This is a reasonable approach when the world is full of hostile cars, but it doesn't have to be that way if drivers are more careful.
Some parts of town here riding a bike seems like attempting a trench run on the Death Star, there's innumerable hazards and if you're not hyper-aware of everything you will get smacked hard by one of them.
This is completely unacceptable. Nobody should have to maintain absolute situation awareness when cycling. You should be aware of your surroundings, but like walking it should be a fairly effortless process provided you keep your eyes open and scan your surroundings for possible problems.
Imagine if the road was littered with large, random spikes that would pop up out of nowhere without notice. Driving would require every scrap of your attention and would be exhausting even for short trips.
I disagree. You're sharing the road with vehicles 10x heavier than you. People have heart attacks, go into diabetic shock, blow their tires, etc. Sure, those things don't happen often. But if they do and you're in the way, you'll have brain damage at best. There's not only other drivers to be wary of, simple road hazards that are nothing to a car can cause great harm. Sewer grates, random debris, pot holes, pot holes hidden by puddles, oil slicks after a rainfall, people pulling over to the side of the road without looking because of a siren etc. At times, even the wind becomes a dangerous element.
You mention walking should be fairly effortless. However, I've seen so many near misses because people walking are so buried in their phones that they almost get hit. Also I find that people put too much trust in traffic lights instead of simply looking both ways before crossing a street.
Cycling in large American cities built for automotive traffic is, unfortunately, not for everyone, not yet.
You have to reach the point where vigilance doesn't cause anxiety.
I agree with your points, but the reality is that we live in a town where everyone else is distracted, so the onus is on us (bikers) to be aware. That's it.
Things are improving, and maybe one day biking in an American city may be as relaxing as a European bike path, but until that day, I think it's extremely important for cyclists to realise the dangers that are out there, and how to minimise that risk. And for some reason, this is a discussion that I rarely hear about.
The ultimate responsibility for your safety falls on you, but the risk you're exposed to can be minimized by encouraging people to do things that don't expose others to high levels of risk.
Asking drivers to open their doors a new way to minimize hazards is good for both drivers and cyclists. Nobody wants to be hit with the insurance tab for dooring someone.
Agreed. I'm all for broadcasting this PSA, but as others have pointed out, blinker usage is a good predictor of how widely the "Dutch reach" would be adopted.
Some parts of town here riding a bike seems like attempting a trench run on the Death Star, there's innumerable hazards and if you're not hyper-aware of everything you will get smacked hard by one of them.
This is completely unacceptable. Nobody should have to maintain absolute situation awareness when cycling. You should be aware of your surroundings, but like walking it should be a fairly effortless process provided you keep your eyes open and scan your surroundings for possible problems.
Imagine if the road was littered with large, random spikes that would pop up out of nowhere without notice. Driving would require every scrap of your attention and would be exhausting even for short trips.