Letter to Officials After Yet Another Dooring

Dutch Reach messaging on Mobile Electronic Traffic Sign, Somerville, MA, USA.

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Dooring Survivor's Letter to Editor

After suffering multiple injuries from dooring incident, Canto resident Betsy Kepes' letter calls on public to use the Dutch Reach to avoiding cyclist - car door collisions.

Betsy Kepes suffered dooring injuries; calls on drivers to practice Dutch Reach habit. Fellow citizens, local and state officials must hear our plea. Letter to Editor, North Country Now, Postdam, MYS, June 18, 2018 - link. Click to enlarge.

Actions City can take in wake of recent serious dooring

Dear [Mayor, City Councillor, Police Chief, Traffic & Parking Director, etc.]

As you may know, a [Dooring News Report: 23 year old man from Brookline suffered multiple injuries in a hit & run dooring in Central Square Friday May 4 as reported in Cambridge Wicked Local here:

City Police: Cyclist injured after getting doored; driver flees
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20180514/cambridge-police-cyclist-injured-after-getting-doored-driver-flees ]

It is apparent more must be done to protect cyclists on major [Town/City] thoroughfares and retail districts. Besides infrastructure re-design, I/we believe more can be done to educate drivers & passengers about doorings and safe exiting procedures, ie the Dutch far hand method, which is now advised by [MassDOT, RoSPA, CAA, Berlin de, League of American Cyclists, SFMTA, etc.]

May I/we suggest several actions in this regard?

1) Immediate use of mobile electronic traffic signs (METS) to advise the Dutch reach.  Messages could include: Safer to Open/Car Door/With Far Hand || Reach Twist/Look Back/If Safe Open; etc.

Examples:

Photos of METS Dutch Reach signage and alternative text ideas:
https://www.dutchreach.org/electronic-mobile-sign-haiku/

2) Placement of anti-dooring Dutch Reach signage and/or stickers on traffic sign poles, meters, and at parking facilities.

Examples:

NYBC Shadow figure: Driver Sees Cyclist:
https://www.dutchreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Far-Hand-Scan-CntLHoriz-Sign-logos.png

NYBC Yellow caution sign:
https://www.dutchreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Far-Hand-Caution-w-logos.png

Ride Illinois Reach Sticker:
http://rideillinois.org/updating-rules-road-manual/

3) Distribute fliers/posters re: dooring prevention to merchants for window display.

Examples:

Burbank Police, CA:  Dutch Reach Infographic:
http://www.burbankpd.org/assets/1/16/Burbank_PD_Dutch_Reach_Infographic_PSA.pdf

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Teach the Reach (flier):
https://www.dutchreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Mom-Dad-Kids-Teach-Dutch-Reach-aa.png

Boston Globe: Dutch Reach diagram:
https://www.dutchreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dutch-Reach-Bos-Globe-far-safe-fdd-a.png

4)  [Require, Provide, Revise] vehicle window decals or clings for residential, commercial and for-hire taxi, ride share, livery vehicles to to instruct the Dutch Reach with shoulder check before opening.

Example:

NYBC Decal:
https://www.dutchreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Dutch-Reach-NYBC-Decal.jpg

5) Institute city-wide re-training of municipal & private fleet drivers using available social media videos which teach the Dutch Reach and other road sharing content.

Examples:

RoSPA:  How to Do the "Dutch Reach"
https://youtu.be/ppBuWxvypfg

MassDOT: Scan the Streets for Wheels & Feet
https://youtu.be/AD50tVXIXB4

SFMTA: Large Urban Vehicle Driving Safety
https://www.sfmta.com/videos/large-vehicle-urban-driving-safety-video

For many additional graphics and media to choose from explore under Advocacy Toolkit, and Videos at:
www.dutchreach.org

Thank you for your consideration of these suggestions.

Yours truly,

 

Dutch Reach Caution Sign: Yellow diamond sign with black silhouette of driver performing far hand anti dooring method to open latch, turned & to look over shoulder to scan for on-coming bicyclists or traffic. Figure is in ISO international standards organization's style. Design by New York Bicycling Coalition & Dutch Reach Project.

Mom, Dad, KIds. Ever doored? Fear it? Teach the Dutch Reach. Drivers, passengers Reach across, swivel, look at mirror, back, open slowly, exit facing traffic.

Dutch Reach Universal Sign for UK, & other left side-of-road driving countries, version with cyclist, window, steering wheel and dotted line of sight between driver & cyclist.. Figure swivels to right side for right over-the-shoulder check for on-coming cyclists or other vehicles to avoid dooring crashes. Silhouetted iconic human figure in solid black on white background, seated but swiveled to left with right far (right) hand extended to 'door latch', head turned back over left shoulder with arrow line of sight backwards looking, scanning, for on-coming bicyclists, cyclists, vulnerable users or other traffic or vehicles which might otherwise be doored if occupant opened car door heedlessly. Doorings can result in serious, even fatal injuries to exiting drivers or passengers as well as more commonly to cyclists. The Dutch Reach method shown in the image prevents careless exiting of vehicles. This graphic symbol is intented for traffic signs, parking signs, warning to prevent and avoid doorings by exiting occupants in or adjacent to traffic or travel lanes. Credit: NY Bicycling Coalition.

Video teaches the Dutch far hand technique or method for safer opening of car doors to avoid dooring cyclists. Video shows passenger using the Reach method as well as the driver. 2017. Part of MassDOT RMV share the road campaign linked to state Driver's Manual.

MassDOT Dutch Reach animation, Scan the Street for Wheels & Feet -The Dutch Reach.