Episode 5- The Door Zone

This week's episode is about how to avoid getting "doored". Taking advantage of bike lanes is the only way to go for bike commuters, but, if your not watching, those doors will getcha.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• bicycle
• bike
• bikeable
• commute
• commuter
• commuting
• cycling
• doored
• planet
• podcast
• video

[ddallass]

Yet another reply that addresses my point. Well done!

[wbboyd]

Wow...I should have stuck to my DNFTT rule. Goodbye.

[ddallass]

It helps new riders to think that cowering in the gutter is safer than being out in the lane where they will be seen, where they can see common crossing hazards such as the left cross and side street pull outs. And they will mitigate right hooks by riding in the travel lane.

The truth is, wouldn't you agree, that bike lanes "teach" both motorists and newbies bad and dangerous habits? Yes, they are made to feel more comfortable, but it is a false sense of security.

[wbboyd]

I didn't intend to imply that bike lanes are always safer than vehicular cycling or that they are always safe at all. Personally, most of my rides include both use of bike lanes and vehicular cycling. I do believe that bike lanes can be safe and help people, especially new riders, get where they are going safely. My intention was to really help newcomers realize that bike lanes do have hazards such as doors, etc.

[wbboyd]

I'll respond to this comment b/c it is a rational comment as opposed to rant against me calling me a liar.

Maybe I was unclear or even wrong. What I want people to take away is #1: ride where it is safest (whether in the lane as normal traffic or in a dedicated bike lane) and #2 bike lanes can be safe if you know the hazards just as riding in traffic can be safe if you know the hazards. (continued...)

[ddallass]

Thank you for your explanation. But to be clear, what has the feeding of trolls to do with advocating special lanes for cyclists as though they belong in a ghetto, rather than operating one's bicycle as a normal vehicle?

[wbboyd]

THanks for the comment, but I don't feed trolls

[ddallass]

Second, you recommend NOT using the bike lane if it is in the door zone. But you had asserted just moments before that bike lanes are safer for the cyclist. Which is it? Please explain how bike lanes can be safer and yet too dangerous to ride in at the same time?

[ddallass]

First, your assertion that bike lanes are safer. You either don't know what you are talking about or you are a liar!

Bike lanes exacerbate common cycling hazards while reducing the rarest of all hazards. How does that make cycling in bike lanes safer?