Originally Posted by
Diamond
I was riding home the other day and a car with two teenage girls went past me and then immediately took a right turn in front of me. Fortunately she did signal and I didn’t crash but I had to jump on the brakes pretty hard to avoid their car. It was an OK road with a nice bike lane. I waved my arms at the driver in frustration but I’m wondering now if anyone knows the actual law (I’m in Oregon if the laws vary much).
It seems to me what she did was wrong but I assume there must be some grey area. If she was several hundred yards ahead and signaled a right then I assume it would be my responsibility to slow down and allow her to make her turn? Maybe not, in that case is the drive supposed to wait for the cyclist to pass on the right side before making their turn? Can anyone quote the law?
Thanks, Scott
Here is where law gets a bit tricky. In Oregon I believe the laws are such that a motorist is supposed to look and not cross a BL line if a cyclist is in the BL and approaching. In most of the other states, a motorist is supposed to look and merge into the BL much like a motorist would look and merge into any other lane in a similar move. In any case motorists are
supposed to look first, before lateral moves.
Now that said, motorists rarely look in the right mirror when they are in the right lane... so if there is any chance for a motorist to turn right while you approaching... you should take caution and either slow down, or back off or do whatever it takes to stay out of harms way. One thing to do is as you approach a potential right turn, you look first and move left. Of course this is a bit difficult if the area is one business driveway after another, and if you end up having to take a lane along one of those 50MPH streets lined with strip mall after strip mall that can be a hassle as motorist after motorist honks and announces their displeasure... after all you
have a bike lane.
Now the other issue here is that since the motorist often has come up from behind you... they should have seen you and planned ahead for their turn and you being on the right. That
never happens...

Motorists just don't see cyclists.
Now you indicated that she signaled... so you had warning... were you trying to pass her? Not a good move.
So again, don't be where a motorist can hit you... avoid passing on the right, move left when approaching a right turn... take a lane when it is one driveway after another... and above all, keep your head moving and looking for cars, cause drivers won't look for you.
The law is on your side, but that never stopped a "right hook" collision yet. Oh and sadly, motorists will make right turns from the next lane over...