Uber has unveiled a new safety feature in Australia to stop passengers “˜dooring’ cyclists.
The “Bike Route Alerts” feature on the Uber app gives passengers a push notification, which lets them know if their next drop off is near a bike lane or bike route. It acts as a reminder for passengers to look out for cyclists before opening the car door.
The alert is designed to prevent “˜doorings’ ” when a person opens their car door into a cyclist’s path, either hitting them or forcing them to swerve into traffic.
Uber’s new alert is being rolled out across 18 cities and towns in Australia including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin and Perth.
The ridesharing giant will also be rolling out an education campaign on the “˜Dutch Reach’, the technique of swivelling to look over your shoulder before opening your car door.
The Dutch Reach was pioneered in Netherlands, with the city of Utrecht in particular listed as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
According to Vic Roads, one of the biggest risks to bike riders is car doors being opened in their path. Between July 2011 and June 2016 there were 771 dooring incidents in Victoria. Of those, 177 were serious injuries and two were fatal.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider Australia. Read the original article here.