You never know what could be passing next to your car just before you get out. And if you nail a cyclist when you open your car door you’ll feel pretty bad.
The Dutch have a solution. Enter the “Dutch Reach.” And I’m going to start using it.
A Dutch Reach is opening your driver’s side car door with your far hand instead of using your near hand. Using your right hand instead of your left hand it makes your body swivel, positioning your head to look out of your car so you can easily check to see approaching bikes. Maybe a better name would be the “Dutch Twist.”
If this habit can be spread, it’ll help reduce accidents, making cycling lanes less dangerous. The Dutch Reach is already part of the driver’s eduction program in the Netherlands.
It’s simple and easy to teach making it cheaper than costly infrastructure changes to make biking safer.