chevychic55

Ok, I am new to cycling (<2 months) and I decided to take a new route today. I was stoked that the weather was perfect and loving life... until I encountered a jerk motorist. I was riding in the bike lane and was approaching an intersection. I signaled to the other traffic that I was going to stay to the left of the turn lane (not turning right). I checked my helmet mirror and saw a car to my left so I figured he was going to go straight through the intersection... WRONG. He decided to enter the turn lane through the solid white line (almost perpendicular to the path of traffic). I almost slammed into him and in the heat of the moment I flipped him the bird. He sticks his head out of the window and asks me "what's with the attitude?". I informed him that he almost caused me to slam into him and he said that I blocked the turn lane. I said he should have waited until I passed the entrance of the lane instead of speeding up to get in front of me. He then informed me that I need to ******** grow up and I said he needs to re-read the DMV handbook, and I asked him "if you didn't think you did anything wrong, why were you looking in your rear-view mirror?" He then took off in a huff. I am looking for honesty, as I want to be a safe cyclist... Was it my fault? I included a picture (sorry for the quality).

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

ptle

Looks like he just cut you off so you I don't think it was your fault. Plus I think you're suppose to take the lane before the line goes solid.

The Weak Link

The motorist was a jerk.

That's why bike lanes can be more dangerous than the open road.

Ride safe.

Phil85207

I usually try to get over long before the line turns solid but you did OK. I try not to engage the driver in any dialog as it seldom works to a
beneficial outcome. Good luck and be safe.

Valerian

Both of you were wrong. From the drawing, you are already committed on the right-only lane before you swerved left to cross the solid white line and he too was already committed to go straight before crossing the solid line to turn right.

Doohickie

^ What Phil85207 said. Even if you're right, they won't see it your way. The take-away from this incident is to expect and be prepared for unusual maneuvers out of motorists.

Wanderer

In many locations, the right turn lane, shares teh bike lane at intersections.

Therefore, the bicyclist was still OK.

chevychic55

Thanks everyone. I will continue to be cautious and I will try not to engage in an argument next time.

ericm979

Never assume the driver will do the sensible thing.

It's common to be passed and then have the car make a right turn right in front of you. Drivers see bicycle and think "stationary" even when we're going 25 mph.

If it was me riding, I'd look back for traffic, and if there was a car, I'd signal and move over while watching the car to see that the driver has seen me. If you take the spot before they get there they have to see you.


Getting into an argument is a waste of time. You're not going to change anyone's mind.

chevychic55

Thanks, I normally would not have argued, but I was really upset. I know I shouldn't have.
Also, I did signal and look, but it did appear as though he was going straight in the left lane since he didn't get into the turn lane (until he cut in front of me of course). Maybe I will just avoid roads that have a good number of cars until I am a little more seasoned.

gazelle5333

OP - glad your OK and nothing serious happened. I learned this tidbit the hard way. Cost me my bike and so far 2 weeks of riding and counting while I wait for the $ from the insurance company

RNAV

I don't think you did anything illegal; however, what you did was (in retrospect) likely unwise. Remember, at the end of the day it doesn't matter who is right -- what matters is that you're alive. Very often cyclists can be dead right.

Playing the Monday morning quarterback, here's what I would have done differently. The key to riding with motorists is to be predictable. Thus, you should try to declare your intent and establish your position early. For instance, since you knew you were planning on going straight, screw the bicycle lane and get over into the lane that's going straight to establish your position before a vehicle is near you. If they're going straight, they just have to move over a little to the left. If they're going to turn, you're already in the straight lane prior to the intersection, so they've either got to wait on you, or they'll pass you and get into the turn lane before you get to the intersection. The other option would have been to just slow down and wait for the car to pass you before transitioning from the bike lane to the straight lane. Again, I'm not criticizing what you did -- you did what you thought was best at the time. I'm critiquing, in the hopes that it's a situation that you (and we) can learn from.

Personally, I make an effort to make physical eye contact with drivers who are passing me. In my experience, they don't act like they see you until you make a point of making eye contact with them. Try this experiment on your next few rides: when you hear a car coming up behind you, literally turn your head around and look directly at them (make a show of it, almost). Don't look back down the road until you've established eye contact. Once you've made eye contact, then commit to looking down the road. Compare how wide of a berth drivers that you make eye contact with give you compared to those that you don't make eye contact with. I think you'll find you are given a much wider berth once you make that human connection to the driver.

Hillbasher

Great words of wisdom.Try following those ideas and you MIGHT ride a long time and stay in one piece.

Varina Drag

Smart plan but easier said than done sometimes. I generally keep my cool 99% of the time but there's always that 1% where I let them get to me. It happens and I try to do better the next time.

midgetmaestro 

This.

bikeybikebike

Actually, a driver buzzed me last week as I was cycling two abreast (legal), despite there being another completely empty lane. I caught up to the driver and asked (yelled) at him to change lanes next time.

He said "Sorry". Win!!

BigSean

Correct

Flatballer

why bike lanes are stupid: exhibit 1