Hmmm, much as I thing Grayling is a super twat and Berry too, I don't think that you can really overly rely on 239. The rule is aimed at operators of cars and it expressly says that it is safer for 'your' passengers to get out on the pavement side.
The errors in that incident in my view were: 1: The car should have been pulled up to the kerb for Grayling to safely exit, and, the cyclist should have been more careful going for the gap. That said, you would think that Grayling's staff would be on the lookout and would have seen the cyclist approaching. Poor show from both the driver who should have been checking his mirrors imo, and his security team.
I hope that the experience will help Grayling understand the inadequacy of cycling provision and the risks faced by cyclists from thoughtless motor vehicle drivers and their passengers. Somehow I doubt it though.
