A video of a cyclist being hit by a truck door near the traffic circle on Goldstream Avenue has the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition asking drivers to use more caution.
The video was submitted to the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette by reader Graham Bunn.
It is a dashcam video that was taken around 5:20 p.m. Friday. In it, a white pickup truck can be seen heading towards the traffic circle on what appears to by Bryn Maur Road.
The truck stops on the road without signalling and bicycle can be seen passing the vehicle. As soon as the passenger side door opens, it hits the cyclist and knocks them off their bike.
Both the passenger and cyclist are then seen walking and riding off.
West Shore RCMP was unable to comment on whether or not the cyclist reported the incident as of Saturday afternoon.
Edward Pullman, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, said he is glad it looked like the individual hit wasnB次元官网网址檛 hurt too badly. However, he said more care and caution needs to be used when exiting a vehicle.
B次元官网网址淭hat was clearly not the case here,B次元官网网址� Pullman said. B次元官网网址淚t also goes to show that when youB次元官网网址檙e designing bike lanesB次元官网网址hen you just have a single strip of paint separating you from vehicle traffic, it leaves a lot of room for human error.B次元官网网址�
In the case of the video, the cyclist was biking on the edge of the roadway as there was no bicycle lane. The truck did not pull off to the side of the road to stop.
Pullman said some sort of buffer B次元官网网址� whether that means physical barriers or just more space between bike lanes and roads B次元官网网址� can help keep cyclists safe.
Cycling injuries related to being hit by vehicle doors are very common, according to Pullman, however many cyclists donB次元官网网址檛 report the incidents.
B次元官网网址淒ooring is very common, itB次元官网网址檚 certainly not the majority but itB次元官网网址檚 one of the most common incidents that occur in terms of cyclist injuries,B次元官网网址� Pullman said.
Pullman recommends drivers utilize a move called the B次元官网网址淒utch reachB次元官网网址� when exiting their vehicles. It involves using the hand that is furthest from the door to open it in the hopes that you will turn your body with it and be able to check blind spots.
B次元官网网址淵ou can certainly check your mirror but you should also check your blind spot just in case,B次元官网网址� Pullman said. B次元官网网址淭he Dutch reach is the best piece of advice you can give to a driver exiting a vehicle.B次元官网网址�
Pullman noted that incidents such as this one can discourage people from wanting to ride their bicycles on roadways.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of surveys have shown that people would like to ride their bikes more,B次元官网网址� Pullman said. B次元官网网址淎nd the number one reason for why theyB次元官网网址檙e not is safety.B次元官网网址�
