Advocacy & Safety - Almost hit crossing street

I was almost hit, when I rode through a crosswalk on a green light for my direction. A pickup truck making a left turn never slowed down.

I honestly thought I was going to become roadkill.

C'est la vie

You are supposed to walk a bike through a crosswalk. Seriously.

I was almost hit, when I rode through a crosswalk on a green light for my direction.

I walk a 4 mile loop several times a week. I have had three very close calls with drivers making turns while I was WALKING in the crosswalk, with the light as I should. Close enough that I've had to jump back or run for my life.

It ain't a bike thing, it's a bad driver thing. Some people just can't conceive that anything other than a car would ever be in the road.

You are supposed to walk a bike through a crosswalk. Seriously.
I'm at least a little familiar with NY traffic law, but I can't find anything that says you're supposed to walk a bike through a crosswalk. The local MUP has intersections like this (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=moe+road,+clifton+park,+ny&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Moe+Rd,+Clifton+Park,+Saratoga,+New+York+12065&gl=us&ei=asMcTIzBJsP38Aa4w_yqDA&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=42.842725,-73.793643&spn=0.003324,0.006153&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.843728,-73.794069&panoid=s-Jw5KvgrQwl3EV1YnTdrg&cbp=12,41.13,,0,21.16) or this (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=moe+road,+clifton+park,+ny&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Moe+Rd,+Clifton+Park,+Saratoga,+New+York+12065&gl=us&ei=asMcTIzBJsP38Aa4w_yqDA&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=42.851716,-73.79427&spn=0.003323,0.006153&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.854832,-73.794322&panoid=j15jPuhZh2eItuA9e6Kxnw&cbp=12,38.59,,0,11.67). The stop sign tell me that I'm being treated as the operator of a vehicle, not as a rolling pedestrian.

That's a major known design problem in action.

Drivers -- all of them, good, bad and indifferent -- have learned to expect walking speed traffic in the area where you would usually find a sidewalk. When turning left it goes something like:

Oncoming traffic clear
No one in crosswalk
Go for it
Where did that bike come from?

If I ran a traffic court, this design problem would be no excuse. As a cyclist, it helps to be aware of it.

Making it even worse, cyclists, on the other hand, are operating in what seems to be a protected environment. The traffic signal is green. The way is clearly marked. No motor traffic on the MUP. Crosswalk is clear. No worries.

When sufficient space and money is allocated, the MUP and the parallel street need not share the same intersection. Failing that, for my the choices are to either ride on the road or ride on the MUP watching carefully for left turning masses of metal.

I walk a 4 mile loop several times a week. I have had three very close calls with drivers making turns while I was WALKING in the crosswalk, with the light as I should. Close enough that I've had to jump back or run for my life.

It ain't a bike thing, it's a bad driver thing. Some people just can't conceive that anything other than a car would ever be in the road.

Hear ya loud and clear. I take my dog for a walk daily... I've had some very close calls. My neighbors happened to be waiting at the lights one morning and even witnessed one such situation... told me later they could not believe their eyes.

Indeed, it is not a walking or biking thing, but simply a bad driver thing... some folks should NOT be behind a steering wheel. Yet, we grant nearly everyone a license and then refuse to take them away.

Yup motoring in the US is not taken as a serious responsibility.

I walk a 4 mile loop several times a week. I have had three very close calls with drivers making turns while I was WALKING in the crosswalk, with the light as I should. Close enough that I've had to jump back or run for my life.

It ain't a bike thing, it's a bad driver thing. Some people just can't conceive that anything other than a car would ever be in the road.

I definitely agree!!!!:mad: Because it almost felt like the guy was intentionally trying to hit me.

Indeed, it is not a walking or biking thing, but simply a bad driver thing...

