Bicyclists traveling in and around the City are steadily increasing especially since the relatively recent resurgence of Buffalo. The City is encouraging bicycle riding by installing more bike racks, many additional miles of bike lanes each year, and hiring a consultant to craft a master plan for bicycling in Buffalo. As a result, with more bicycles sharing the roadways with automobiles, there is an increased risk of “dooring”- the act of a cyclist striking a suddenly opened car door .
“ Dooring ” is a significant danger for cyclists, especially in the City, where there is little room between the moving bike and the parked cars. When a parked car door opens suddenly in their path of travel, a bicyclist can suffer a severe injury. Any parked vehicle passed by a cyclist is a potential threat to that rider.
Your best defense is to look ahead and be aware. If possible, ride 3 – 4 feet from parked cars, taking the travel lane, if necessary and safe. Be prepared to stop suddenly in an emergency.
Sadly, even with some of the most cautious and experienced riders, doorings have become a common occurrence in Buffalo and make up a significant percentage of bicycling accidents. If you have suffered an injury because of a car dooring collision, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation depending upon your injuries.
In New York State, Article 33-New York Vehicle & Traffic Law, Section 1214 states "opening and closing vehicle doors – "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic , nor shall a 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."
What should you do if you’ve been “doored”?
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury as a result of a “dooring” accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact experienced bicycle accident attorney Craig Small of the Small Law Firm at 716-847-2600 or Contact Us online today for a free and confidential consultation.
The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) has opened registration for the 2024 EA2EVL Fondo. Over the last three years this ride has raised $150,000 to continue to open, build, improve and maintain the 27-mile ECRT Trail that runs from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY. The trail association is making so much progress because of YOUR SUPPORT!
#1 - Date: This year, the 42-mile charity bike ride will be held on Saturday, October 5th.
#2 - Same Route: How could you forget! The fondo—or non-competitive bike ride—starts at 42 North Brewing in East Aurora and goes down Route 240, heading west on Rt 242 into Ellicottville.
#3 - Party On: EA2EVL ends with a celebration—music, food, drinks—at the Holiday Valley Resort.
#4 - Fundraising Awards: Your registration gets you into the event, access to our course and rest stop amenities. We’re asking each rider to fundraise for the ECRT Trail: A $100 donation earns you an event t-shirt and tickets for food/drink at the party.If you raise $500 or more, you get an EA2EVL event jersey, plus all of the above. Our top fundraiser gets all of the above PLUS gets to wear the yellow jersey and a $500 gift certificate from Tom's Pro Bike!!
#5 - Register Today: Sign up today, raise some money for ECRT, and enjoy the party and a great fall ride!
424 Main St, Ste 1904
Buffalo, New York 14202
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