Finally doored
Thread started by
outerspace at 02.11.10 - 3:12 pm
Learn from my mistake!!
STUPID STUPID STUPID.
Ventura Blvd eastbound just before Van Nuys Blvd. Bitch in a Bimmer swings that shit open like it's going out of style. I was so god damn scared I didn't even think about what kinda traffic might be coming, I just swerved out into the street to avoid and...
Just a love-tap. Door tagged the edge of my bag. Scared the absolute living hell outta me, though. I wanted to go back and give her an earful, but I was too shaken up, so I just pulled over to settle my nerves. Bitch went about her business like nothing happened.
I got off easy this time. I will block traffic and deal with the road rage from now on. It just feels like I have to choose between vehicular assault and getting doored. Ugh!!
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you can hang out with me in the middle of the lane!
buckchin02.11.10 - 3:26 pm
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Why did you have to get an earful?
Eff that bitch. She would have gotten her tires slashed giving me a lecture after she nearly decapitates me.
You did what you thought was safest. You can't always take the lane.
Joe Borfo02.11.10 - 3:26 pm
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Hahah, no no, she didn't give me an earful... I wanted to give HER an earful. But I didn't because I just kinda needed to sit down and rethink my life after that close of a call. She just grabbed her Coach bag or whatever and went about her business like it never happened.
But yeah, it makes me consider seeking a smaller parallel street or something even if it wastes time. Shaving five minutes off a ride ain't worth getting doored or blocking traffic if you don't have to.
outerspace responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
02.11.10 - 3:38 pm
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i think its best to take the lane i always do. its better to have to deal with angry drivers than get a broken colar bone
tree fitty02.11.10 - 3:41 pm
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I agree, but what do you do when some fuckface is blaring down the road behind you at 50mph?
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by tree fitty
02.11.10 - 3:46 pm
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you have a good point. so far i havent had any trouble with drivers i always have a good distance from the "car door swinging area" and were cars behind me can just swerve around me which they always do.
tree fitty responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
02.11.10 - 3:53 pm
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by the way sorry to hear about almost being doored. i know how it feels like get shaken up bad and your nerves shooting way up
tree fitty responding to a
comment by outerspace
02.11.10 - 3:56 pm
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No sweat, I am just thanking my lucky stars I got off without a scratch. I'm glad any time I can learn a lesson the easy way.
outerspace responding to a
comment by tree fitty
02.11.10 - 4:02 pm
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this shits always a lose-lose situation. it fucking sucks.
i've had my share of close calls and sometimes i dont know what would be worse.
KiMS102.11.10 - 4:08 pm
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This sucks .. homeslice .... I got doored and almost broke some dudes door off .. thank goodness I was riding the bus (old bike) and not going fast.. but I told myself I would never let it happen again ...
OsnapsonJC02.11.10 - 4:17 pm
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"The Bus" - Hehe . I should call mine the dump truck.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by OsnapsonJC
02.11.10 - 4:29 pm
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I dodged a pretty close call Wednesday on Sunset. The door flew open just as I began to merge left. CLOSE... I was being to submissive to the cars
Gav02.12.10 - 2:52 am
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Yeah "The Bus" ... it actually got its name because of this .. it Juggernauted thru this dudes door and only had a scratch.. I wasn't so lucky and sprained my MCL
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
02.12.10 - 8:03 am
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that area is packed!
And bumpy ass hell. I only ride at night, like at 9 or 10. You got balls to be riding eastbound during the day time! yikes! (Damn rich folks and their rich ways!) =P
^olsko*jr702.12.10 - 8:35 am
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My courage comes out in strange ways. I'm actually a real push-over. I don't mind riding in traffic, but I'm nervous to piss off drivers by taking a lane. I dunno, I'm weird. Don't like confrontation I guess, but the thought of other dangers like getting doored didn't even occur to me.
outerspace responding to a
comment by ^olsko*jr7
02.12.10 - 1:58 pm
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I rode from my home near Long Beach to Eagle Rock today.
The whole way, I was taking the lane and keeping my eye on those parked car doors, thanks to this thread.
Yeah, one person swung his door open just ahead of me at one point, but I was all over that like white on rice.
Thanks, we need these reminders.
