Pulling up to the light on Alcosta and Crow Canyon in San Ramon - I was traveling north in a marked bike lane. At Crow Canyon, Alcosta ends - there are 2 right turn lanes and 2 left turn lanes. The bike lane is marked right up to the corner. I had a green light and was making the right turn - this lady in a huge SUV pulls up alongside just as we both get to the corner - then cuts the turn! Her rear bumper missed me by inches, and she actually clipped the curb a little - I yell out the first thing that comes to mind ("Bike Lane") and she swerves out, slows down and apologizes profusely.

I just suggested she be a little more careful next time - hopefully she learned a lesson.

JB

Turning to go up Crow Canyon?

I go up there all the time. That's a very busy intersection - post office, school, business park, and shopping center traffic all mingled together. You have to be careful there, as there are a lot of distracted drivers in a hurry.

Glad you weren't hurt, and I'm also glad she realized her fault and was apologetic. Like you say, maybe she'll learn something and be more careful.

Turning to go up Crow Canyon?

I go up there all the time. That's a very busy intersection - post office, school, business park, and shopping center traffic all mingled together. You have to be careful there, as there are a lot of distracted drivers in a hurry.

Glad you weren't hurt, and I'm also glad she realized her fault and was apologetic. Like you say, maybe she'll learn something and be more careful.

Yup - I live right on the other side of the hill. The bike lane is often blocked by inattentive drivers trying to go right on red, but that's the first time someone did something like that to me.

JB

...she actually clipped the curb a little.

If I remember correctly, the right lane after turning onto Crow Canyon is a right turn only lane (onto El Capitan?) so no real reason to hug that turn so tight unless that was your destination. Anyway, Glad you didn't become another statistic :eek:!

If I remember correctly, the right lane after turning onto Crow Canyon is a right turn only lane (onto El Capitan?) so no real reason to hug that turn so tight unless that was your destination. Anyway, Glad you didn't become another statistic :eek:!

Yes, it is - but where she clipped the curb was at the Crow Canyon/Alcosta corner - I was just setting up to make the right turn, so had slowed down a bit - last thing I expected was to suddenly have 5,000 pounds of SUV swerve right in front of me, literally leaving me nowhere to go.

JB

That's a pretty common scene, I see it all the time. I think a lot of these people buy these monster machines they can't begin to handle, let alone knowing how much clearance they have.

knotty

Yes, it is - but where she clipped the curb was at the Crow Canyon/Alcosta corner - I was just setting up to make the right turn, so had slowed down a bit - last thing I expected was to suddenly have 5,000 pounds of SUV swerve right in front of me, literally leaving me nowhere to go.

JB

I just meant that unless she was gonna turn right onto El Capitan (from Crow Canyon), she didn't have to be in the right lane after turning right onto Crow Canyon (from Alcosta). Just glad you're okay and that she, hopefully, learned a lesson.

I just meant that unless she was gonna turn right onto El Capitan (from Crow Canyon), she didn't have to be in the right lane after turning right onto Crow Canyon (from Alcosta). Just glad you're okay and that she, hopefully, learned a lesson.

Oops, I thought you meant me:rolleyes:

No, she was going straight up the hill. They changed the traffic pattern on this intersection last year, but I don't think most drivers have figured out what they're supposed to do now. Both lanes tend to cut the corner - there should still be plenty of room to stay out of the bike lane, but........

JB

At least she noticed and no doubt learned something.

Nothing infuriates me more than honking (in my car) or yelling (on the bike) and the person doesn't even NOTICE. Makes me want to carry a paintball gun everywhere I go... splatsplatsplat!