There's an intersection I have to navigate every day, where people bluff their way through a right-on-red. The rule for drivers is this: if someone is near the crosswalk, speed up to scare them away so you can make your turn. If anyone calls your bluff and dares to step into the crosswalk anyway, you can slam your brakes and hope, but most of them will be smart enough not to. ( If anyone should have to wait, it should be the one exposed to the elements, not the one in a heated umbrella! ) If cars didn't "push" their way through, they'd be forced to wait for a green light, and who can stand that?


Yet, we grant nearly everyone a license and then refuse to take them away.

A gas station I stopped at once had a plan to fix this. Their pump said "licensed drivers only." That way, if somebody lost their license, like for DUI or whatever, they'll be unable to buy gas, and have to stop driving. ( Yeah, I know, it means "don't let your kid pump your gas" but it just struck me as really weird. )

A gas station I stopped at once had a plan to fix this. Their pump said "licensed drivers only." That way, if somebody lost their license, like for DUI or whatever, they'll be unable to buy gas, and have to stop driving. ( Yeah, I know, it means "don't let your kid pump your gas" but it just struck me as really weird. )

Did they have a sign stating such, or did they have an attendant manually enabling each pump after a driver's license was shown?

If the former, they accomplished nothing - people who skirt the licensing system do not read signs.

-Kurt

I spend as much time walking/jogging as cycling, and I frequently encounter motorists who make turns without adequately checing for pedestrians. The latest dispute in California concerns red light cameras busting motorists who fail to come to a complete stop before executing a right turn against a red light. I have counter-argued that we have a serious inattention problem and that it may take a couple of traffic citations to make folks wake up and take responsibility.

The most dangerous part of my mail route is where I cross in the crosswalk at stop lights.

The most dangerous part of my mail route is where I cross in the crosswalk at stop lights.
Not to single out you in particular, but does anyone know that all cars have blind spots? and the majority of drivers make mistakes once in a while. Some make them every minute! Instead of continually harping that "they act like they didn't see me"!! accept it. Move on. Be safe.

Not to single out you in particular, but does anyone know that all cars have blind spots?

Forward blind spots? Hardly, except for excessively thick interior paneling over the A-pillars (and no, said pillars are not covering additional metal to strengthen the roof against a cave-in if the vehicle flips. Nice try on the part of the auto manufacturers B.S.'ing the public into believing something that isn't factual).

-Kurt

Not to single out you in particular, but does anyone know that all cars have blind spots? and the majority of drivers make mistakes once in a while. Some make them every minute! Instead of continually harping that "they act like they didn't see me"!! accept it. Move on. Be safe.

I've never driven a vehicle that I can't spot someone in a crosswalk from, either from a stop for a turn or moving up to the intersection. Drivers are just not paying attention.

I walk a 4 mile loop several times a week. I have had three very close calls with drivers making turns while I was WALKING in the crosswalk, with the light as I should. Close enough that I've had to jump back or run for my life.

It ain't a bike thing, it's a bad driver thing. Some people just can't conceive that anything other than a car would ever be in the road.

The only thing that was blatantly clear(and something I should have been doing anyway) was to 'take the lane', instead of making use of the county's ordinance allowing bikes on the sidewalk. Which is in disagreement with the state law prohibiting bikes on the sidewalk.

I've never driven a vehicle that I can't spot someone in a crosswalk from, either from a stop for a turn or moving up to the intersection. Drivers are just not paying attention.
Absolutely right, they're not. Some are incapable. I don't want them to hit me. The good driver will never hit me. I'm not worried about them.

Every vehicle has blind spots. To the rear is most widely known and understood ("shoulder check") but the A pillar is a serious problem too. When you turn left, if a ped gets in behind the A pillar, as you move they may stay in the visual shadow. Bobbing and weaving your head resolves the issue just fine. The windshield mounted mirror is too low on most cars and creates the same issue on right-hand turns.

Really I'm amazed that any adult driving doesn't know this and account for it with driving behavioral changes. For peds and cyclists not to understand that they really are invisible can end up badly. Just sit in the car. See where you can't see. I understand that the group-think here encourages anti-car statements. But denying everyday reality is silly.

