Originally Posted by
GeraldF
Personally, I feel that the best way to avoid getting left-hooked is to SLOW DOWN prior to reaching the intersection. This is especially true for avoiding right hooks, but IMO it's also true for avoiding left hooks.
My reasoning: Bikes are not as visible as cars. It's difficult for drivers to judge how fast an approaching cyclist is going. If the cyclist is riding 25 mph, the oncoming driver may not realize just how fast the cyclist is going and may misjudge the timing of his/her turn. Also, by riding fast you will require more time and distance to come to a stop if you do get cut off by a left-turning vehicle. Higher speed = greater risk for a serious injury.
Regarding the above poster's advice of riding 30 mph in a 40 mph zone, I do agree that there are certain safety benefits to keeping up with traffic, PARTICULARLY if you are "taking the lane" on a narrow roadway. However, these safety benefits apply for the stretches of road involving no intersections. Moreover, the safety benefits apply regarding the traffic coming from BEHIND, not the oncoming traffic. At the intersections themselves, cyclists riding 30 mph are highly vulnerable to getting left-hooked, even though it will be the fault of the driver. Same for right hooks.
I stand in the pedals maintaining speed while approaching the intersection. So a motorist turning left, will be able to see me. Also, I will be looking to see if any motorist is about to make a left turn, so I will know to watch out for them.
Originally Posted by
GeraldF
Before anyone goes bashing me for suggesting that slowing down at intersections is always a must, I will admit that this is context sensitive. Lane widths, presence of a wide shoulder or bike lane, speed limit, etc, all play into the ideal speed and lane positioning as one approaches an intersection. To give one example, if biking in a city with a typical two-lane road having bike lanes and a speed limit of 25 mph, I strongly feel that any cyclist riding in the bike lane is safest the SLOWER he/she rides through any intersection.
I don't agree with slowing down at intersections, unless there is obvious traffic in front of me and/or, the traffic light is red. But, I am not going to bash you about that.
Originally Posted by
GeraldF
My "slower is safer" philosophy coincides with evidence that bikeshare users have remarkably low accident rates in cities. Most of these bikeshare bikes, such as Capital Bikeshare in Washington, DC, are clunky 3-speed bikes. If they were fast roadbikes, you'd see the number of accidents increase.
Bikeshare users are subject to bikes, that are not capable of going fast. Therefore, Of course they are going to go slow. As for Bikeshare bikes being causing a lot of accidents, I agree with that because of a Bikeshare cyclist's inexperience riding on the road. Also, Their not knowing the traffic laws, and how to combine knowledge of the traffic laws, with their own safety.