Advocacy & Safety - California Bike Lane Law

Here's one I see people frequently refusing to comply with:
21717. Whenever it is necessary for the driver of a motor vehicle
to cross a bicycle lane that is adjacent to his lane of travel to
make a turn, the driver shall drive the motor vehicle into the
bicycle lane prior to making the turn and shall make the turn
pursuant to Section 22100.
Recently I've actually seen people REFUSING to merge into a bike lane to turn right to the right of thru traffic. What's the problem here? What can we do to make people understand it's ok (and actually a good idea) to drive your car in the bike lane if you're making a right turn (so cyclists in the bike lane don't try to pass right turning cars on the right)?

Here's one I see people frequently refusing to comply with:
Recently I've actually seen people REFUSING to merge into a bike lane to turn right to the right of thru traffic. What's the problem here? What can we do to make people understand it's ok (and actually a good idea) to drive your car in the bike lane if you're making a right turn (so cyclists in the bike lane don't try to pass right turning cars on the right)?


That's the problem with bike lane laws... First, cyclists are barely aware of them, and motorists know even less of them.

Only recently have there even been any questions on the Driver's Test about cyclists... and even then only perhaps one question on the test. The Driver's Handbook barely covers how motorists should treat cyclists and bike lanes. Bike lanes really are a fairly recent addition to the road (since the mid '70s) so older drivers don't have a clue as how to deal with them.

Couple all this with large vehicles (SUVs) driven too fast and needing to make wide turns...

What we really need are some PSA (Public Service Announcements) that show both cyclists and motorists how they should interact. I see boating PSAs on occasion; I see "refrigerator roundup" PSAs weekly; I see energy saver and water saver PSAs now and then; I have yet to see a bicycle/automobile interaction PSA anytime in California.

Do a little test... go and ask the folks you work with what they would do with cyclists and BL... just to see how knowledgeable folks are.

The bottom line is MOST of the driving public and many cyclists really don't know.

Isn't this only applicable when the cager is making an immediate right turn, as in within 100 yards of their entry to the bike lane and traffic has to be moving. I don't know if it's illegal or not, but it is highly annoying when cagers line up in the bike lane due to a red light.

They still wouldn't look before they drove into you.

Isn't this only applicable when the cager is making an immediate right turn, as in within 100 yards of their entry to the bike lane and traffic has to be moving. I don't know if it's illegal or not, but it is highly annoying when cagers line up in the bike lane due to a red light.

If they are making a right turn, then lining up in the BL is the proper procedure... which is why BL turn into dashed lines (or they are supposed to) in CA just before such a turn opportunity.

If you the cyclist are not making a right turn, leave the right hand side of the road.

They still wouldn't look before they drove into you.

Well yeah, but that's another problem... :rolleyes:

Isn't this only applicable when the cager is making an immediate right turn, as in within 100 yards of their entry to the bike lane and traffic has to be moving. I don't know if it's illegal or not, but it is highly annoying when cagers line up in the bike lane due to a red light.genec is correct. If a motorist is turning right with a bike lane present and they are close to the intersection or driveway they are planning on turning at they are required to merge into the bike lane and stop if necessary. If the cyclist is planning on turning right they line up behind the right turning motorist in the bike lane. If the cyclist is planning on going straight then the cyclist should merge out of the bike lane and pass the right turning motorist on the left.

Here's one I see people frequently refusing to comply with:
Recently I've actually seen people REFUSING to merge into a bike lane to turn right to the right of thru traffic. What's the problem here? What can we do to make people understand it's ok (and actually a good idea) to drive your car in the bike lane if you're making a right turn (so cyclists in the bike lane don't try to pass right turning cars on the right)?
A couple of reasons I can think of:

1. Motorists are taught to be between lane stripes. It's counterintuitive for them to have part of their vehicle in the bike lane and the other part in the travel lane.
2. The transition from solid line to dashed line often occurs too close to the intersection.

A couple of reasons I can think of:

1. Motorists are taught to be between lane stripes. It's counterintuitive for them to have part of their vehicle in the bike lane and the other part in the travel lane.
2. The transition from solid line to dashed line often occurs too close to the intersection.

Not if the motorist simply slows down... ;)

Not if the motorist simply slows down... ;)

What I mean is that on higher speed roads, the transition from solid to dashing needs to start further back from the intersection, so that the motorist can merge to the right, then slow down before making the turn.

What I mean is that on higher speed roads, the transition from solid to dashing needs to start further back from the intersection, so that the motorist can merge to the right, then slow down before making the turn.

I know what you meant... really.

But, if motorists just slowed down... they would have no problem at all with cyclists and those turns. It is generally the mad rush to the stop light/stop sign and the hurry to make the turn that complicates all our interactions.

We cycling folk live on a slightly different timeline... perhaps slower motorists would find their lives would have less stress and that their fuel would last longer... Oh, and that they indeed can merge with cyclists at the corners. :D

Interesting concept, eh? ;)

They've probably been screamed at by cyclists for doing it the right way, like I've seen happen plenty of times even though there was plenty of room.

They've probably been screamed at by cyclists for doing it the right way, like I've seen happen plenty of times even though there was plenty of room.

Maybe... as I mentioned in post 2, cyclists barely know the BL laws... much less motorists...

Sure makes it hard to co-operate, eh?

Blammo... here's the game board, you all have your pieces... now go play. Oh, rules... yeah, maybe we'll tell you the rules... But whatever you do, don't kill anyone. :rolleyes: