more believable than the claim that using the far hand will force you to turn 90 degrees inside the car and scan fully before getting out. It might serve as a good habit/reminder, but it's neither necessary nor sufficient to create this behavior.

I think much of the US is unaware of how seriously some other countries take driver's training. Our standards are appallingly low.

Post reply on HN