Hit by car, was I in the right?

[roughrider504]

first off, sorry for not capitilizing, i have use of 1 arm.

i was going down a road that i was about to turn off of. i looked behind, no car, and merged into another lane. this lane it the opposite traffic lane which had no cars. when i go to turn i hear a horn and screetch of tires behind me. that person was speeding, took the turn, taking me out in the process.

i bailed, and the bike took the brunt of the hit. i only have a cut arm. it was my poor raleigh I was riding, and the frame is bent. :( it was my best bicycle.

now my stupid self did not get license, name, or anything.

p.s. i am 14 years old

[filtersweep]

I can't decipher what even happened from your description... what direction you were turning, he was turning, etc...

[roughrider504]

I just remembered more so I will describe more.

He was speeding, my guess 45 in a 25, so I did not see him when I looked over my shoulder. He was in the left lane to pass me when I went to turn. He clipped my back wheel, sending me flying, and the bike spinning away.

p.s. I am a "advocate" to road laws. I was riding in the middle of the lane. I was in the right [correct] lane before I went over to turn.

I dont even know if I want to still ride on streets. I know everytime I ride, I will be in fear of being hit.

[bmclaughlin807]

first off, sorry for not capitilizing, i have use of 1 arm.

i was going down a road that i was about to turn off of. i looked behind, no car, and merged into another lane. this lane it the opposite traffic lane which had no cars. when i go to turn i hear a horn and screetch of tires behind me. that person was speeding, took the turn, taking me out in the process.

i bailed, and the bike took the brunt of the hit. i only have a cut arm. it was my poor raleigh I was riding, and the frame is bent. :( it was my best bicycle.

now my stupid self did not get license, name, or anything.

p.s. i am 14 years old

Yeah, I know the feeling... when I was 17 I got hit on my way to work... bent the frame on my bike. I also didn't get her information and didn't file a report. I found out later that there was almost $1000 damage to the truck that hit me... that's the only 'revenge' I got.. Well, that and knowing that her insurance didn't pay for it.

The good news is that if your Raleigh has a steel frame, you can straighten it (or have it straightened)... No go if it's aluminum, though.

I used a couple two by fours as long levers, and straightened the frame on my bike. Being it was a small town, I saw her the next day (and being that I was young and still slightly immature, I of course flipped her the bird!) she was PISSED! :D

I know it was at least 3 months before she got her truck fixed because I used to see her driving around town.

[roughrider504]

I know I took half of his bumper clean off. A Green camaro, customised.

My raleigh is 20-30 steel, and I will pick up a used frame from Plan B in new orleans for now.

[genec]

You looked... did you signal, did you ensure that the road was clear before changing lanes? You were positioned in the proper lane to make the turn, so you did indeed do that right. If the motorist was speeding... they may have been driving beyond their sight lines. They may not have seen you until they rounded a corner or topped a hill (if either is the case) and then did not react in time.

At any rate, they hit you. You were in the proper lane for your pending turn. They did not respect your right of way. You should have their name and license... you were in an auto collision and every state in the US requires that all parties involved in an auto collision exchange this information.

[bmclaughlin807]

I know I took half of his bumper clean off. A Green camaro, customised.

My raleigh is 20-30 steel, and I will pick up a used frame from Plan B in new orleans for now.

Yeah, if the bend isn't too bad, you should be able to straighten it... I rode my bike for another year and a half after I got hit... put another 10,000 miles or so on it!

[roughrider504]

The road is about a mile long, flat. I looked, I made very sure there was no car close, which I always do. I did not see the camaro.

When the horn first sounded, and the tires locked up, the car was still not close to me. That shows the speed it was going. It took me out when I was on the street I was turning onto.

The scary part is, I do now own a helmet now, and I could of been easily killed. Scares me.

[roughrider504]

But I didnt signal, because I do not know the signals. Nobody taught me, and I couldnt find anything on the internet.

