Lane splitting accident

[canyonrat]

I'll join in. A question first. This street where the accident occured, is it a shopping district? I bring this up because in busy shopping areas I believe the motorcyclist needs to spen extra effort to be more visable and more time looking for possible hazzards. Also, in some areas it is local custom to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk because the street is too dangerious. I`m talking very select small sections of street. If that is the case then the driver might know this and spend more time looking at areas other then the street for bikes.

 

[domingo3]

I know the area well. Bicyclists are not welcome on the sidewalk and are expected to be on the street. I think it's been beaten to death here as far as prevention. Either don't share the lane, or do so with extreme caution. 5MPH may seem slow, but it's not slow enough. Cars sitting in a queue at a stop sign or stop light are not the primary hazard. It's people opening car doors, as OP found out. Another thing to note, pedestrians rule Berkeley. They come out without looking not even in cross walks. Not everyone of course, but it only takes one to pop on in front of a motorcycle because they see car traffic is stopped and think they can jaywalk.

 

[LectricBill]

I do this rarely on SF's Gough St. during rush hour gridlock. After many years of urban bicycle riding, I'm always very very afraid of parked cars. Cyclists have been killed by being doored.

I'm old enough to remember when cars didn't have a) tinted glass all around and b) headrests that from a distance are easy to confuse for heads. So now it's much more difficult to tell if anyone is in the car.

+1 on super slow. In this situation all I'm doing is trying to get to the intersection past the stopped traffic. If I don't make the light, no big deal: just pull into traffic as it starts to move. Any hurrying, past walking speed, for me, poses way to much of a distraction from car doors. Of course my brake lever is covered.

As I write this, I'm moving much closer to giving up this dangerous practice altogether!

 

[pt65]

I realize this is an ancient thread, but I didn't read where anyone mentioned the following:

I split between stopped cars and parked cars too. I do so VERY VERY slowly. The purpose is to avoid being the crumple zone between two cars.

As the purpose is to avoid being crushed:
- if there is just room to squeeze thru...I DONT.
- if it looks like someone is sitting in the driver seat of a parked car...I DONT.
- if it looks like the lead car might turn right...I DONT.
- etc...

Lots of times, to avoid being turned into a harmonica, I stop also, but move far enough to the right (or sometimes left), so I'm not directly in front of the car behind me. Why? Because who knows, the car behind me might be asspacked by another car behind him, forcing him into me.

Minimize the risk to your life and limbs by assessing the situations you are in. Take nothing for granted. Secondary threats can be just as dangerous as primary threats.

As in most things...its the one you don't see that gets you.

 

[MLCOakland]

I don't know exactly which stretch of College Ave this is, but it is a very busy and narrow street. I don't know what others' definition of "enough" space is, but to me, just because you can physically fit doesn't mean it would be OK for someone to ride through. And I can't really think of any part of College where it would be reasonable or safe for a motorcycle to ride between the lane of cars and parked cars. (Well, except if you were coming up on an intersection and making a right turn, and passing just a couple of cars to the right to get to your turn, maybe.)

So, for crash analysis, IMO the OP should not have put himself in that position to begin with. The correct thing to do would be to wait in traffic, and if you decide not to do so, this is the risk you take.

Greg

 

[T100]

I would think it a good practice to scan the parked cars through their rear windows looking for heads as you approach, if you see one then just about stop before reaching the driver's door, and make sure they are aware of your proximity/presence.

Maybe that is one way to avoid it happening. I find it very good defensive practice in everyday riding and driving to 'see' through other car's windows, it can warn you of hazards that otherwise might be blocked by the mass of the vehicle.

 

[jh2586]

This is pretty straight forward honestly. When you pass on the right and the cars are parked on your right, you take a huge risk of someone either a) pulling out, and b) opening their door. Perhaps going at a VERY slow speed (below 5mph) momentarily to pass a few cars then get back in to pass in between the lanes would be better IMO.

Heal fast rider.