8.40am.. I was enjoying the luxury of a lift to work rather than being on the bike as per normal. Then it started, and a sick feeling spread through my stomach as i saw the crumpled cyclist lying on st kilda road southbound. The poor sod had been car doored by yet another clueless driver who obviously failed to look before flinging open his door. Then, as i sat there (on the other side of the road by the way) i watched the driver try to pull him up by his left arm. The cyclist was lying on his right side not moving.. You see, if you yank up the victim and get them on their feet, maybe you can ease your guilt more. Some walkers and another cyclist helped and i saw a lady making a phone call. NOT THE DRIVER ..... because he was paying more interest in his scratched car door than than the man on the ground.. Some praise for our Ambo's as i heard the sirens within about 3 mins. I also saw a cop car going in the same direction. I hope it was going to the scene.
To the crumpled cyclist on the road,.. i wish you a speedy recovery should you ever read this..I have been lucky to have only ever experienced the near misses and not the actual connection. I shall be extra vigilent tomorrow when back on the bike..
The poor sod had been car doored by yet another clueless driver who obviously failed to look before flinging open his door.
That happened to me back in the days before compulsory helmets. I hit the leading edge of a partly opened van door at over 40kph, taking most of the impact on my head and shoulder. I was lucky to escape with relatively minor injuries, but a car door can really can do some serious damage.
St Kilda Road especially around the Fitzroy Street Junction and Park Street/Domain Road section, can be hairy at most times. In the morning for the commuter cyclists especially, (who can be a cranky and bad tempered lot if your a dawdler), tend to go just a bit too quick for my liking, I have always just cruised when going down St Kilda Road, it has been the site of too many fallen cyclists. Always having my eyes peeled for brake lights, and indicators. 40kmh along there past all those parked cars is a suicidal speed.
I rode that route a lot when I was at RMIT, and it's a [censored] nightmare during peak hour. It has a bike lane, but it's right next to the parked cars, so the real danger is the opening doors. Between the St Kilda junction and the CBD, I usually only sat on about 20 to 25kmh.
I rode that route a lot when I was at RMIT, and it's a [censored] nightmare during peak hour. It has a bike lane, but it's right next to the parked cars, so the real danger is the opening doors. Between the St Kilda junction and the CBD, I usually only sat on about 20 to 25kmh.
I always avoid that bike line, I put myself quite visibly in the centre of the left lane.
Funny that you mention this. The first time I ever road up St Kilda Rd a few weeks ago I almost got pegged by a driver getting out of his car during 'quiet' non-peak traffic. I had to swerve to avoid it. Luckily no cars in the left car lane or I might have been toast. Now I just stay way to the right of the bike lane and sometimes in the car lanes. City bike riding is a bit nerve racking unless yr part of the critical mass group. 😉
Which would be worse getting rammed from behind by a moving car or hitting an open car door while riding at 25-30k?
Which would be worse getting rammed from behind by a moving car or hitting an open car door while riding at 25-30k?
Speaking from experience :eek: I would put my money on the car door. Unfortunately you can see it coming, but there's not a great deal you can do about it. So you brace yourself which can lead to some nasty muscle, ligament, and/or tendon damage. You will almost always end up with some form of concussion and a massive headache. Death is optional, and usually related to speed.
When you get hit from behind it just happens. Black stuff arrives, then you wake up (or not) in hospital with wires and tubes and needles all over you. Injuries/death are pretty much a lottery in this type of accident, but if you survive you tend to get fed opiates for a little while which takes the edge off.
