The cyclist did not cross a lane of traffic He was trying to move onto the shoulder when it reappeared after the exit. The truck was in the left exit lane, but didn't get off, instead crossed the exit delimiter marker onto the shoulder and hit the cyclist, more or less on purpose. It would have been very easy for the truck to anticipate the hit and to carry it out. The alternative to hitting the cyclist would have been to hit the curb of the island, blow a tire, and maybe wreck the truck. The driver thought he'd rather take a chance on killing a cyclist. Of course he could also have just continued down the exit, but evidently didn't like that choice. The cyclist didn't look back because one doesn't normally anticipate trucks coming at one on the right from the direction of the shoulder. He was just signalling for his buddies.

I've ridden roads like this many times. It's very simple: I stay on the shoulder and follow the shoulder into the exit at every exit. I then stop on the shoulder and wait for a break in traffic, crossing the exit at a 90° angle and returning to the main road shoulder. Doing that, I've never had a problem. Not that I enjoy it, but sometimes there are no other choices. Our civilization is not built for the convenience or safety of either pedestrians or cyclists.