THE death of a promising musician and student in a cycling accident was preventable and action was needed to ensure it was never repeated, a coroner has found.

Swapping bike lanes to the left-hand side of parked cars in Melbourne's busiest streets was among the recommendations handed down after the inquest into Victoria's first recorded "dooring" death yesterday.

James Cross, 22, died in March last year when he slammed into an opened door of a car parked on Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn.

Mr Cross had been riding in a shared parking and riding lane, and the impact threw him into the path of a truck. He died at the scene.

"It has highlighted a very significant public safety hazard, particularly in high-risk areas where car dooring is responsible for many injuries to cyclists," coroner Heather Spooner said.

She urged VicRoads to consider the separation strategy already used in Albert St, East Melbourne.

Mr Cross's father, Dr Michael Cross, said his son was a promising student with an infectious personality, and he hoped that lessons would be learned from his death.

James Cross was a student at Monash University, had travelled extensively and played in a popular local band Snowy Belfast.

"This was not James's fault," Dr Cross said. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we hope this is something cyclists and motorists can all learn from."

Dr Cross said roads deemed "high-risk" should be considered for separated bike lanes.

Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan told the inquest "doorings" were a big issue and separated bike lanes were part of the solution.

There have been 1112 non-fatal reported "doorings" in Victoria in the past decade.

VicRoads said it would consider the recommendations and submit a formal response. In a statement, the City of Melbourne said it supported separated bike lanes and recognised "the relative vulnerability of cyclists but also considers that motorists have an obligation to drive with due consideration to other road users, including cyclists".

Opposition spokesman for road safety James Merlino urged the Baillieu Government to act before more lives were lost.

langmaida@heraldsun.com.au

Originally published as Cyclist suffers death by car door