[bmclaughlin807]

But I didnt signal, because I do not know the signals. Nobody taught me, and I couldnt find anything on the internet.

And only 14... these signals are probably demonstrated in your DMV handbook that you'll have to study when you get your Driver's license.

Left turn is the only signal I really use... and the only one that motorists ever really pay attention to (that I've noticed, anyway) ... to signal a left turn, extend your arm straight out to your left (almost like you're pointing the way you want to go....)

Right turn signal is an 'L' shape... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand up.

Slow/stop is the opposite... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand down.

[sgtsmile]

Here are the signals you need:

http://www.bikemiamivalley.org/images/safe11.jpg

[bmclaughlin807]

On a side note... you didn't really do anything wrong, and likely would have gotten hit even if you HAD signalled... the guy was going to fast for conditions, and like you said, probably speeding by quite a bit. You'd probably have been hit even in a car.

The worst ones in my book are the idiots who deliberately try to run me off the road or scare me.... I'd like to... nevermind. *reminds himself he's supposed to set a good example*

Heal fast and get back out there! :p

[roughrider504]

Thanks! for telling me the right way to signal. My siginal i use, is I stick my leg out the way I am going to turn. Now i will use the right ones, if I ride anylonger :(

[zonatandem]

ALWAYS call the cops and file a police report! If driver left the scene of the accident, that's a hit and run. That's an automatic ticket/violation. Description of car/license could locate the driver before they end up at the local collission shop to get car fixed.
Lesson learned: Use proper hand signals (ask what they are from local riders/bike shop/police).
Wear a helmet. Use a rear view mirror (preferably mounted to your eye/sunglasses).
Been there, done that. Been hit several times in 30+ years of cycling. In each instance driver got the ticket and paidf or bike/injuries + pain and suffering.
Glad you survived OK . . . live and LEARN!

[sgtsmile]

Thanks! for telling me the right way to signal. My siginal i use, is I stick my leg out the way I am going to turn. Now i will use the right ones, if I ride anylonger :(

You better! (ride again that is)

Get out on one of your other bikes asap! You must do this to overcome the fear factor. One bad experience should not stop you from doing something you like.

[nova]

And only 14... these signals are probably demonstrated in your DMV handbook that you'll have to study when you get your Driver's license.

Left turn is the only signal I really use... and the only one that motorists ever really pay attention to (that I've noticed, anyway) ... to signal a left turn, extend your arm straight out to your left (almost like you're pointing the way you want to go....)

Right turn signal is an 'L' shape... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand up.

Slow/stop is the opposite... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand down.

Dont forget on bikes right arm out can be used to signal right turn. I tend to use left arm out and up my self mor universaly known.

[HereNT]

And only 14... these signals are probably demonstrated in your DMV handbook that you'll have to study when you get your Driver's license.

Left turn is the only signal I really use... and the only one that motorists ever really pay attention to (that I've noticed, anyway) ... to signal a left turn, extend your arm straight out to your left (almost like you're pointing the way you want to go....)

Right turn signal is an 'L' shape... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand up.

Slow/stop is the opposite... left arm to the side, bent at elbow, hand down.

I've found most drivers don't know those signals - I usually just point which way I'm going, left with the left arm, right with the right. If I'm merging across traffic, I wait for a gap, look back at the first car after it, and move across after pointing where I'm going. The only other signal I've needed to use is to wave them through at an intersection where they have the right of way.

To the OP, it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong to me. I was rear-ended a couple of years ago too, and it took awhile before I was comfortable with traffic overtaking me again. I certainly didn't ride that same stretch of road (even though there's a bike path) for about a year and a half, even though it was the most direct route to work for me. Eventually, it does get better, just take it slow for awhile and stay safe - your confidence will come back.

And get yourself a helmet!

