BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

« Back to Archive
6

Doored on Smallman

Doored on Smallman Street last night around 5:30 PM in front of Heinz History Center.  Handlebars and front wheel will need replacement.  Left knee and shoulder are scratched up and my entire left bicep is a bruise today (range of motion is mostly intact and getting better).  My phone, which remained in my pocket during the crash, was totally destroyed.  It's a work-issued phone, so replacement isn't an issue.  Car door was slightly dented / scratched.  Couple was very apologetic, gave me a ride home, and offered to pay for any damages.  They were attending an event at the History Center.  Exchanged information and went our separate ways.  Did not attempt to file police report, since there were no serious injuries (was hit by car last year and police refused to file report, since there were no "serious injuries"). Here's my helmet footage - https://youtu.be/tGAsdRtrQx4 Aside from being an awful cyclist in general who gives all cyclists a bad name and aside from how you would have avoided this accident, what are your thoughts about fault in the eyes of the law?  Trying to anticipate possible discussions with insurance if it ever reaches that point.  Yes, I'm not taking this official legal advice.
bawenala
2017-11-10 10:48:35
it's always the driver's fault. period. “Dooring” is always the Motorist’s Fault – PA Vehicle Code 3705: No person shall open any door on a motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on a side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
erok
2017-11-10 11:18:55
http://localhost/message-board/topic/legality-of-bikes-passing-stopped-cars-on-right/ Did anyone ever confirm if filtering is legal in PA, to the point of the passenger maintaining all culpability in a dooring crash like the one in the video? If the driver who doored the police officer in Shadyside wasn't charged, I have a really hard time believing a judge would hold this passenger liable for damages.  Who knows.
nmr
2017-11-10 11:56:13
I do not know what motivates cyclists to ride so far right. Whether you’re in front of a car’s right headlight or right door handles or their left headlight, they have to get in the adjoining lane to pass. So, force the issue. Ride at “the 40 line”, a shade left of the center of the lane. * You will be out of the door zone. * You will more likely be seen by someone staring at their phone. * You will be seen more easily by someone pulling out forward. * You will be seen more easily by someone backing out. * You will be seen more easily by someone about to turn left in front of you. * You will avoid the drain grates and other debris that accumulates on the road edge. I could go on; there are a half dozen more of these.
stuinmccandless
2017-11-10 20:40:26