Understanding a Dooring Crash in New York
The door zone is the space spanning about four feet (1.2m) from the sides of parallel parked cars. It is hazardous to ride a bicycle in a door zone because if a door is suddenly opened, the cyclist must either crash into it (suffering a
dooring), brake suddenly, or swerve into the adjacent lane of traffic. An opening door may also knock the cyclist into passing traffic, leading to serious injuries or death. Despite this hazard, bicycle lanes or cycle lanes are often painted within door zones. Being doored (to collide with the door of a car unexpectedly opened) is a hazard for cyclists in New York. Cyclists must be vigilant for motorists and passengers unaware of the law forbidding opening a door into a traffic lane in a way to interfere with traffic, including bicycles. Approximately 20 cyclists are killed most years, usually by collision with a moving motor vehicle (including those who are knocked under wheels by a door). In New York City,
31% of fatalities in ten year period (between 1996 and 2001) were from a door zone collisions.
In New York City and New York State, opening a vehicle door into moving traffic is a violation:
Section 1214 of the Vehicle and Traffic law states "opening and closing vehicle doors – "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers."
Within the City of New York, RCNY, 4-12(c) makes it illegal to exit a vehicle in a manner that endangers a cyclist.
RCNY 4-08(e)(9), makes it illegal for a vehicle to park stand or stop within a bike lane.
These rules can conflict with RCNY Section 4-11, Section C, "[T]axis….while engaged in picking up or discharging passengers must be within 12 inches of the curb or parallel thereto".
Even with the best planning and acute and attentive riding, a dooring can still occur. When passing stopped vehicles, always anticipate a door opening into your path of travel. In the case of NYC cabs, assume the passengers are unfamiliar with New York City and the great number of cyclists, as well as there requirement not to open a door into your path of travel.
If you have been injured by a "dooring", contact New York's Bike lawyer's Flanzig and Flanzig at 1-866-FLANZIG or email us at
info@NewYorkBikeLawyer.com