[roughrider504]

ALWAYS call the cops and file a police report! If driver left the scene of the accident, that's a hit and run. That's an automatic ticket/violation. Description of car/license could locate the driver before they end up at the local collission shop to get car fixed.
Lesson learned: Use proper hand signals (ask what they are from local riders/bike shop/police).
Wear a helmet. Use a rear view mirror (preferably mounted to your eye/sunglasses).
Been there, done that. Been hit several times in 30+ years of cycling. In each instance driver got the ticket and paidf or bike/injuries + pain and suffering.
Glad you survived OK . . . live and LEARN!
He said "I should call the cops". But if you know me, you know I am shy and dont like messing with people. I just said I am ok, I am going home. But I did get out my throat "You didnt see me!!?" his reply was "umm. .err.. " Then I said I am leaving.

Never again, I never want this to happen again. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Cycling is my favorite hobby, and is helping me get healthy. Now I have alot of work to build another bike for the commute next year. And now I have to pay for parts out of my pocket, not his. :(

[nova]

Thanks! for telling me the right way to signal. My siginal i use, is I stick my leg out the way I am going to turn. Now i will use the right ones, if I ride anylonger :(

Id keep riding.
Sounds like your pretty much un injured. Id get a nice mirror and a new helmet for sure.

As for your bike long as the frame is not kinked where the bend is it repairable long as its steel. Just check for cracks in the welds (in the case of lugs flex around on the bike and check to make sure theres no seperation in the lugs and frame..) Once you get the frame strait check for any cracks where the bend was. If you see none your good to go. Just take it easy for a few rides ramping up how hard you ride over a period of a few rides and check to make sure the frame is taking the stress and the bend is not showing back up. IF it is still strait then your bike is fine though probablly in the need of a new paint job.

I dont know about your raleigh but my 73 gran prix seems to have been painted with red over gold. Its a pretty expensive painting meathod now adays but i guess back then it wasnt.

I would not scrap that bike esp if its a older raleigh they are damn nice clasic bikes with awesome lugs. Im rebuilding my 73 now infact ever so slowly.

[Helmet Head]

I'm having trouble understanding exactly what happened, have to make some assumptions, but don't want to comment if any of these assumptions are false. So, please confirm or correct the following assumptions.


Before the turn, there were two lanes in your direction.
You were in the right lane, preparing to turn left.
The right lane goes straight or right at the intersection at which you want to turn.
The left lane goes straight or left at the intersection at which you want to turn.
There are no lanes dedicated for turning (a right turn only lane, or a left turn only lane) at this intersection.
Initially, you were riding in the right lane.
As you approached the intersection, you prepared to merge left so you could turn left onto the new street from the left lane.
When you were about ______ feet from the intersection, you looked back to see if it was clear to merge left.
Since you did not see any cars coming, you merged left.
When you first merged into the left lane, you were almost in the intersection already. That is, you did not merge left when you were still 100 or more feet from the intersection, you waited until it was time to turn left, when you were closer to 10 or 20 feet to the intersection.
After about ______ seconds after you looked back and saw no one, you first heard the screeching of tires and/or honking.
When you first heard the screeching/honking, you were already entering the intersection to make your left turn, or were about to.
After you heard the screeching/honking, you continued along your intended path, turning on to the new path.
The Camaro that eventually hit you was also making the same left turn.
You were hit during or after making the left turn onto the new street.

[roughrider504]

It is a 1977 record single speed. I can see a bend at the rear dropout, almost where the braze is. Fork is bent. Rear wheel is out of true, paint is ruined. My winneman levers are scraped. But the bike made it 2 miles home. I am amazed I made it back the condition my mind was in. Cold sweat x10

[nova]

It is a 1977 record single speed. I can see a bend at the rear dropout, almost where the braze is. Fork is bent. Rear wheel is out of true, paint is ruined. My winneman levers are scraped. But the bike made it 2 miles home. I am amazed I made it back the condition my mind was in. Cold sweat x10


Ok a bend near the drop out likly means not only was your rear wheel hit but probably in such a manner it yanked on your drop outs realy hard. Check the brace (weld) for the rear drop out and make sure you dont see a clean line of bare metal matching the shape of the frame tube. I had a bmx drop out ripped right out of the frame from a crash before. Regardless it should be repairable just will vary as to how hard it is to fix.

