Car doors are more solid than you realise. I discovered this the hard way, having one flung open by a taxi driver as I cycled past his parked car. The driver was apologetic, swearing he looked in the mirror. Little comfort for my scraped and battered body.
Having exchanged some skin (mine) for some paint (his), we also exchanged details, but lack of more life-threatening injuries left police decidedly disinterested.
The threat of “dooring” is a constant fear for the cyclist. Alert riding had, until now, kept incidents at close calls. But the sudden appearance of the taxi door proved the end of my lucky streak.
As cycling rates rise, everyone has a responsibility to remember the road is there to share. A glance over the shoulder costs nothing. Collecting a cyclist can cost you more than $350 in fines or, in less happy circumstances, a life.
