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FREE: "Look Before Opening" Bicycle Safety Stickers (Delivered)

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A great reminder to look out for bikes when opening car doors. Here's a screenshot of what they look like.

  • We don’t support stickers being put onto cars without drivers permission.
  • The stickers are designed to go on the inside window of the car not on any mirrors.
  • It takes a lot of time, effort and cost to send out the stickers, so kids who are ordering them please use them for your parents cars and not for sticking them on your school books, skateboards, decorating your room or anything else apart from a car window.
  • If you aren’t going to use 20 please order less.

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closed Comments

    • +1

      I wonder if they also have any "Don't ride within 20cm of a car" stickers?

      • +8

        Since when do people only open their doors 20 cm?

        • -3

          If another car wouldn't hit my door, why the hell should a bike?

        • +28

          @Snoop:

          Nothing should be hitting your door because you shouldn't be opening it when there's oncoming traffic.

        • +24

          @Snoop:

          You should check the traffic behind you before opening your door. If there's something coming which would be interfered with if you opened your door, you should wait until that is not the case before doing so.

          I think that's quite obvious.

        • +17

          @Snoop:

          In sydney a lot of the cycle-designated areas have been made in that verge between parked cars and the remainder of the lane. I saw a dude get taken out by a BMW X5 door being opened into such a space.

          I'll often ride further onto the road because of this… as its not a safe place to ride even though its been designated painted as such. A check in the rear view mirror is all it takes to see whether an oncoming cyclist is there..

        • +1

          @klownz: AKA the 'door zone'

        • +9

          @Snoop:

          Yes, let's get the bikes out of the lane near the side of the road, and into the lane with the cars, just so idiots can open their doors without looking, which is a genius thing anyway. That's a win/win, isn't it?

          You really wonder about some people.

        • -7

          @Mic Cullen:

          Yes, let's get the bikes out of the lane near the side of the road,

          Are you talking about the 'Parking Lane"… where cars are actually supposed to park?

        • +5

          @Snoop:

          Because most so called 'bike lanes' are just car door opening lanes…

        • +3

          @Snoop:

          I admire your persistent cluelessness.

        • +2

          @Mic Cullen:

          Cluelessness?

          a. I used to ride!
          b. Clearly you don't live near the bay/Mton Pen!

          There was/is a good reason for this!

        • +1

          @Mic Cullen:

          Oh, and then have the same drivers complain "why are you in the traffic lane, instead of the space beside so I can overtake."

        • @odysseus:

          Exactly. But at least the brainless can fling open their doors without a worry, right?

        • Interesting thing I picked up on the NSW driving handbook…

          CG018 - General Knowledge RUH

          Do you have any responsibilities when opening a vehicle door on a roadway?
          - Yes, you must not open a door if you are likely to cause danger to
          road users or impede traffic.

          - No, any following traffic must stop if the door interferes with its progress.
          - No, there is no regulation to cover this situation.

          Bolded reply being the correct response.

        • +1

          @klownz:

          in that verge between parked cars and the remainder of the lane.

          You know, I saw something crazy last night. As most of the riding I used to do was either; well before we decided to start chopping 2 lanes into 3; or on highways where there is adequate room to move, I couldn't believe that a street in Melb like Chapel St now has a bike lane down it. And, like you said, "in that verge between parked cars and the remainder of the lane". I'm one for parking within an inch of the curb, so when I alighted from my Mrs SUV I was surprised to see that I was infact probably still an inch or two into that 'so called' bike lane! I could clearly see how a street like this would have regualar incidents.

          I would like to say though… that although the driver would be 'at fault', it wouldn't necessarily be the driver's fault in such a place as this, as that road was clealy never designed to accomodate, parked cars, moving cars, bicycles and trams at the same time!

        • @Snoop: It would still be the driver's fault if he/she caused hazard to a person or a vehicle by opening a car door, leaving a door of a vehicle open, or getting off, or out of, a vehicle. (Rule 269(3) of the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2009).

        • @pitiek:

          Hence my comment:

          "…the driver would be 'at fault',…"

    • +15

      Hilarious!! I'm sure the father/brother/mother/sister you would put in hospital would love that joke!

    • +15

      Or decide to magically become a pedestrian and ride with the "green man"!

    • +46

      and here it comes…..I guess if we all paid rego we'd stop ignoring the road rules right? Do you hate me? I've never met you. I'm a driver as well, do I complain about myself? I've never ridden through a red light….ever but I've seen plenty of cars drive through them.

      • +17

        I'm with you 2ndeffort!

        So many people 'hate' cyclists. Its a sad world.
        I've seen some awful drivers (as i'm sure we all have), but alas i don't hate most drivers!

        • +24

          I used to cycle myself. People don't hate cyclists… What we hate is those cyclists that pick and choose between wanting to be part of the road system and/or then blatantly ignoring it!

        • +5

          @Snoop:

          Agreed - its not fair that some cyclists ignore the road rules. This is wrong.

          But its not fair some people really are negative towards cyclists as a whole.

        • +6

          @tux182:

          And agreed. This country is one of the worst for people just blatantly hating other things/people that they either don't have anything to do with or don't understand!

          Oh, and I hate disrespectful drivers just as much!

        • +2

          @Snoop:

          good to have a civilized conversation about it
          common sense prevails! :)

          let this be the end of hating and a new year of new beginnings!

          cue fade to black, 80s rock music and rolling credits

        • +6

          @Snoop: But then why direct the hate at the cyclists. I was overtaken and cutoff (whilst driving my car) a couple of days ago by a blacked out hotted up commodore with 'P' plates, it was full of 'wannabe' 19 yo 'gangsters' and at least 2 had arms out the window giving me the bird. Not sure what i did wrong, perhaps I was driving at the speed limit.

          For a short while I hated them. Point being that the folks that break the rules and act like morons on the road cant be easily categorised into 'cyclists', pedestrians, 'P' platers, older drivers. As with every other type of thing we do in life, most people are just getting about enjoying their life and generally obey the law in a courteous way. Unfortunately in every group we could dream up there are morons that think the laws dont apply and these are the people that should receive the scorn, regardless of what they are riding/driving.

        • +2

          @tux182:
          LoL. I thought you meant Metallica's Fade to Black!

        • +1

          @tux182:

          been watching a bit of top gun lately? :P

        • -1

          @klownz:

          haha - just generic 80s movies. But yeah Top Gun i watched for the first time ever in 2012. I was born in '79. Shame on me…

        • @Snoop:

          Nah - but that has inspired me what to listen to next at work :)

        • -5

          @Snoop:

          We don't hate all, I think we hate most, as very little cyclist follow road rules and a savvy users of the road.

          I'm really starting to get tired giving way to cyclists when I have the greater priority.

          Being a motorcycle rider myself I understand the dangers. But my patience is wearing very thin being cautious for idiot cyclists who have no clue at all.

          It would be my day when they apply registration for cyclist and start inflicting harsh penalties for those breaking the law and riding dangerously.

          I'm sure we would see progress in no time

        • @bti_jet: So only midget cyclists obey the law?

        • -2

          @bti_jet: I agree.
          I'm a cyclist, and I ignore all rules. I never stop at traffic lights, I ride on pedestrian.

          I hate myself :(

        • +2

          @bti_jet:
          I was going to bring up the motorbike issue.
          It would seem that motorbike riders now understand the extra risks involved in using our ever over-populated roads and generally ride with more caution awareness!

        • Seriously. I can't not neg you for that.

        • @Snoop:

          riders have always known about the dangers, its only now that everyone else realises the dangers we go through including cyclists.

          Riders are cyclists are on 2 different levels.

          Riders are switched on

          Cyclists are dumb as dog s***.

          Now i wait for neg votes, obviously from cyclists out there. If you think I'm the only one that thinks like this, try posting it in net rider and I'm sure you cyclists will see us riders think the same.
          http://netrider.net.au

        • +1

          @bti_jet: so what you are saying is that I should go to a specific motorcycle online community and ask there if anybody thinks motorbike riders are better than cyclists? I wonder what kind of response I'd get. On the other hand I am sure you could go across to the Bicycle Network of Australia (BNA) boards and ask there and you would probably find a bunch of people that ride both. Why is it that we are all different 'tribes', what if I drive, ride a motorbike, a road bicycle and a Mountain Bike…oh and I ski as well, sometimes I walk and on other occasions I catch public transport. Which of these tribes must I now be categorised as part of? Which group should I either be ridiculed or praised for being part of?

        • @2ndeffort:

          Not here to argue but riders and drivers in general think you are stupid along with cyclists

          This is certain, argue amongst yourself no more replies. Your thick as most of the people on the road :)

        • @bti_jet: We thought it. You said it.

      • "Xandarians. What a bunch of losers! Always trying to get from something stupid to nothing at all." ―Rocket Raccoon

        Xandarians = Drivers

        • That movie = best

    • +3

      agree, sorta. putting all cyclists into one group is like putting all black people into one group - it doesn't make any sense. entitled cyclists are certainly assholes - I was skating on a private road (going forwards, not creating a hazard), and a cyclist told me to get off it, like he owns it or something. i can understand why they weave in and out of traffic though - you would too if you valued your life and rode a bike

  • +3

    Great idea/initiative. I don't often ride in the city but anything that saves an injury or even a life is a very worthy endeavour! Well done.

  • +12

    Theres no need for a motorist vs cyclist debate. This is an important safety initiative to help remind all drivers and even passengers that it is your responsibility to give way to all traffic when opening a vehicle door onto the road. I believe that is the law throughout Australia.