[roughrider504]

'm having trouble understanding exactly what happened, have to make some assumptions, but don't want to comment if any of these assumptions are false. So, please confirm or correct the following assumptions.

* Before the turn, there were two lanes in your direction.
* You were in the right lane, preparing to turn left.
* The right lane goes straight or right at the intersection at which you want to turn.
* The left lane goes straight or left at the intersection at which you want to turn.
* There are no lanes dedicated for turning (a right turn only lane, or a left turn only lane) at this intersection.
* Initially, you were riding in the right lane.
* As you approached the intersection, you prepared to merge left so you could turn left onto the new street from the left lane.
* When you were about ______ feet from the intersection, you looked back to see if it was clear to merge left.
* Since you did not see any cars coming, you merged left.
* When you first merged into the left lane, you were almost in the intersection already. That is, you did not merge left when you were still 100 or more feet from the intersection, you waited until it was time to turn left, when you were closer to 10 or 20 feet to the intersection.
* After about ______ seconds after you looked back and saw no one, you first heard the screeching of tires and/or honking.
* When you first heard the screeching/honking, you were already entering the intersection to make your left turn, or were about to.
* After you heard the screeching/honking, you continued along your intended path, turning on to the new path.
* The Camaro that eventually hit you was also making the same left turn.
* You were hit during or after making the left turn onto the new street.



* one lane in my direction. A normal 2 lane street.
*yes
*straight
*straight [oncoming lane with no traffic]
* no
* yes I was
* yes. [I moved more to the left but still staying in my lane]
* 10 feet. about.
* yes.
* I took a left hook onto the new street. a gentle curve you might say.
* when I was still in the street I heard honking and tires screetching.
* yes.
* pretty sure
* During. Thrown 15 feel onto the new street.

[Falkon]

I know I took half of his bumper clean off. A Green camaro, customised.

My raleigh is 20-30 steel, and I will pick up a used frame from Plan B in new orleans for now.

I have an old raleigh frame in almost perfect condition with fenders. I was going to keep it, but I'll sell it if you give me a good offer.

[bobert]

how does a car make a left turn without even looking? you would think that a car would atleast look to where he or she was turning? daydreaming while making a left?

[nova]

how does a car make a left turn without even looking? you would think that a car would atleast look to where he or she was turning? daydreaming while making a left?

Yup daydreaming. Ive seen cars get torn in half by semis on the news and seen one get nearly torn in half by a pick up doing just that in person.

[roughrider504]

I was checking my frame just now, and from the back the whole back of the bike is bent to the left a couple cenemeters. The dropouts look fine.

No thanks Falkon, shipping would be high.

edit: the fork is bent also. wheel is cocked to the right, bike pulls to the right.

[Falkon]

shipping would be $25. I had to think about it though, because this frame is in excellent shape, and I think I wanna keep it.

[banerjek]

Regardless of who is at fault, you don't want to be hit. It doesn't sound like you did anything particularly wrong.

Having said that, you failed to see this guy. He may have been speeding, but clueless speeders are a part of the environment so you must be prepared for them.

I would STRONGLY recommend a helmet mounted mirror (or glasses mounted if you wear cycling glasses). When you turn your head you can look behind at any angle so there are no blind spots. Because the glass on these mirrors is flat, there is no distance distortion.

With a good mirror, you can watch cars in a way that is simply not possible simply by turning your head. I consider mirrors so important that I simply won't ride without them -- the best way to avoid injury is to not crash in first place. A helmet is essential safety equipment, but it's easy to get killed even if you're wearing one.

[slvoid]

how does a car make a left turn without even looking? you would think that a car would atleast look to where he or she was turning? daydreaming while making a left?

Welcome to america..

