Originally Posted by
joeyduck
I got yelled at by a cyclist this morning.
I live on a busy bike route. I can't/not allowed to bike these days, so I drive to work.
My street is blocked at one end not allowing cars to go through, cars only can turn right. I tend to park facing away from the blocked end. Yesterday I parked facing the blocked end. It is easier for me to execute a K-turn then to go all the way down and around the block to head to work.
So this morning a K-turn is what I did. I have attached a diagram. I noticed the cyclist over a block away as I was starting, he was far enough for me to complete my turn with him just stopping pedaling for a beat or two.
Get to point three as I am finished and getting ready to pull ahead and clear the lane with my car(truck) when he passes directly in front of me. I sound my horn. He stops and starts yelling at me.
He says I need to pay attention and wait. I told him it was stupid to pass in front (or behind) of a vehicle executing a K-turn. He said I needed to pay attention, I said I was paying attention and that is why I sounded my horn. It went back and forth him saying I was wrong for not looking and sounding my horn. Me saying it was a foolish, dangerous, and poor decision to pass a vehicle doing a K-turn. It ended with him saying maybe we are both wrong. Me, not wanting to concede the last word said nope you're wrong.
Anywho, would you guys pass a vehicle mid K-turn?
Not unless you see me and were willing to stop and let me go. Seems like the cyclist should be over here in NYC.
I see a few guys making dicey decisions through busy intersections and other places. Some common turns I encounter over here are illegal U-turns. Still have to slow down and/or stop since I don't know that the driver sees me and if they will take up more than the lane doing the turn. Cop cars still do it too. Last close encounter with a car was on a side street (98th between Madison and 5th Ave). I usually turn on there toward the end of my ride. Was on the right side (its a one way), came up on a black SUV. No blinker as usual to indicate that he was going into an open parking space. I also slowed down but almost got squeezed into the parked car next to me right before the open parking space he was trying to go into. I was looking straight into his driver side mirror but I guess he didn't see me. A lady on the sidewalk told him he cut me off. I held my right arm up doing a silent Italian version of "Cosa fai!" We exchanged a few words. Glad I usually try to stay behind the cars since most drivers around here don't know the meaning of a turn signal. Fun times...