Absolutely right, they're not. Some are incapable. I don't want them to hit me. The good driver will never hit me. I'm not worried about them.

Every vehicle has blind spots. To the rear is most widely known and understood ("shoulder check") but the A pillar is a serious problem too. When you turn left, if a ped gets in behind the A pillar, as you move they may stay in the visual shadow. Bobbing and weaving your head resolves the issue just fine. The windshield mounted mirror is too low on most cars and creates the same issue on right-hand turns.

Really I'm amazed that any adult driving doesn't know this and account for it with driving behavioral changes. For peds and cyclists not to understand that they really are invisible can end up badly. Just sit in the car. See where you can't see. I understand that the group-think here encourages anti-car statements. But denying everyday reality is silly.

The part that is really silly is that some motorists GO in spite of not being able to see... they choose to go with the assumption that they are free and clear.

My most recent close call came from a woman who didn't bother to wipe the morning dew off her windshield... she just chose to drive blind.

Competent drivers understand blind spots and their sight limitations, incompetent drivers just point and go, regardless of conditions.

Every vehicle has blind spots. To the rear is most widely known and understood ("shoulder check") but the A pillar is a serious problem too. When you turn left, if a ped gets in behind the A pillar, as you move they may stay in the visual shadow.

Agreed. Though compare the A-pillars of 1970 and 1971 with the A-pillars of today:

http://image.mustangmonthly.com/f/9182648/p80166_large+1970_Ford_Mustang_Mach_1+Interior.jpg

http://image.mustangmonthly.com/f/9431524/p45929_large+1971_Ford_Mustang_Mach_1+Interior.jpg

By comparison:

http://www.renault-dacia-logan.com/photo-logan-steppe/logan-steppe-inside-1.jpg

http://www.cardata.com/images/car_interior.jpg

http://blogit.realwire.com/media/Autoglass_A-pillar_motorbike.jpg

^
An article was written up about the Ford Transit, criticizing this very factor: http://blogit.realwire.com/?ReleaseID=13603

-Kurt

Sit in a parking lot. Watch the drivers. Out of 10 how many drive what you would call "well"? They look before going around blind corners, they can back up properly, etc. One guy I know has one or two mistakes every block. I won't ride with him. The average driver is awful. Putting your life in their hands is a bad mistake. Don't cry " he almost hit me", don't be there.

To sum up Your Honour: the only person on the board with street (riding) cred is joey bike!\

You are supposed to walk a bike through a crosswalk. Seriously.


I'm at least a little familiar with NY traffic law, but I can't find anything that says you're supposed to walk a bike through a crosswalk.

I wrote the NY State DOT and got clarification:


Thank you for your June 3, 2011 e-mail to the New York State Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. There is no state law that requires a cyclist to dismount from his/her bicycle in a crosswalk. The crosswalk is an extension of the share-use pathway.

When riding your bicycle on a shared-use pathway, if there is a posted STOP sign; you must stop your bicycle. After stopping, if there are no other motor vehicles at the intersection, you may proceed across the roadway while riding your bicycle. At Katherine Terrace you are required to stop your bicycle, but, you are not required to dismount and walk your bicycle across the road.

Should you have any questions, I may be reached at the contact information listed below.

Cycle safely,

Eric

Eric Ophardt, P.E.
New York State Department of Transportation
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Director

Not to single out you in particular, but does anyone know that all cars have blind spots? and the majority of drivers make mistakes once in a while. Some make them every minute! Instead of continually harping that "they act like they didn't see me"!! accept it. Move on. Be safe.

Blind spots are one thing, but when they should be looking and don't look in the area that would be their blind spot, that doesn't justify stupidity.

That is another reason that I 'take the lane'.

thanks for the update. many of the people that posted in this thread don't participate here any more, so I'm closing it.