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Letter: 'Dutch reach' needed to save cyclists from dooring

Editor: Re: Increase in fines for ‘dooring’ cyclists I doubt anybody will change their behaviour by increasing fines for dooring cyclists.
dooring
As long as cycling lanes are placed right beside parked cars, dooring will be a concern. There are, however, steps drivers can take to help keep cyclists safe. photo Andy Prest, North Shore News

Editor:

Re: Increase in fines for ‘dooring’ cyclists

I doubt anybody will change their behaviour by increasing fines for dooring cyclists. 

As far as changing infrastructure, I will have put my bicycle away and be using a scooter long before cycling infrastructure will protect me.

A better solution is to educate drivers to do the “Dutch reach,” which is a practise where you use your right hand to open the car door.  

This means a driver has to automatically swivel their body and position in order to look past their side-view mirror and to the back of the vehicle to where a cyclist might be approaching. 

Make this a part of driver education and a public relation campaign and we will all be riding happier.

Dale Darychuk, New Westminster