Traffic is stressful, unpredictable, and often dangerous, but not every accident has to happen. “Dooring” is one type of crash that keeps hurting riders all over the world. This happens when a driver or passenger opens a car door right in front of a cyclist who is coming toward them. The outcome can be awful: a sudden hit, serious injuries, or even death. But making one simple modification in behavior can mostly stop dooring, even when it has major effects.
There was a close call that I observed once that I can’t forget. Because he was in a rush and not paying attention, a buddy of mine unlocked the door to his car without looking. A biker in the bike lane had to rapidly move to the side to avoid hitting the door. I’ll always remember how scared they all looked. At that moment, I understood that even something as easy as opening a door may put someone’s life in danger.
The Dutch Reach is a proven strategy to minimize the probability of dooring, which is a positive thing. The Dutch Reach is a simple but effective change in behavior that became popular in the Netherlands, where riding is a large part of everyday life. Drivers’ bodies automatically swivel when they open the door with their right hand, which is the hand that is farthest from the door. This makes them look over their shoulder. That small movement naturally lines up their sight with the side mirror and any bikes coming near them. The same guideline goes for passengers: open the door with your left hand.
It might seem a little odd at first, especially if you’ve usually used your near hand to open the door. But after doing it a few times, it becomes second nature. More importantly, it teaches a behavior that could save lives. People that support the Dutch Reach have witnessed a big drop in dooring incidents.
More than one individual can make roadways safer. Infrastructure is vital, and things like protected bike lanes, clear signs, and well-planned roads may all assist. Also, learning is crucial. Teaching kids and teens about bike safety in school, encouraging new drivers to use the Dutch Reach during training, and promoting awareness in communities all make roadways safer. You may get your point across even more by putting up a public service notice or a sticker on the dashboard that says “look before you open.”
We can’t control a lot of road dangers, but we can control this one. The Dutch Reach is one of those things you can do that is easy, free, and could save your life. You can turn your body and look in the mirror in less than a second. And in that second, you could stop a broken collarbone, a concussion, or worse.
Keep in mind: the next time you get out of a car, use your right hand. Turn. Look. It’s a little thing, but it might change everything.