So yesterday I was on my way to the bike shop on Penn Ave to get some help with my bicycle. I call her "Blue Monster," because she is pretty heavy and I thought invisible. I was on S. Millvale when I heard a car coming up behind me. The car began to pass me so I moved closer to the parked cars. Right after the car moved ahead of me, a lady in a parked car opened her car door. My elbow got clipped and I fell into her car and then onto the road. I survived with only some scrapes but my bike was a little less lucky. I had to walk the rest of the way to Garfield, steaming the whole way about the incident.This rattled my confidence. A friend of mine once told me when we were riding down East Carson that the number one way a biker gets hit by a car is by incautiously swung open doors. He told me I should ride more in the lane, but I always felt weird about it. As a driver and a biker, I can see both plites. Who wants to be stuck behind a bike rider in a car? And who wants a car riding up on you while you are on your bike? After doing some research, I found a very handy map that plans out Pittsburgh and its safest routes to and from the greater Pittsburgh area. The Bike-Pgh website has great tips and tricks for city bikers. They also have ways to get involved and fight for bike rights. Even if you don't ride a lot, as a driver it is always great to look out for others interests... Who knows, maybe one day you'll open your door at an inopportune moment.
