Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

who has the right of way?

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

who has the right of way?

Old 12-02-16 | 08:11 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
commu*ist spy
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
who has the right of way?

I had a little situation this morning. Is assumed practice for everyone to just yield like it's a stop sign? If not, then who has the right of way, A or B?
Untitled.jpg

Last edited by spectastic; 12-02-16 at 08:15 AM.
spectastic is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 08:16 AM
  #2  
Full Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 329
Likes: 28
From: Charleston, SC
B has the right of way. Vehicle A is entering onto a new road. When entering a road the vehicle already on the road has the right of way.
danmyersmn is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 08:29 AM
  #3  
Lucille
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 489
Likes: 95
From: Texas
Agree. But if B is a bicycle and A is a vehicle, for my own self if I was B, I would slow down, I am mindful of a public service advertisement from long ago 'You could be dead right'.
Lucillle is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 08:30 AM
  #4  
rumrunn6's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,446
Likes: 4,535
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

was going to say something similar, the person going straight has the right of way. like at an intersection with 2 vehicles facing each other. if the person turning has to cross the path of the person going straight, the person going straight has the right of way
rumrunn6 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 08:32 AM
  #5  
rumrunn6's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,446
Likes: 4,535
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Originally Posted by Lucillle
Agree. But if B is a bicycle and A is a vehicle, for my own self if I was B, I would slow down
B still has the right of way. lots of cars don't stop at stop signs or think because they are in a "car" they have the right of way, but they don't actually. this is where a bright front strobe comes in handy. it gets you a bit more courtesy from car drivers. but you're right about "judgement" don't want to be right, but dead
rumrunn6 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 08:41 AM
  #6  
Thread Starter
commu*ist spy
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
that's what I thought..

this moron (A) was going like 20 mph in to the turn, crossing over into the opposite lane, as I (B) was rolling in to the 3 way junction. I agree I should've had my lights on, even though it was plenty bright already.
spectastic is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 10:21 AM
  #7  
GATC
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 179
From: south Puget Sound
At an 'uncontrolled' intersection the rig entering a new road must yield.

Are these 2 roads, or two, like, driveways within a parking lot? Around here parking lots are not regulated, and police won't come to car accidents within them.

I found myself driving the other day in the driving part of a parking lot (I was heading to exit the lot) and realized another guy was racing me across the parking spots! He had to detour to avoid a shopping cart corral so I got there first without actually joining the race.

Last edited by HardyWeinberg; 12-02-16 at 10:24 AM.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 10:45 AM
  #8  
rumrunn6's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,446
Likes: 4,535
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Originally Posted by spectastic
lights on, even though it was plenty bright already
too many close calls to ride on roads w/o strobes front & rear, even in daylight. may not always be necessary & might even look foolish to others, but there's that 1 split second where the strobe can help avoid a death, mine in particular! :-)
rumrunn6 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 10:47 AM
  #9  
Thread Starter
commu*ist spy
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg
At an 'uncontrolled' intersection the rig entering a new road must yield.

Are these 2 roads, or two, like, driveways within a parking lot? Around here parking lots are not regulated, and police won't come to car accidents within them.

I found myself driving the other day in the driving part of a parking lot (I was heading to exit the lot) and realized another guy was racing me across the parking spots! He had to detour to avoid a shopping cart corral so I got there first without actually joining the race.
the tee is where the road actually leads into the parking lot
spectastic is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 10:48 AM
  #10  
Thread Starter
commu*ist spy
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
too many close calls to ride on roads w/o strobes front & rear, even in daylight. may not always be necessary & might even look foolish to others, but there's that 1 split second where the strobe can help avoid a death, mine in particular! :-)
agreed
spectastic is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 10:56 AM
  #11  
wphamilton's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA

Bikes: Nashbar Road

Rule of thumb, whoever is in an intersection first has a right of way. Both approaching, car on the right has right of way. Straight traffic has right of way over turning. These are somewhat contradictory for the OP situation - ROW can be more fluid than strict rules. In that situation I think that I always yield to the car unless he stops.
wphamilton is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 11:01 AM
  #12  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,123
Likes: 6,340
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

If I feel I have right of way over a car and I'm on my bike, I try to make it clear that I plan to take it. I don't yield until I see a clear indication that the other driver is not going to yield.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 12:31 PM
  #13  
no motor?'s Avatar
Unlisted member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland

Bikes: Specialized Hardrock

I always assume they're out to kill me and don't mind taking the extra time to see if they'll wait or not.
no motor? is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 01:27 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 7
From: Houston, TX

Bikes: 2017 Cannondale CAAD12 105, 2014 Giant Escape City

Originally Posted by spectastic
the tee is where the road actually leads into the parking lot
So A was entering the parking lot? Then A has the right of way. People in the parking lot have to let others enter so they won't be blocking real roads.
memebag is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 01:31 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 915
Likes: 466
From: San Diego

Bikes: 1978 Bruce Gordon, 1977 Lippy, 199? Lippy tandem, Bike Friday NWT, 1982 Trek 720, 2012 Rivendell Atlantis, 1983 Bianchi Specialissima? 1998 Serotta Atlanta, 1981 Dave Moulton

