Originally Posted by
Buzzatronic
This wasn't a "corner", they pulled into a parking lot. I was doing 14mph, the street speed limit is 25mph.
It doesn't matter if it's a corner or if the vehicle is pulling into a parking lot. What I posted earlier is my approach in negotiating high traffic areas, that is, urban settings. It applies to both corners and parking lots where vehicles can dart in and out.
You should've known better that in head-to-head, you as a cyclist would lose. What good is winning the argument that you're right and the vehicle was on the wrong side of the law if you're being carted by an ambulance?
Reviewing your video again, the first thing that you should've done was to become aware of your surroundings. You were busy maintaining your speed and yet you tuned out for a second or two. If I were in your situation, I would've marked any vehicle that passed me, particularly that white minivan. I will anticipate its next move until moves farther away from me. And like what I said earlier, I would shave a couple of mph on my cruising speed in anticipation of having to slam on my brakes in panic situations. In your case, you've been compromised by your speed so whether you'll slam on your brakes or pass through that van, you'll still be cooked had it not for that van being aware of you. You should've done the same thing to that van: being aware and trying to predict its moves.
Another thing: just because the posted limit is 25mph you as a cyclist shouldn't be competing with motor vehicles in aiming for that speed.