[gizmocat]

The car was at fault, and since it sounds like he stopped to see if you were all right it was not a hit-and-run. You should have gotten the license and reported this to the police.

Get one of the mirrors that attach directly to the helmet. These are literally lifesavers since you can see what's behind you a long way off. Get two sided sticky tape (the kind used to hang pictures on the wall) to attach it to the helmet since the stuff they give you with the mirror is useless.

And always look behind you before making a turn.

And learn correct signalling. With one leg off your pedals and stuck out you not only were sending signals to no one, you were unstable.

I was in a similar accident and fractured a bone in my spine. If you have not yet gone to the hospital GO NOW and make sure they do a CAT scan on your head and on the base of your spine.

[cudak888]

Don't feel too sorry about losing the Record - it was pretty much Raleigh's lowest-end roadbike of the time, based on the Sprite frame (which was essentially, a 27", derailer-equipped [save for the 3 speed '77 models] Sports).

I've hot-rodded a 1974 Raleigh Grand Prix (same thing, one tier up) into an interesting road machine with a Shimano 3-speed hub in the back - even so, the whole thing weighed 25 pounds when all was said and done. To put this in perspective for the fixie riders: A Record/GP fixie would probably weigh 22-24 pounds depending on what you put on it. Not worth it.

Try shooting for something with a Reynolds 501 or 531 frame this time, swap whatever good alloy components if nessesary - BUT, don't bog down a nice Reynolds frame with anything inferior (and easily substituted) from the Record, such as the crankset.

Take care,

-Kurt

[markf]

Not signalling properly was a bad move on your part, a driver moving at a reasonable speed might have been caught by surprise if you turned left without signalling properly. If he was going as fast as you estimate then a large part of the blame, if not all the blame, would be on the driver. The police can estimate speeds from things like the length of skid marks and possibly by how badly damaged the vehicles involved were.

You really should have gotten a license number, but that's hard to remember when you've just been hit by a car. It probably wouldn't hurt to go ahead and contact the police now with the best description you can give of the vehicle. There can't be that many older Camaros with torn up bumpers running around, you might get lucky and find the driver. And definitely see a doctor and make sure you're all right.

[nova]

I was checking my frame just now, and from the back the whole back of the bike is bent to the left a couple cenemeters. The dropouts look fine.

No thanks Falkon, shipping would be high.

edit: the fork is bent also. wheel is cocked to the right, bike pulls to the right.


Well frame should be a easy fix then. Ive fixxed many a frame bent like that i keep a spare axel non quick release laying around so i can bend both chainstays at the same time. Basically theres a few ways you can do this. Put the axel in botl it tight (useing the cone nuts to keep the spaceing right.) stack place the axle so the end is on a 2x4 and simply put some of your weight on to the seat post near top tube then do the same to the bottom bracket area. Youll need to flex the frame a tad past the point where its strait with your weight on it so that when it flexes back it will be right.

The forks could be toast. Forks tend to have the indiviual fork coming loose from the crown lug. You realy need to make very sure they are intact when your done straiting them. youll need to straiten each for seperatly useing a vise and a couple blocks of wood in the jaws. Clamp them in close to the bend.

If they have a twist in them youll need to clamp both sides in the vise with wood in the jaws to prevent damage and use your bars and stem as a lever to twist the forks back in to line.

Again make very ery sure the forks have not come loose from the crown lugs.

[ZachS]

I'm glad you're okay.

[krazygluon]

+1 for getting back in the saddle. I had a similar (though mine was entirely my stupid fault) wreck when I was 13 (about 10 years ago) my biggest regret is that I didn't get back to cycling until this summer.

[Helmet Head]

Drivers are not constantly looking ahead. They may look to the side, or be distracted. If you're turning left and need to use the full lane to do so, you need to give them time and room to slow down to let you in, and they need notice. Don't wait until the last possible moment to merge left. Merge early, but make sure it's clear before you do.

