DHBC Rider bends Taxi door with knees of steel

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Terry
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Postby Terry » 17 Aug 2010, 15:14

On my way home from work this morning I managed to bend the rear passenger door of a taxi with naught but my knee after the passenger opened it on me. I was riding down george st towards central in the bus lane approaching an armourguard truck that was stopped in front of me. Then right knee hits door and I somehow managed to not hit the ground. After having visited RPA I have an understandably sore knee and the driver has a bent door that wouldn't close properly. Hopefully the sore knee is the worst of it for me.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 17 Aug 2010, 15:39

Chalk one up for the good guys! Glad you're not seriously hurt.

How many bike accidents have taxi's caused? You should always give them a wide berth.

Someone also told me that after your knee hit the door it ricocheted into your top tube. Not only is the taxi door bent, but your frame is now so badly out of alignment that it is also junk. You should get a quote for a new Jim Bundy frame to replace the damaged one, courtesy of the taxi driver at fault. :mrgreen:

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 17 Aug 2010, 15:51

Taxi's...... probably hard to avoid them when they're dropping passengers off in the middle of the road.

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Stuart
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Postby Stuart » 17 Aug 2010, 17:35

Good to hear you're OK Terry

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 17 Aug 2010, 17:40

Hi Terry, sounds like you were lucky not to get hurt, thank goodness for that

timyone
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Postby timyone » 17 Aug 2010, 18:36

what happens when some one opens a door on you? if you are in the lane their car is parked, are you at fault?

rhys
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Postby rhys » 17 Aug 2010, 18:57

I believe the law is worded something to the effect of, "One must exit a vehicle in a manner not to cause harm or discomfort to another party".
So if you're lane-splitting, which is perfectly legal, and someone car doors you, you'll be in the right. However it might not seem like it when you're lying on the street with your knee-cap split.

What I want to know is, did the taxi have his hazard lights on? If so, he is exempt from any and all responsibility and can park wherever the hell he likes.

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 17 Aug 2010, 19:04

I believe hazard lights only excuse you for parking in the middle of the road if you're car is actually unable to move under it's own power, otherwise he should at least be pulling over to the side of the road before causing Havoc.

Since it was Terry's right knee, this could have all been avoided if the Taxi pulled over to the side of the road, meaning the passenger would be exiting the Taxi straight onto the footpath.

Terry
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Location: Newtown

Postby Terry » 17 Aug 2010, 19:07

I was riding in the bus lane to the left of the taxi who was stopped in traffic when the Incident occured. there was an armourguard truck (with its hazzard lights on) about five or six cars further down in the bus lane that would have required me to lane split to get around. but as I hadn't even reached that point yet there is no way that I could have been in the wrong.
The only thing on my part that was wrong was that I left work 15 Mins early and the incident happend at 9:50 when I should have still been at work until 10.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 17 Aug 2010, 20:35

Was the taxi in the bus lane or the lane beside the bus lane?

Terry
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Postby Terry » 18 Aug 2010, 17:03

Was the taxi in the bus lane or the lane beside the bus lane?
I was in the gutter lane and the taxi was in the lane to my left.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 18 Aug 2010, 17:13

Sorry I'm confused, do you mean you were in the left lane and the taxi was in the right lane?

Terry
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Postby Terry » 18 Aug 2010, 21:29

Sort of... there are three lanes on that part of george st
I was in the left lane the taxi was to my right in the middle lane with another lane to his right.
It happened outside world square...or in that vicinity.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 18 Aug 2010, 21:37

OK, so the taxi as not at the curb, you were not lane splitting.

I'd bet that the taxi company will sue the passenger for the damage.

Terry
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Postby Terry » 18 Aug 2010, 21:43

yeah... the guy gave the driver his name and number to the driver but who knows if he gave the details. I asked for his name and number to be a witness which he was happy to comply with but i don't know if they're legit. or not I just forwarded them to work as I was on my way home when it happened


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