Habits are a\u00a0key part of life. Simplicity often is the shortest avenue\u00a0to success. With one movement, how you reach to open your car door, you can save a life. You can save a bicyclist from injury. Creating\u00a0a new habit, retraining your movement when opening a door, can come with unquantifiable benefit.\u00a0Learn the Dutch reach\u00a0—\u00a0don’t “door” the friendly bicyclist passing beside you.<\/p>\n
It seems easy enough to note bicycle images on the path outside your car door. However,\u00a0if people don’t bike, it’s easy to not think of potential bicyclists passing by. Maybe\u00a0they are already answering a text as they exit their car, since they were being responsible drivers and leaving the phone alone as the chimes came in. I still prefer protected bicycle lanes\/paths. but in cases where we don’t have those,\u00a0practicing “the\u00a0Dutch Reach” is one of the best things we can do to protect bicyclists.<\/p>\n
The Dutch reach is a movement where you reach around to open your door with your right hand. The movement of using your right hand instead of our left hand gives way to at least glancing in your rear-view mirror.\u00a0More thoroughly, it\u00a0encourages you to look behind you before opening your door.<\/p>\n