At the moment you merged left the driver may have been distracted and didn't see you right away. Maybe he looked away for a second. By the time he looked back, there you were. From his perspective, you suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

When you look back and check that no one is coming, take a good look. Learn to look back for a second or two without veering from following a straight path.

It's hard to imagine how, 10 feet from the intersection, he wasn't there when you looked back, you moved left, and, before you reached the intersection, he was already honking and screeching.

It sounds to me like you just didn't really look, and veered right in his path.

Banerjek's advice about getting a mirror is good, but not until you're an expert at looking back over your shoulder effectively, for which having a mirror is no substitute prior to any lateral (left or right) move in the street.

[roughrider504]

Don't feel too sorry about losing the Record - it was pretty much Raleigh's lowest-end roadbike of the time, based on the Sprite frame (which was essentially, a 27", derailer-equipped [save for the 3 speed '77 models] Sports).

I've hot-rodded a 1974 Raleigh Grand Prix (same thing, one tier up) into an interesting road machine with a Shimano 3-speed hub in the back - even so, the whole thing weighed 25 pounds when all was said and done. To put this in perspective for the fixie riders: A Record/GP fixie would probably weigh 22-24 pounds depending on what you put on it. Not worth it.

Try shooting for something with a Reynolds 501 or 531 frame this time, swap whatever good alloy components if nessesary - BUT, don't bog down a nice Reynolds frame with anything inferior (and easily substituted) from the Record, such as the crankset.

Take care,

-Kurt

Me, when it comes to frames, dont really care about quality.

Probialy this weekend, I am going to go to Plan B to get a frame and move my stuff from my current bike to the frame. It will be probialy huffy/amf quality, but atleast its something. I have to true my current wheel with there truing stand also.

I cant believe with the force he hit me, I didnt break any spokes! The wheel is steel, and is now only untrue a small bit.

I dont think I can fix the fork, since its bent in the top part [Crown?] and not the legs.

Well the damage total is:
Bar tape
untrue wheel
fork
bent frame
cut elbow

But I am alive, and that is good.

[nova]

Me, when it comes to frames, dont really care about quality.

Probialy this weekend, I am going to go to Plan B to get a frame and move my stuff from my current bike to the frame. It will be probialy huffy/amf quality, but atleast its something. I have to true my current wheel with there truing stand also.

I cant believe with the force he hit me, I didnt break any spokes! The wheel is steel, and is now only untrue a small bit.

I dont think I can fix the fork, since its bent in the top part [Crown?] and not the legs.

Well the damage total is:
Bar tape
untrue wheel
fork
bent frame
cut elbow

But I am alive, and that is good.

Well straiten the frame put it away until you find a fork to fit would be my advice. Use it for some later build maybe a fixed gear or some other bike of intrest you might have down the line.

[John C. Ratliff]

Drivers are not constantly looking ahead. They may look to the side, or be distracted. If you're turning left and need to use the full lane to do so, you need to give them time and room to slow down to let you in, and they need notice. Don't wait until the last possible moment to merge left. Merge early, but make sure it's clear before you do.

At the moment you merged left the driver may have been distracted and didn't see you right away. Maybe he looked away for a second. By the time he looked back, there you were. From his perspective, you suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

When you look back and check that no one is coming, take a good look. Learn to look back for a second or two without veering from following a straight path.

It's hard to imagine how, 10 feet from the intersection, he wasn't there when you looked back, you moved left, and, before you reached the intersection, he was already honking and screeching.

It sounds to me like you just didn't really look, and veered right in his path.

Banerjek's advice about getting a mirror is good, but not until you're an expert at looking back over your shoulder effectively, for which having a mirror is no substitute prior to any lateral (left or right) move in the street.
Roughrider504,

Regardless of what Helmethead says, the driver is at fault, not you. Any vehicle which rear-ends any other vehicle is at fault. It could have been a horse & buggy in the road (that happens in Pennsylvania, you know), and this guy probably would not have seen it until it was too late.

