riding to work today from Oakland to Berkeley via Telegraph Ave., on a bike laned portion, early evening / late afternoon.

this old van was parked, no sign of it being on (no lights), and I was SO CLOSE when the the driver opened the door. SO CLOSE. like ONE (1) MILLIMETER. I’m not kidding. Thank god I’ve developed some quick reflexes (esp. now that I’m riding fixed), and steered left and fast just enough to avoid the door.

i could’ve been actually doored and flung leftward into fast-moving auto traffic and hit and run over or something bad. 

my bf was cycling in front of me, and i guess he saw the door just about to open and said “WOAH!” which I didn’t hear (and he missed the door by like 4 millimeters)(and he should’ve yelled “DOOR!” but he claimed he was too scared at the moment to properly warn me in time), and then next me nearly getting doored, “AAAHK!!!”, and this guy behind us we were starting to talk to, who used to be a bike messenger in Boston and was right now riding a hybrid with a baby seat over the handlebar, “FUCKING LOOK!!” (to the driver of the van)

we were riding pretty fast, like 20mph or almost (flat terrain). so yeah, if riding a bit slower, might’ve gotten touched by the door.

gyahh bike lanes that are in the door zone! and then two car lanes each way pretty close so I didn’t feel like riding in the real bike lane. blahh I need to look up what the new design/plan for Telegraph Ave. is, and get bike lanes buffered on each side.

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   Yet another story to add to the reasons why our cities need better bike lane designs. Or at the very least public...

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