Have You Been Opening Your Car Door Wrong This Whole Time?

As someone who loves riding a bicycle for transportation and pleasure, I’ve had many near misses with cars, even in my hometown, where bike lanes are plentiful. In fact, many of those near calamities have happened while I was riding in a bike lane when the driver of a parked car suddenly opened the door—an incident known as “dooring.”

Luckily, there is an easy way for drivers to prevent making this mistake, and that’s by using the “Dutch Reach” method.

“Drivers, passengers and even rideshare users should make it a habit,” says Monica Garrison, founder and Executive Director of Black Girls Do Bike. “It only takes a second, but it can prevent a life-changing accident.”

Here’s more about dooring and how to use the Dutch Reach method.

What Is “Dooring”?

Dooring happens when a driver or passenger opens their car door into the path of a cyclist, causing the cyclist to crash into it or swerve into traffic to avoid it. “It’s a serious and preventable hazard that can lead to severe injuries,” says Garrison. Depending on your municipality, it can also result in hefty traffic fines.

The “Dutch Reach” Method

An easy way to prevent dooring accidents is to use the Dutch Reach method, which simply entails opening the door using your far hand. If you’re in the driver’s seat in the U.S., that means using your right hand, and if you’re in the passenger seat, using your left hand.

“This naturally turns your body, forcing you to look over your shoulder and check for approaching cyclists before opening the door,” says Garrison.

Also, always open the door slowly, then exit your vehicle quickly to get out of the path of traffic.

Does the “Dutch Reach” Method Really Work?

Absolutely! “This method is widely taught in places like the Netherlands, where cycling is a major part of daily life, and it has been shown to significantly reduce dooring incidents,” says Garrison. “It’s a small habit that can make a big difference in keeping cyclists safe.”

About the Expert

• Monica Garrison is founder and Executive Director of Black Girls Do Bike, where she fuels 100+ chapters worldwide. She believes that the simple act of riding a bike can be a catalyst for wonderful, life-changing experiences for women of all ages.

Sources

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission, “Using the Dutch Reach When Opening Doors.”
• Descriptive Analysis of Cyclist Dooring Events Using Data from the National Electronic Injury
  Surveillance System (NEISS).

The post Have You Been Opening Your Car Door Wrong This Whole Time? appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Have You Been Opening Your Car Door Wrong This Whole Time?