So far as riding again, take your time and work into it. You will need a bit of confidence building. I had an accident where it took me about 5 months to get back to commuting, both from a healing standpoint and a psychological standpoint. Writing here is a good way to learn too.

John

[Helmet Head]

Any vehicle which rear-ends any other vehicle is at fault.
I can't speak for Portland, but in CA, that's not true. For example, if a cyclist merges left out of a bike lane in front of someone who hits him, the cyclist is at fault for violating 21208, which states:

"No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal"

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21208.htm

It is true that in a rear-ender the person behind is at fault. But there are exceptions, and the main exception is when the person in front swerves in front of someone else, which appears to be the case here.

[bmclaughlin807]

Dont forget on bikes right arm out can be used to signal right turn.

That is not a universally accepted or universally LEGAL signal. Stick with the left arm signalling.

Besides... if you're to the right, and the cars are on your left, they can't see your right arm.

[roughrider504]

The more i think about it, the more it becomes like this. I cant remember the impact or anything, and that is a good thing. It seems that he was passing me, in my one blindspot by my shoulder, and I didnt see him and turned. His front tires slid [I guess] and couldnt avoid me. If he would of given me a couple seconds to turn, he wouldnt of hit me. Where is he going, a fire? :rolleyes: Red:me Green:camaro
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9158/hitli1.png (http://imageshack.us)

[John C. Ratliff]

Helmethead may be right about the exceptions. But in Oregon, there is extensive bicycle law, and you should look at the local law in New Orleans. But here, this is what the law says about exercising due care:

BICYCLES
814.400 Application of vehicle laws to
bicycles. (1) Every person riding a bicycle
upon a public way is subject to the pro-
visions applicable to and has the same rights
and duties as the driver of any other vehicle
concerning operating on highways, vehicle
equipment and abandoned vehicles, except:

(3) The provisions of the vehicle code re-
g to the operation of bicycles do not re-
lieve a bicyclist or motorist from the duty to
exercise due care. [1983c.338§697; 1985c.16§335]

These laws do also state that you must signal your turn, as others have noted. But it seems to me that you were already into your turn. Here's what Oregon law says about turning:

814.440 Failure to signal turn; excep-
tions; penalty. (1) A person commits the of-
fense of failure to signal for a bicycle turn
if the person does any of the following:
(a) Stops a bicycle the person is operat-
ing without giving the appropriate hand and
arm signal continuously for at least 100 feet
before executing the stop.
(b) Executes a turn on a bicycle the per-
son is operating without giving the appropri-
ate hand and arm signal for the turn for at
least 100 feet before executing the turn.
(c) Executes a turn on a bicycle the per-
son is operating after having been stopped
without giving, while stopped, the appropri-
ate hand and arm signal for the turn.
(2) A person is not in violation of the of-
fense under this section if the person is op-
erating a bicycle and does not give the
appropriate signal continuously for a stop or
turn because circumstances require that both
hands be used to safely control or operate
the bicycle.
(3) The appropriate hand and arm signals
for indicating turns and stops under this
section are those provided for other vehicles
under ORS 811.395 and 811.400.
(4) The offense described under this sec-
tion, failure to signal for a bicycle turn, is a
Class D traffic violation. [1983c.338 §703; 1985
c.16§341] Emphasis added
Note that there is an exception in Oregon which states that if you need your hands to control the bicycle, you don't need to signal. Again, this varies state to state.

In any case, the driver cannot pass another vehicle (including a bicycle) during a turn.

John

[roughrider504]

Get out on one of your other bikes asap! You must do this to overcome the fear factor. One bad experience should not stop you from doing something you like.


True.

Today I went out on my MTB, and it dosent feel like I think it would feel. I think my love for cycling overcomes fear. Riding the bike helps the bruise on my leg too. It dosent feel as stiff.