Creative Thing responding to a
comment by outerspace
02.12.10 - 5:46 pm
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TAKE
THE
F-ING
LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do it to be safe--and it's your damn right to be there. Don't think twice--riding where traffic will see you--where drivers are actually looking--is the safest place to be.
Worth repeating: it's your damn right to ride IN the lane. The CVC says you are to ride "as close as PRACTICABLE to the right-hand curb"--not it does not say "as close as POSSIBLE . . . " And if you are moving at or above the speed of traffic, you ride wherever it's safest (meaning the stay-to-the-right provision doesn't apply). CVC cut/pasted below.
Summary: if you think you are putting yourself in harm's way by riding in the door zone, you are not obligated to ride there and subject yourself you severe injury or death. You can thank our f-ed up transp planners for that wonderful safety feature of more-often-than-not putting bike lanes squarely in the door zone.
Operation on Roadway
21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
dudeonabike02.12.10 - 6:00 pm
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I am a mtn biker who didn't ride the streets of LA for my first 16 years here. After meeting Big Bike Dan and Alex Thompson (and the other SMCM & LACM ridaz 5 years ago, I started commuting when I am able, on the street. I too, started by NOT taking the lane. Then, thru my education taught by those of you who helped me, I now WILL take the lane When ever I need to. I will STAY AT LEAST 4'-5' away from parked cars...that puts me IN THE LANE, on most streets.
I will stay off streets with painted bike lanes that put me "IN THE DOOR ZONE".
I use a handlebar mounted GPS as a rolling active map, so I can be off the big streets the car commuters love, and be on streets that seem to be vacant a lot of the time.
I really strive to not be hurried when commuting to work, so I plan on taking more time to get there. Going home I have no “call time”, so it’s ALWAYS the best part of my day.
Bicycle Riding is my cocaine. I always want to do more, but my body will often yell, “give it a break” I fall in love again every time I get on and feel the smooth precision headset. The mtn bike feels like it is a train on the track, it is soo good. No slop anywhere. I finally got a new vehicle to “take the lane” with, that I’ve wanted ever since I laid eyes on one.
I have a brand new Surly Big Dummy in the box I got last night, that I believe will lesson the tennis elbow pain, I get from riding my mtn bike. My legs will be jelly at the start, as I will loose power sitting more upright, but in the long run, I will be stronger and healthier! I might even get my wife out on a group ride now, on the back. The savings is now starting to build for a “Stoke Monkey”, by Cleverchimp.
I look forward to parking the F 150 for >90% of the trips I now make with the Ford.
First time I’ve ever bought a bike without test riding the size I bought, seems weird to me, but I couldn’t find a 16” S.B.D. to test any where. I did ride Bigger ones, and EVERYONE that owns one LOVES them. Right Max, Richard?
Gern02.12.10 - 8:31 pm
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I'm familiar with this law. I have preached it before, myself. But I didn't practice what I preach in this case. Drivers honk and yell when I take a lane. They bully me over, driving as close to me as they think they can get until I have to give in and dodge, or else get run over. How do you deal with that? You get sandwiched into the door zone, anyway.
I almost got hit twice tonight trying to take a lane.
It's a hard choice to make: doored or run over. Getting almost doored wasn't fun... but neither is being forced off the road by drivers angry to see me in their lanes. So what's a rida to do? Ugh this is frustrating. Meanwhile I'm trying to explain to my friends why biking is so great. ;p
outerspace responding to a
comment by dudeonabike
02.13.10 - 3:29 am
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I was biking in Beverly Hills, going up Beverly Drive all fast like, close to the parked cars and such when all of the sudden some bitch in a Mercedes opened her door. The timing was fucking perfect though. She literally opened the door as the middle part of my bike frame passed her. The door swung open and tapped my frame. If it was a milisecond earlier, I would have collided with the door for sure. Like you, I wanted to go back and yell at her but I was just happy to be alive and said fuck it, and pedaled on.
be safe peeps !
RickDarge02.13.10 - 4:55 am
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You can't get anywhere in LA.
You'll get killed on a bike. Driving is a nightmare.
Your best bet is to just stay home and smoke pot.
shotgunBOOMBOOM02.13.10 - 1:00 pm
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I'm thinking I'll just pick up a helicopter on Craigslist.
outerspace responding to a
comment by shotgunBOOMBOOM
02.13.10 - 4:57 pm
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