Traffic is already a major source of stress, and with so many vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists sharing the roads, accidents are bound to happen.

But not all accidents are unavoidable. One surprisingly common and often overlooked danger is called “dooring”—when someone opens a car door into the path of a cyclist.

It may sound minor, but dooring can lead to serious injuries and, in some cases, even be fatal.

A Frightening Close Call

I’ll never forget a moment that brought this risk into sharp focus. A friend of mine parked on a busy street and opened his door without checking behind him. A cyclist was just seconds away from colliding with it.

Luckily, they swerved in time—but it was far too close. That moment stuck with me. It was a clear reminder of how easily this type of accident can happen—and how easily it can be prevented.

The Simple Fix: The Dutch Reach

One of the easiest ways to avoid dooring is by using a technique known as the Dutch Reach: