Everyday I get on my bike – not in lycra by the way. Bringing the kids to school, going to work, grocery shopping, pushing the peddles without purpose; my bike is always there. I love it. When my beloved way of getting around is obstructed (think: flat tire, Melbourne weather), I get grumpy. I need my bike, it’s one of my better, healthier habits.

Meanwhile, the city is crowded with people, all with their own preferred ways of transport and habits of their own. We all know how strong and stubborn habits can be. And, as researchers, we also know too well how unconscious many of them are.

A few weeks ago another “car door-ing” incident took place in Melbourne and a man lost his life as a result. Every time something like this happens, my joy in riding declines and my suspicion towards every (parked) car increases.

All it requires to prevent such an accident is a little move before opening the door: check your mirror and look over your right shoulder to make sure no one is approaching. But if this move is not a habit, it is easily forgotten. A difficult meeting at work, kids screaming in the back of the car or an awesome track on the radio … and the driver will just flinch the door open without a thought. And I am just hoping I am not riding past at that moment.

Obviously, more priority and budget by the (local) government would aid this safety issue. And I am not sure how much research has been done amongst road users on the current main barriers and how this safety issue can be changed for the better. As the number of bikes on the road grows, so will the importance of sharing the roads as safely as possible. So let’s not wait and do nothing in the meantime.

For now, I am going to proceed with my hypothesis (and hope) that many people know they should check. But they don’t. Not on purpose or because they love hurting or killing bikers. They don’t check, because checking is not a habit, so they easily forget.

So, we need to create a new habit! One that is done on auto-pilot.

Interested in saving lives? Of course you are! Read on.

According to The Squeeky Wheel (a not for profit producing and advocacy organisation celebrating bicycles as vehicles for change) everyone can already start making a change. So I am going to use this blog to ask all of you with a car to join a challenge:

1. Everyday when you open the door, tell yourself: “I’m going to open my door with my opposite hand, so that when I get out, i’m looking behind me and can see if anyone is coming.”
2. Paste a sticker on your car window to remind yourself.
3. Ask other people in your family to help you remind yourself.
4. And tell other drivers about it and ask them to join the challenge.

It takes between 28 and 84 days to change a habit or add a new one. This isn’t a very complex one, so I hope a #30DayChallenge will do the trick. Please let us know in a month if you created a new habit already.

It’s a small change with huge benefits!