Originally Posted by noglider
If I feel I have right of way over a car and I'm on my bike, I try to make it clear that I plan to take it. I don't yield until I see a clear indication that the other driver is not going to yield.
Because you are on a bike you have right of way?? "Feel" must be the operative word here because, otherwise, it makes no sense to me. When I'm driving, I take my right of way regardless of what the bicyclist might feel. Same when I'm on my bike. In either case, I try to be ready to yield.
L134 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 01:36 PM
  #16  
Thread Starter
commu*ist spy
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 5
From: oregon
it's not really a parking lot. it's a road that leads into a parking lot. there are parking spaces right outside the restaurants and coffee shops. the real parking lot is in the box regions where my "no stop sign" label is.

I think they should just put a stop sign there somewhere.
spectastic is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 01:39 PM
  #17  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,123
Likes: 6,340
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Originally Posted by L134
Because you are on a bike you have right of way?? "Feel" must be the operative word here because, otherwise, it makes no sense to me. When I'm driving, I take my right of way regardless of what the bicyclist might feel. Same when I'm on my bike. In either case, I try to be ready to yield.
I wasn't saying that at all. Whether one is on a bike and whether one has right of way are independent variables. If both happen to be true, that is how I act. I expect to keep it until I see someone is taking it away, rightly or wrongly.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 12-02-16 | 01:42 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 915
Likes: 466
From: San Diego

Bikes: 1978 Bruce Gordon, 1977 Lippy, 199? Lippy tandem, Bike Friday NWT, 1982 Trek 720, 2012 Rivendell Atlantis, 1983 Bianchi Specialissima? 1998 Serotta Atlanta, 1981 Dave Moulton

Originally Posted by noglider
I wasn't saying that at all. Whether one is on a bike and whether one has right of way are independent variables. If both happen to be true, that is how I act. I expect to keep it until I see someone is taking it away, rightly or wrongly.
Ah, OK. I agree completely then.
L134 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-03-16 | 12:54 PM
  #19  
italktocats's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
it kinda depends what country..
italktocats is offline  
Reply
Old 12-03-16 | 01:05 PM
  #20  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

In VT On the ice, the pedestrians had better halt.


the one weighing a ton or two, Mass in motion wins ..


Read Your State Vehicle Code Book ? The DMV has them in Print.




...

Last edited by fietsbob; 12-03-16 at 01:11 PM.
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 12-03-16 | 01:46 PM
  #21  
rm -rf's Avatar
don't try this at home.
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,220
Likes: 704
From: N. KY
This situation, low speed 90 degree intersections, can be quite dangerous.

If the driver is moving at about the same speed as the bike, the bike pretty much stays in the same place in their field of view (just slowly increasing in size, of course). If they just quick scan for cars, the cyclist can be easily overlooked.

I'd probably either slow or speed up to avoid reaching the corner when the car is nearby.
rm -rf is offline  
Reply
Old 12-04-16 | 09:44 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 645
From: Toronto

Bikes: Sekine 1979 ten speed racer

Regardless, never trust a motorist. If you are B slow down to make sure A isn't going to cut you off. Even then, that's still no guarantee.

I had a similar situation in the dark. I had my helmet light aiming straight at the pickup truck. When I got close enough for the driver to determine I was on a bicycle, he entered.
Daniel4 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-04-16 | 11:23 AM
  #23  
Bike Gremlin's Avatar
Mostly harmless ™
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 243
From: Novi Sad

Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters

If there is no sign giving a right of way to one road, or another (stop sign, or a yield sign), and if there are no traffic lights, then the vehicle coming from your right hand side has the right of way. Vehicle A in this case has the right of way.

In the pic below, the green car has the right of way.



Opposite for left hand side driving countries.

Last edited by Bike Gremlin; 12-04-16 at 11:26 AM.
Bike Gremlin is offline  
Reply
Old 12-04-16 | 11:38 AM
  #24  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,135
Likes: 6,180
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Originally Posted by danmyersmn
B has the right of way. Vehicle A is entering onto a new road. When entering a road the vehicle already on the road has the right of way.
Technically this is incorrect. The laws state that an uncontrolled intersection should be treated like a 4-way stop or inoperable stoplight. In other words, you should yield to the car to your right. If they arrive at the same time, vehicle A has the right of way as it is the vehicle to the right.

Unfortunately this is not the way that that most people think and anyone in vehicle A would be foolish to try and assert their right of way.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is online now  
Reply
Old 12-04-16 | 11:40 AM
  #25  
Bike Gremlin's Avatar
Mostly harmless ™
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 243
From: Novi Sad

Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters

Originally Posted by cyccommute
Technically this is incorrect. The laws state that an uncontrolled intersection should be treated like a 4-way stop or inoperable stoplight. In other words, you should yield to the car to your right. If they arrive at the same time, vehicle A has the right of way as it is the vehicle to the right.

Unfortunately this is not the way that that most people think and anyone in vehicle A would be foolish to try and assert their right of way.
This is correct.
Bike Gremlin is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.