Originally Posted by
corrado33
I agree. I hesitate to ignore the incident and give you advice, but this is exactly why I don't sit on the right hand side of "straight or right turn" lanes. Even if there is a bike lane there, I will still move to the left hand side of the "car" lane so that anyone turning right cannot, in any way, shape, or form, hit me. The counter argument for this is that if there is an accident in the intersection, you'll probably more likely get hit if you are at the left side of the lane rather than the right. But for me an accident I can see is better than a car that's behind me in my blind spot. It sounds like you were where you were supposed to be if you're going to sit to the right side of the lane. Way far out there (in the crosswalk) in OBVIOUS view, but still, in this instance you were unseen.
I do this because I even catch myself not looking right before I turn right sometimes. It's a bad habit, but one many drivers have.
I hope the bike and you are none worse for wear.
After many decades of riding in on the East Coast, long before bike lanes, sharrows, bike boxes or other modern infrastructure innovations the wise cyclist rode FRAP or else. When I am on the left side of a lane I feel like I'm in one of those dreams where you find yourself the only one that is stark naked at the weekly Strategic Development Team meeting. Here in enlightened Portland and the extremely cyclist dense urban core, other lane placements are possible, but... it isn't any coincidence that the bike boxes are painted on the right side of the intersection. Were I you, what I would do instead of moving to the left side of the car lane, only to have to move back again once traffic begins moving, is stay on the right side, but a good car length back from the actual corner indicating clearly your intention not to turn right when the light changes, but to proceed straight through. Right turning traffic simply sidles past on your left and turn right as they can. Works like a charm.