    • +1

      The point being made is "where is the safety initiative to tell cyclists they need to be better road users"?

      The point that's been made in the past is that its not easy for passengers to check for a cyclist flying up the inside often - the thickness of the doors and pillars means the door is half open before you can see anything.

      As such, it's the responsibility of the cyclist to ride defensively and not fly up the inside expecting the world to get out of their way. The speed should always be such that they can stop.

      Thus the emphasis should be on cyclist education and enforcement, and whilst they are at it, they should enforce the other road rules that MANY cyclists ignore.

      • It should be obvious to a cyclist when a car has pulled over to let a passenger out, if the driver is indicating as such and has stopped in a safe area.

        Danger comes in when car doors are opened by cars just stopped in traffic, or cars parking adjacent to a cycle lane. The driver is able to check mirrors for approaching cyclists - perhaps the driver could do same for their passengers if the dynamics of the car do not permit such.

        Agree the cyclist should be riding defensively, but its difficult to do so when you are riding in a lane which is half a meter wide, and have a door open in front, where your options are to swerve out into faster moving traffic (likely = serious injury), or slam on brakes and cop the door to the face (likely = serious injury). Defensive riding can only achieve so much, if the infrastructure creates a hazard which is difficult to mitigate for the cyclist using it.

        I'm a cyclist and a driver - agree 'they' should enforce road rules for all road users.

        • agree 'they' should enforce road rules for all road users.

          That's been my issue from the start. It's far from a one way street and should be awareness from both the rider and the driver. But how can ALL riders be expected to ALWAYS follow our road rules/laws when they are either; not being enforced properly, or the rider hasn't been made to take any formal training and/or testing?

          PS. I understand that drivers break laws too, but they're actively combating that with a multitude of cameras!

  • +6

    I support the message of these stickers but I don't see the point in this implementation.

    People who make the effort to order them and apply them to their car would already be among the most concerned for cyclist's safety.

    It'd be more effective to distribute stickers to raise awareness amongst other drivers; like something you could stick on the rear of your car.

    • Yep, but it's still a good reminder, often people just forget. and free! thanks TA

    • +2

      Very good point but perhaps people could get 1 or 2 to put on the work car or a spouses car or even give to relatives or friends. I might hand a few out to guys I ride with or even ask if the guy at the LBS would put some on the counter as giveaways.

    • +6

      It would be great if they put these on all taxi-cabs…

  • -1

    This will be good for woman drivers who like to fling their doors open into traffic. A bmws door has become a Christmas ornament on my bullbar driving down chapel street.

  • +1

    I agree that most people who order would already be concerned with other's safety and I also agree that it would be a good idea to hand these out to those who might not think about this issue.

    But don't offer to apply it for them. Get it to do it for themselves, so it embeds in their mind the reason to always check. Otherwise it becomes just a tiny little sticker they will mentally ignore.

    • -1

      You're missing the point of the stickers, they are to get people talking and the message out there… Most stickers get ignored regardkess eventually…

      • And you're missing the point of my comment, which is similar to what you are saying. By getting them to apply it, they are having a conversation with themselves as they apply it. Stick it on for them and they will not care. Make them do it themselves and they will have a little think about it as they apply it.

        • +1

          For me to miss your point, you first need to have one mate….

  • +3

    I am all for better visibility of cyclists but how does obsuring a car window improve visibility of them coming?

    • +1

      if the reflection of the cyclist is small enough to be obscured by the sticker then you have plenty of time to open your door and get out.

      • +7

        And what if a tiny stick man on a stick bike comes riding past. You will think it is all clear and then wham, sticks everywhere.

        • This is so whacky! I love it!! :)

  • -5

    How is this a deal? Propaganda more like it.

    • +4

      Correct no deal here. This needs to move to forum section. Good bye.

      • You also need to change your account name to shortsighted…

    • +1

      Something useful for free, that's not a deal?

  • +3

    Wtf this is considered a deal now?

    • +1

      It's a deal for cyclists :)

    • +4

      Anything is a deal if the right person posts it wink wink. I know that TA is just trying to be helpful, though

    • +2

      I think this is a deal for people who like to carry around 100 bumper stickers on them when riding, so that in the event of a near miss with a car door, they can cover the twit responsible in "Look Before Opening" bumper stickers and turn them into a living mummy.

  • +1

    "We don’t support stickers being put onto cars without drivers permission."
    hmm

  • +1

    How many stickers would you like?
    MORE THAN 10.

  • +5

    Some people need stickers for 'Indicate when turning', 'No tailgating', 'Red lights mean stop'…where can they get those stickers?

    • +2

      I hate people indicating RIGHT when exiting a round about! Like seriously WTF!

