And yet this is NOT a right hook...


The cyclist approached from behind, the motorist was indicating a turn and the cyclist rode right into the vehicle.

A "right hook" is where a motorist passes you and then cuts you off. The motorist, in passing, should be aware of your presence.

There have been a couple cyclists killed in this manner in the last year or so. IIRC, one of them here in Chicago was the first fatality on a bike-sharing system. This is tragic, yet it comes under the heading of "rider error".
Steve

Agreed, rider error. Passing on the right requires extreme attention, this was avoidable.

Also agreed -- there are certainly some dumb@$$ cyclists out there. (Sometimes including myself!)

Trailer trucks and busses can be deadly when they turn right.

I was commuting today for the first time in months (haven't been able to because of scheduling issues, but hope to cycle during the school summer holidays). As I approached a Starbucks driveway, a car came up my left, and I prepared to be right hooked - I frequently am at that location. And - I didn't get right hooked. The driver went just a little ahead of me and waited for me to get past! I waved him thanks and kept riding

He should've not gone past you at all, but merged in behind you. Once they pass, you don't know if they're going to stop or hook... but I won't pass anyone on the right when traffic's moving or they have a right turn signal on.

True. But I've observed that a lot of drivers don't know they should merge into the bike lane as they prepare to turn right. This was still better than the norm - btw, this was just a little south of you - Dublin.

This is where a really loud air horn comes in handy. Not that the horn will physically prevent a hook, but in my experience it seems to clarify the cyclist's presence for the car driver.
Steve

Trailer trucks and UPS delivery trucks. These are the two main categories that I find are most common perpetrators of the right hook. Former maybe because they are probably unaware of the extra length of their vehicle and latter just because they are in a rush.

All the more reason, in some cases to take the lane. Or at an intersection filter to the front in front of a car or wait in the back of a line.

I also had it not-happen yesterday, at the exit from a MUP.

Well, the horn didn't work too well on the commute home tonight. As I was crossing the Dan Ryan on the Jackson Street bike lane, a shiny black BMW pulled alongside me (on my right; the bike lane is on the left side of the street). I tooted the horn and the driver looked at me then turned right into me as I gave a loooong blast. I had plenty of room so I turned with him, leaving a two-foot scratch along the driver's door. No damage to the bike or rider.
The bike lane was recently extended east of Halsted across the bridge, with plastic pylons to provide a buffer between the bike lane and adjacent traffic. Those pylons were knocked down almost immediately and have not been replaced. Also there is no signage directing motorists to watch for bikes (or, I suppose, directing bikes to yield to turning cars).
Steve

I was almost right hooked while stopped at a light, sitting IN a bike lane. A truck was trying to catch a right-turn arrow and took a fast, shallow turn. Scared the bejesus out of me. I make it a point to never ride next to a vehicle unless they are passing or I'm passing. And buses and trailer trucks, hell now, I say as far away as possible. And never get in an argument with someone driving a 2-ton weapon.

Is there a reason the bike lane's on the left? That's just asking for trouble.

It's a one way street. Bike lanes can be on either side.

You're right, that's not a right hook. That's a stupid cyclist.

I think it's probably a right hook. The turn signal doesn't give right-away and the driver should have looked. You don't know if the truck just passed in the 10 seconds before the posted video so I don't think we saw the full context.

According to the Active Transportation Alliance, the bike lane has to be on the left side of the street because Jackson is a bus route and somehow the state is involved and required the lane to be on the left; I have forgotten the details. It *is* a problem, and since the ramps onto the Ryan are also on the left it's a good place for a collision.

LoL: one of my former students was driving on Jackson and witnessed the whole thing. Too bad I didn't get the guy's license number, not knowing my story could be corroborated.
Steve

I haven't had a right hook ever. If there is potential for one I am in front of the vehicle behind me, or I pull in behind the vehicle in front of me and pass on left. I do this daily. Having a mirror helps. For me they are a complete non issue.

I think you're maybe not understanding. You're riding your bike, a car passes you on the left and immediately turns right just in front of you and cuts you off. Your method is no protection against that.

I might point out that right hook collisions aren't limited to car vs. bike. Passing before turning is a major cause of car vs. car collisions, especially in urban areas. The speed tends to be low enough that injuries are minor, but that doesn't mean they don't happen. Look around and note all the cars with right rear or left front damage, and there's a decent chance that right hooks were involved.

They also aren't limited, and last minute passing before trying to shoot off an exit is a significant cause of expressway collisions. So, IMO we're not looking at anything bike specific, but more about driver impatience and arrogance.

FWIW - I've written to my state representatives for an amendment to the sections of the vehicle code related to passing, to make it illegal to pass in anticipation of a turn in the direction of the passed vehicle. (The current laws don't address passing on multiple lane roads, and are only address passing only on the left side of the roadway).

There is nothing that can eliminate the possibility, agreed that is impossible. But keeping aware of ones surroundings and adjusting position in traffic have made the problem a non issue for me.

Of course and agreed.

The classic right hook of a cyclist by a car is when a car overtakes at a comparatively high speed, veers in front of the cyclist and leaves the cyclist no where to go. It's hard to protect against that simply because of the high speed differential.

What most motorists don't know is hat when making a right turn, most places, the right way to do that is to take the bike lane and turn right. That pretty much eliminates most right hooks. I didn't know that until it was explained to me by a cop who is now an expert witness in cycle/car collisions.

Basically, if you haven't been right hooked you've been more lucky than anything.

If there's a cycling lane, a car crossing it should yield to the cyclists.

It is as much a rider error, as is any other, more "classic" right hook - meaning, one should account for such errors by drivers and adjust their speed and position accordingly.