Advocacy & Safety - Two Cyclists Right-Hooked, Police Fail to do their Jobs

Both of these cyclists were right-hooked in a bike lane, but the cops failed to record the names of witnesses or cite the motorists involved for violations.


Story 1: At around 7:00AM last Monday morning Justin Isle was riding in the bike lane on his way to work, heading westbound on NE Broadway. As he approached N Williams Avenue and the I-5 onramp (right near the Shell station) he was struck by a car.

He now has two compression fractures in his back and no witnesses to help with his case.

Justin seems to remember people standing around, but the crash happened very suddenly and he was in no condition to get their names. Unfortunately the responding police officer didn’t take down any witness information either.
http://bikeportland.org/2006/06/15/injured-cyclist-needs-witnesses/#more-1498

Story 2: Monday musta been a bad day to be riding on Broadway. I had an crash a couple hours after Justin on the other side of the Broadway Bridge.

I was coming down the bridge offramp into downtown, third in a row of about 8 bikes. I noticed the pick up truck slightly ahead of me put on his turn signal to go right on NW Hoyt. Always leary of right turners on Broadway, I waited to see if he was yeailding to us. He let the first two bikes go by, so I figured he saw us. Well, I figured wrong. He took the turn right in front of me as I was going full speed at the bottom of the ramp.

I was able to slow and turn slightly to avoid him, but I went into a skid and laid my bike down - separating my right shoulder and fracturing (slightly) my humorous bone (which wasn't very funny, let me tell you). Driver actually stopped, as did a bike witness (Thanks Jess!). Cops & EMT were called, but cop said he wasn't going to fill out a report because there was no contact. What a buncha BS.
http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/shift/2006-06/msg00183.html

I noticed the pick up truck slightly ahead of me put on his turn signal to go right on NW Hoyt. Always leary of right turners on Broadway, I waited to see if he was yeailding to us. He let the first two bikes go by, so I figured he saw us. Well, I figured wrong. He took the turn right in front of me as I was going full speed at the bottom of the ramp.

This just blows my mind. Why would anyone try and pass a vehicle on its right that already has its right turn signal on and is in a immediate position to make a right turn?

But the main point of the concern is taken. The police need to record all data.

Al

I was coming down the bridge offramp into downtown, third in a row of about 8 bikes. I noticed the pick up truck slightly ahead of me put on his turn signal to go right on NW Hoyt. Always leary of right turners on Broadway, I waited to see if he was yeailding to us. He let the first two bikes go by, so I figured he saw us. Well, I figured wrong. He took the turn right in front of me as I was going full speed at the bottom of the ramp.
Written as if it was you despitev the fact that I'm not sure story 2 is you or C&P.
Cop helped you. You were at fault, unless there's something I'm missing (bike lane? Though you still shouldn't ahve done it). If the the truck was in the outside lane, you had no business passing him on the right, esp near a turn and with his turn signal on.
The other one's disturbing.

By law, the right turning vehicle is supposed to yield to cyclists in the bike lane to his right. Crappy design, I know. If I had been the cyclist, I would have left the bike lane and passed the right turning vehicle on the left, I don't trust the right turning motorists to do the right thing at all.

Was he in a bike lane? This is not mentioned.

Yes, there's a bike lane there.

Both of these cyclists were right-hooked in a bike lane, but the cops failed to record the names of witnesses or cite the motorists involved for violations.


Story 1: At around 7:00AM last Monday morning Justin Isle was riding in the bike lane on his way to work, heading westbound on NE Broadway. As he approached N Williams Avenue and the I-5 onramp (right near the Shell station) he was struck by a car.

He now has two compression fractures in his back and no witnesses to help with his case.

Justin seems to remember people standing around, but the crash happened very suddenly and he was in no condition to get their names. Unfortunately the responding police officer didn’t take down any witness information either.
http://bikeportland.org/2006/06/15/injured-cyclist-needs-witnesses/#more-1498

Story 2: Monday musta been a bad day to be riding on Broadway. I had an crash a couple hours after Justin on the other side of the Broadway Bridge.

I was coming down the bridge offramp into downtown, third in a row of about 8 bikes. I noticed the pick up truck slightly ahead of me put on his turn signal to go right on NW Hoyt. Always leary of right turners on Broadway, I waited to see if he was yeailding to us. He let the first two bikes go by, so I figured he saw us. Well, I figured wrong. He took the turn right in front of me as I was going full speed at the bottom of the ramp.

I was able to slow and turn slightly to avoid him, but I went into a skid and laid my bike down - separating my right shoulder and fracturing (slightly) my humorous bone (which wasn't very funny, let me tell you). Driver actually stopped, as did a bike witness (Thanks Jess!). Cops & EMT were called, but cop said he wasn't going to fill out a report because there was no contact. What a buncha BS.
http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/shift/2006-06/msg00183.htmlYou have enough to prosecute the motorist yourself under Oregon's DIY law. The other cyclist will need to advertise for witnesses, probably. Alternatively, because injuries are involved, you can probably both hire lawyers who will pursue recovery for a percentage of the damages.

Simple rule: When approaching a right turn opportunity, such as a driveway or an intersection, NEVER pass to the right of any vehicle displaying a right turn signal. If possible, center yourself behind said vehicle. If not, stop, using a slow signal to warn others of your intention.

Oregon's law about right-turning motorists having to yield to bicyclists in bike lanes sounds wonderful at first, particularly to those of us who are sick of having to wait for traffic gaps at high-speed free right turns or diverges, but experiences such as yours amply illustrate the devil in the implementation details.