[recursive]

Here are the signals you need:

http://www.bikemiamivalley.org/images/safe11.jpg

These confuse the hell out of everybody. The fact that people need to be taught these signals from a manual means that most drivers don't know what they mean. I just point the direction I'm going. May not be legal, but certainly seems to be more effective.

[Helmet Head]

The more i think about it, the more it becomes like this. I cant remember the impact or anything, and that is a good thing. It seems that he was passing me, in my one blindspot by my shoulder, and I didnt see him and turned. His front tires slid [I guess] and couldnt avoid me. If he would of given me a couple seconds to turn, he wouldnt of hit me. Where is he going, a fire? :rolleyes: Red:me Green:camaro
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9158/hitli1.png (http://imageshack.us)

Roughride, your diagram is very helpful. But green, not red, seems to be more consistent with what you described about yourself in the OP:

i was going down a road that i was about to turn off of. i looked behind, no car, and merged into another lane. this lane it the opposite traffic lane which had no cars. when i go to turn i hear a horn and screetch of tires behind me. that person was speeding, took the turn, taking me out in the process.

In particular, when you say you "merged into another lane. this lane it is the opposite traffic lane", it seems like you're talking about the path depicted by the green.

In any case, if you are red, and the Camaro is green, then why do you show the Camaro near the right edge initially? Shouldn't that be where the cyclist is? More importantly, you don't show where exactly you made you first move left from the right edge into the lane. That would be very helpful, as well as an X showing where you looked back.

Also, your latest comments seem to be conceding that the Camaro was there, and you just didn't see it and turned into its path.

Finally, you mention a "blind spot". If you look back, there is no blind spot. That's one of the reasons we do look back.

[sgtsmile]

These confuse the hell out of everybody. The fact that people need to be taught these signals from a manual means that most drivers don't know what they mean. I just point the direction I'm going. May not be legal, but certainly seems to be more effective.

I agree, but they are what are required to be legal.... I to just point the way I am going, and almost never if ever use a slow/stop signal since I like using both of my brakes and steering properly.

[nova]

I agree, but they are what are required to be legal.... I to just point the way I am going, and almost never if ever use a slow/stop signal since I like using both of my brakes and steering properly.


Those signals are throw backs to when cars did not have break lights and turn signals. I would say 90% of all who miss 1 or more question on the writen portion of a drivers ed test will miss the signal questions. I use right arm out for right turn and left for left turn. I some times use slow/stop when im plannign to allow a driver to pass unuseally close. Its not a signal im slowing down but for them to slow down and pass me slowly. It seems to be understood fairly well as ive yet to have any one blow by me when i do it.

In ohio you can get ticketed for not useing a blinker the hand signal is suppose to let you avoid a ticket but its very easy for a cop to not see the signal and still ticket you for illegal turn. And the slow signal wont stop a cop from ticketing you at all if you dont have break lights even if they see it. Its simply not good enough in newer cars that are often longer than cars when these signals were in use. Also cars back then tended to be much more open as in convertables or ones that had no roof at all.

i use to watch old silent movies with my friends parents before heading out to the latest block buster at the drive in and it was pretty funny to see a bunch of people wiggling their arms around for turns and stops.

I realy dont know how the heck we ever survived the eearly car era. I know some one who has one of the first cars to be mass produced and the sucker did not even come equiped with breaks. Some were later retrofitted with a hand break much like a horse drawn waggons.

One wheel breaking yeh baby heh

At any rate for cyclists i think its obvious what your intent is when you stick your arm out and point to the left or right but no so obvious when you put it out and down for slow/stop. In general 99% of motorists will asume that if your putting your arm out your goign to be slowing down and if your coming to a itnersection you will be slowign down or stoppinng.

With that said if it makes you feel safer to use the slow stop signal then do it if not dont your probably better off useing your hands for more important tasks like stopping.

[bbonnn]

roughrider504, at 14, you know more about bikes than most of the old farts in my circles. I bow down. 'Twould be a shame if you stopped biking. Ride on!