Beware opening car doors

[Bruce Dwyer]

FYI
This is an example of why its not good to have marked bike lanes next to
parked cars
Also note Pete's request for any RAGBRAI riders
----- Original Message -----
From: "Law Office of Peter T. Straub" <straublaw at starpower.net>
To: "bruce dwyer" <ouibike at worldnet.att.net>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 11:42 AM
Subject: bike safety


Bruce:  Please keep stressing the need to give parked cars plenty of room.

Earlier this week, I was meeting with a client and one of the office folk
called my attention to the window. Across the street (on Martha Custis just
after you leave Shirlington on the bike route),  a biker, coming down the
hill, had run head on into an open door on a parked car.  I assume the door
was opened in his face, as I heard later the driver got a ticket.

By the time my client left and I went across the street, there were two
ambulances and a fire truck, plus several police cars and another biker
observing.  The victim was sitting on the ground talking with the officers
and looked to be ok, but with some road rash (car door rash?).  I left my
card with the bystander. Yes, I told him I was NOT looking for business but
if the guy went to the hospital they could put his bike in my office until
he could come and get it.  And that's what happened.

The next day he came by to get the bike.  He is an Air Force CPT, and had an
Army MAJ in tow.  We chatted a bit, and he said he never went down but just
hit the door hard and stopped.  The door was bent so badly it couldn't be
closed, so it had to hurt.  He was wearing a helmet, but didn't seem too
badly banged up.

Nevertheless, please stress with your students that it surely complicated
his day, and he got off easy.  Treat all dogs as if they bite, and treat all
car doors as if they will open on you!  We all get careless and forgetful,
but this made an impression on me (and on the car door).

New topic.  Know anyone going to RAGBRAI?  I'm signed up and going, but my
riding buddy wimped out.  I'm riding with the Lake County Cyclists and would
like to fly out there with someone.  It is a whole lot more fun to travel
with someone, as you know.  Let me know.  Thanks.

Pete