The greatest fear of many cyclists isn't being hit by a vehicle—it's of hitting a vehicle. Specifically, they're afraid that a car door will open into a bicycle lane immediately in front of the cyclist, so that the rider, penned between parked cars on the right and moving traffic on the left, can't help but slam into the car door. There's no time to stop. That's what happened to a friend of mine last year.

Just last month, something like that happened in Wallingford to one of our Slog readers, who suffered serious injuries and is now asking for help trying to find the driver. He writes:

Dear Editor, The Stranger:

I was the victim of a hit-pause-run while riding my bike. (I was “doored.”) The information given to the police was not good enough to identify the vehicle/driver, so the SPD case is dead. My last resort is to try to appeal directly to the guy who opened his door on me, stood around silently for about five minutes and then took off. I don’t care about his identity, but I do care about the prodigious medical costs that are about to hit my mailbox. I need to do business with his insurance company. I’m wondering if you can print the following somewhere where the guy might notice it. Or maybe he told the story to his wife or some friend and they would recognize the car or the event. Really, you’re my last best hope, as impossible as it may be. At least I will know that I’ve done everything possible to find the guy.

Thank you!
Richard Mann

He also wrote a plea directly to the driver, which you can find (along with his e-mail address) after the jump.

To the man who opened the door of his late model silver Subaru Outback on me on October 16 at @1:40PM at 55th (mid-block) on Meridian Avenue N., near the intersection of 56th and Kenwood Pl. N. while I was heading south on my bike.

Please step forward and do the right thing. Either call the Seattle Police Department (refer to case # 13-398314), or contact me privately. The fire department was contacted at 1:50 p.m., and I was taken to Northwest Hospital in an aid car. I spent a week at Northwest Hospital with serious injuries to the pelvis, collarbone as well as internal injuries, followed by a week in rehab, and I have incurred extensive ongoing emergency expenses since as the direct result of the accident. I have no anger directed at you personally since I haven’t a clue as to your identity. My business is with your insurance company. Please come forward.

If you're that driver—or know who that driver is—you can e-mail the cyclist here.