Yoshi

While heading to Critical Mass on NYE, I was riding up (I believe) Lafayette towards 14th. There was a rather wide bike lane which I took advantage of. Ahead of me there was an SUV and a taxi cab that had stopped at an intersection, despite the light being green. I took a quick glance behind me, saw no traffic and passed them. I overheard the SUV driver (who I might add was idling in the bike lane) say something to the affect of "What's your problem?" to the taxi driver. I thought nothing of it and resumed riding in the bike lane. At that point I heard a motor reving and looked behind me to see the taxi cab accelerating, which the SUV not far behind. Of course they were both completely ignoring the cyclist in front of them. I was pedaling as fast as I could but realisitically I'm no match for an SUV and a taxi. As I attempted to drift into the second lane (the SUV was taking up the bike lane and the taxi was in the lane adjacent to it) the taxi cab started to drift. Fortunately I made it to the next intersection and the SUV turned the corner and the cab sped off.

I couldn't believe it.

Chris L

The situation you describe is one that I've seen played out many, many times already. It's also one of the reasons why I don't rely on bike lanes.

Yoshi

I don't particularly rely on bike lanes either - in this situation (prior to the racing vehicles) it was just convenient. The bike lane was about as wide as a normal lane, and I was also riding with a friend who is less experienced with riding in traffic. Honestly if there was no bike lane at all it wouldn't have made any difference - I still would have been caught in front of two out-of-control vehicles.

Jeffery

How do you prevent this kind of situration, if I am ever in it, to not become dangerous for you, the biker?

Dchiefransom

If you notice it happening behind you, pull off to the right, jump off your bike, and run with into the ditch or up on the sidewalk. Those two were out to hurt each other, and you're just a bug on the windshield to them.

Mars

Whoa, dude, glad you got out of that ok......

I guess that I second the previous comments about "prevention". Just get out of their way. Or carry caltrops with you

Becca

Add that to my list of reasons to advocate against bike lanes. (See my post in the thread by Jeffery about finally riding in the street)

Becca

Exactly! Couldn't have said it better myself.

Dchiefransom

I don't think the fact that there was a bike lane there really has that much bearing on what happened. As long as the right lane was wide enough to fit both vehicles, painted or unpainted, these insane types will do this every time. I've never used a mirror, but the temptation is growing every minute. Many might say I'm too jaded, but my belief is that if the cyclist had been run over, the only thing either driver would regret would be if they got charged with a crime, and they would not worry at all about what they did to another person's life or family.

Becca

I totally agree with you; don't get me wrong. I just wanted to also agree with Chris, because I don't like bike lanes either.

Yoshi

I don't like bike lanes that much either. However, I brought it up because the SUV was speeding in the bike lane. The reason I was using this particular bike lane in the first place is because it was as wide as the lane next to it. I don't want to ride two lanes over just to avoid using a bike lane.

DieselDan

There's nothing you could have done to prevent this. The only thing to do is avoid this BS and get out of the way. I know this is aganist a New Yawkers nature.

Chris L

Key word: Anticipation. Know when it's going to happen, and you can take evasive action before it does. In other words: judge people.

The essence of my post wasn't so much "don't use bikelanes", it was more "don't rely on bikelanes." By all means, use it if it provides you with a better option. However, you should also be realistic about the level of utility or protection that it actually affords you. Be aware that situations like this can and do happen in bikelanes, and you need to be ready to get out of the bike lane when they do. As I said, anticipation and judgement are the key words. It was only yesterday that I was able to pull off a smart save and avoid a potential crash in a bikelane at the end of a 225km ride due to anticipating that somebody else was going to do something stupid (and this was after making eye contact, something else you shouldn't rely on either).