      • +2

        for NSW at least:
        Going right

        Slow down and prepare to give way as you approach the roundabout.
        On approach you must be in the right lane unless otherwise marked on the road, and indicate a right turn.
        You must give way to traffic already on the roundabout if there is any risk of a collision.
        Enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic.
        Stay in the right lane.
        You must indicate a left turn just before your exit unless it is not practical to do so.

        • I know of several roundabouts in the ACT where you can turn right on the left lane (and also turn left from the right lane)

        • I didn't know about the "unless its not practical"

          According to SA's drivers handbook: -" unless it is impracticable to do so. For example, the roundabout may be too small to allow your indicator to operate" - that is not my complaint. I'm talking about the big 2 lane roundabouts in 60-80KM/h zones that people still fail with.

          I really think the government should be running a series of ads online and tv that outline various road rules. Just to remind people of their obligations!

        • Greg is correct, the road rules are federal, so the same for all states and territories, http://www.mynrma.com.au/blog/2013/02/08/the-10-most-misunde…

          Licences are handed out by the states, but the rules are the same all over :-)

      • +2

        Well you shouldn't be exiting a round-about to the right in Australia for a starter!
        GF is spot on. And funny enough that you're from Adelaide, because that's about the only place I've seen people actually following the law properly!

  • Can they make them with different themes?
    - Jack-in-the-box
    - Bombs
    - Playboy mags

    • +9

      Wolfenator87, I reserve a class even lower than that for Bigots and those who discriminate against others based purely upon their looks, heritage or choice of legal transportation.

    • +5

      Wow.

      I guess you're like the two groups of idiots the other day who yelled abuse / dropped the clutch beside me while I was riding, obeying the road rules and riding along pleasantly.

      Some people are assholes and feel some sort of misplaced aggression against those who actually use effort or physical work to get where they're going. It still doesn't perturb me from getting out there and enjoying my surroundings.

      • +4

        Yikes. I don't understand this hatred towards cyclists. I see many more idiot drivers than I do idiot cyclists… and hey - a cyclist means there's one less car on the road to annoy me!

      • +1

        Yes, stop blocking my road you 2 wheeled joker.

    • -2

      Tony Abbott supporter by any chance, wolfenator?

      • +1

        Don't lump us all in with that Martian please…

  • +4

    I support bicycle riders … I also support pedestrians…

    I support the one metre rule for bicycle riders to be protected form being harmed .. but only if bicycle riders support a one metre rule to protect pedestrians from bicycle riders!!!

    Bicycle riders want our support … bicycle riders have to support the rights of pedestrians too!!!

  • +1

    Queensland recently enacted new cycle bike road laws for cars, Clearance, overtaking etc.

    When it became fair dealing two weeks after the change I believe the ratio of bookings regarding bikes cars

    10 to 640 10 car infringements and 640 bikes.

    Much of the I'll will regarding bike riders (powered or otherwise) is we motor vehicle drivers are green eyed about how easy it is for bikes to move through traffic, including left hand passing.

    • -1

      Check out the pic accompanying the story on the new laws here…
      The guy has a whole lane to ride in, but sits within incehs of the right hand side!

      • +5

        You can clearly see in the picture that the cycle lane runs out about 10m in front of him and he is forced to merge into regular traffic. If anything he is doing well, I hate most of the 'cycle lanes' as they normally contain all of the garbage that gets tossed off the road. Over the weekend I had to dodge countless broken bottles and 2 dead wombats in the 'cycle lane'. In the end I hit a tree branch and came off the bike as a result, luckily there weren't any cars driving past at the time. Currently waiting for a new helmet before I can get back out on the bike.

      • That's because the lane ends a few metres in front of him and he needs to be at an exit angle to get on that tiny path.

        Try getting on that path at 10cm from the kerb and you'd be on the grass and off the path straight away.

        And yet you claim to have once been a cyclist…?!?

        • +2

          I don't claim to have been a cyclist, I am currently a cyclist and unless there is something i cant see just out of the photo I would be going straight on there and ignoring the little path. Pretty sure the guy in the photo is going stright on as well. Most likely I'd be doing 40km/hr ish and wouldn't have time to swerve down that little path. I almost always avoid bikepaths and shared paths as I consider myself a danger to pedestrians at those speeds.

          In all likelihood I wouldn't be in the cycle lane to begin with. My experience is that when cars see you on the other side of the line they proceed past with less care. On my ride last Saturday the lane at the side of the road in the Dandenongs (Melbourne) had numerous broken bottles/glass (probably from New Years), 2 dead wombats, loads of gravel and stacks of branches and sticks blown down by the winds. I ended up hitting a branch at 30km/hr and came off on the road destroying my helmet, luckily nobody was driving past at the time! No way would I want to be navigating through the debris on 23mm wide tyres.

        • +1

          @2ndeffort: odysseus is talking to Snoop, who claimed to have been a cyclist in that long thread of downvoted comments above.

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