Have you heard of The Dutch Reach? Â If not, then it’s time you did!
Lifestyle
I love to go bike riding. However, I’m always extremely nervous when riding alongside a row of parked cars and getting “doored.” You see, most drivers never take into account that a bicyclist could be approaching. Most American drivers are so used to flinging their door open without ever looking, that they never know if a cyclist or a cement truck is about to roll through. So, it’s always a crap shoot for me on whether I’ll live or die when riding near parked vehicles.
To alleviate these fears, I want everyone to learn about something I discovered in my travels called The Dutch Reach. Originating in the Netherlands, it’s a technique used to avoid bike accidents when opening car doors. Thankfully, it’s easy to learn and simple to implement.
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The Dutch Reach consists of opening your car door by reaching across the body with the hand farthest from the door.  Basically, don’t open the door with the hand you might normally use — just use the other one.  In case you’re wondering how this could possibly make a difference, just know that it forces you to look over your shoulder when turning to your door, thereby giving you a clear indication if a cyclist (or even a vehicle) is approaching.
Interestingly, with all of the bicyclists throughout the country, the Netherlands requires all motorists to learn The Dutch Reach in order to pass their driver’s test. Â Since the US has yet to adopt such a simple and safety-ensuring law, we can (and should) take it upon ourselves to make it the law of the land for ourselves.
SAVE A LIFE. Â SAVE A CYCLIST. Â LEARN THE DUTCH REACH!
Watch the video below to learn how to do as the Dutch do.
THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!
