When I am riding on a street that has a right turn lane and I want to go straight, I always move to the center lane so that other traffic will know where I intend to go and so that I don't get cut off by someone turning right in front of me. However, lately I've had a few drivers use the right turn lane to pass me. It's not a good feeling being side by side with a 2-ton pickup truck and there's only a single lane up ahead *and* your on the *left* side of the truck! Any suggestions?

Best suggestion: A bicycle mounted RPG launcher

Seriously tho, I've had people pass me in the parking lane, too, even when there's an open passing lane on the left. Usually accompanied by some ignorant remark that indicates that they think bicycles belong either on the sidewalk or in the gutter...

Give 'em space. Ride defensively if you wish to ride tomorrow. When I find areas where drivers tend to put me at risk, I change my route to avoid that location. A lot of times it seems like a particular intersection or stretch of road will be bad so I try to work that out of my route if I can.

It happens to me all the time, and to be honest it doesn't bother me a great deal. What you need to do is judge their speed relative to your own. If you're not going to make it into the "Single lane" before them, apply the brakes enough to avoid the collision. Moving a little further into the centre lane is also a good way to go as it gives you more space to make this judgement.

One simple and effective way to restrict cars passing too close is to mount a couple of feet fishing tackle (with a flag on the end). Drivers might not like it that much, but no one will risk to scratch the paint of their cars.

I dunno, I see a lot of cars on the roads around here missing more than just paint.

On my mtb in slow moving trafic instead of being forced into the gutter,have expossed
the r/h alloy peddal that gets there attension [hav'nt been used yet].Alloy peddals and soft door pannels dont mix.

Don't go all the way into the center lain. Go about three quarters of the way over in the right hand turn lane. That way, people turning right are forced to wait behind you untill they turn. They should be going slow anyways, as they are about to turn.

I prefer to take the through lane as well since I feel it is the proper way to do things. I also make obvious hand motions while doing so like pointing into the lane and then making a back and forth motion to indicate my intentions to go straight. I haven't encountered anyone trying to pass me on the right yet but am really alarmed albiet not entirely surprised to hear about such things happening.

I saw a bike with something interesting on it today... It was a piece of plastic painted bright yellow and red that stuck out the side, extending slightly further than the handlebars. I was in my car at the time, but I think it was actually a really good idea. It lets car drivers judge distances between their car and the bike much easier so in a way reserves that space for you so no cars will enter it.

Yes, those were even mandatory here several years ago (not that anyone actually checked). I seem to remember they had a reflector attached to the end, so the thing was really visible. It only extended to the left side of the bike, so I don't think it would have been much help in GonzoBob's situation.

Someone driving straight through a right-turn-lane here would receive verbal abuse and honks from fellow drivers, a ticket from the police and bangs on their cage from cyclists. It would really not be tolerated. Is it legal / common practice elsewhere?

--jh

Depends whether you mean legal or common practice. It happens all the time here, but I'm not so sure it's legal. A lot of other things that aren't legal happen here quite regularly, and vice versa.

It is definately not legal here. Right turn lane is right-turn-only. Going straight from a right turn lane is a traffic violation. Going straight from a right turn lane and cutting off someone else in the through lane is a double traffic violation. Doing so with the intent to pass on the right could even be possibly considered a third traffic violation depending on where you are.

As far as common practice, I haven't encountered it myself however I have seen as both a cyclist and motorist, people passing on the shoulder when I'm attempting a left turn on a 2-lane highway. Shoulder-passing is also technically illegal. I guess right-turn-lane-passing is yet another thing I'll have to keep my eye out for now.