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Old 03-24-08 | 06:40 PM
  #48  
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Helmet Head
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: San Diego
Originally Posted by Blue Order
Bicycles are real vehicles, and the bicycle lane is a real traffic lane.

Unless vehicles turning left have their own traffic signal, vehicles turning left at an intersection must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles, and failure to do so is a violation of the law. No "I didn't see him," no "I thought I could make it," no "I looked a minute ago but didn't look just before I turned." If you fail to yield, you're in violation.

If a vehicle is making a right turn at an intersection, and there is a bike lane to the right of that vehicle, similar rules apply, and the driver's excuses are just as irrelevant, as is the basic speed law.
Interesting that you find analogy in the two types of situations.

Checking for and yielding to oncoming through traffic prior to turning left across their path is normal traffic behavior.

Checking for and yielding to same-direction through traffic on your right prior to legally turning right across their path is abnormal traffic behavior.
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