Had very close calls with this same behaviour, most drivers are blind to anything but what is exactly in front of them... if you slip out of that field of view you essentially disappear from their situational awareness. Sad, but it seems to be true.

This is the main reason why I now ride almost right on top of the white line of bicycle lanes. I haven't been right hooked since I started doing this.

I got right-hooked by a driver last week for the first time. It was under similar circumstances, although there was no bike lane. I was going uphill at the time and a car came up beside me, and the next thing I knew they were turning right. I just reacted and turned with the car, so I didn't get hit. I shook my fist at the driver and she briefly stopped, and then drove on. I would be willing to bet that she was talking on the phone or otherwise distracted at the time. The scary part was that another car turned into the lot right after the women forced me into it, and the second car almost hit me too.

I would be willing to bet money that the driver saw me but was distracted or underestimated my speed. I was wearing a neon yellow-green vest or jacket, and I have 3 tail-lights, one of which is a Dinotte. There is no way she didn't see me unless she was half blind.

And with all the distractions that seem to be more important than the concentration required to pilot a 5,000 pound missile, we're lucky if they are even paying attention to what is in front of them.

Yes, Robert Hurst has really nailed the concept of defensive cycling: that many collisions require two people make a mistake, and you can choose not to be one of them.

That's a good summary. Also, being aware of what's going on in your immediate surroundings is hard work. You need to turn your head every which way and generally be active, instead of just sitting there with your eyes fixed straight ahead waiting for something to show up so you can maybe react to that. I sometimes think driver's ed should include riding a bike x hours in traffic. Your driving habits will change with that experience (or you're heavily into category #7 above).

--J

In my experience, riding in a bike lane at a junction such as the one described increases, not decreases, the probability of right hooks and right crosses.

I was right hooked in the same way last year. Since then I am extremely wary of cars turning right in the bike lane. I try my best to keep myself spaced as to be able to get out of the way if a hook starts top happen. Motorists should be more aware but most of them aren't. Glad you are ok, I would definitely get you and your bike looked at...especially the bike. If it is damaged you could get hurt further if the carbon fails.

In California it's legal to take the lane to avoid right hooks:

21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

One of my personal riding maxims is "The driver behind you is really in front of you." Or so they think... And by the time their front wheel is even with yours, you have magically ceased to exist.

My grandfather, a major oil company V.P., claimed that all drivers are insane. He just never told me that they are delusional and prone to hallucinate. :eek:

Glad you are basically okay.

I was right hooked last year. Luckily it was on a hill and I was moving pretty slow. Studs in my snow tires left a nice scratch in his paint job!

Exactly. As I was getting up, her reply was. Oh' glad you're OK...see ya. I said 'No, call the cops and ambulance'. Witness bikers kept her there for the cops.

So after they pass, can they see you better in their mirrors?

Here's what I think happens. Once the car gets far enough past you that you are behind the driver's head, in their opinion you've left their consideration because bikes move so slow.

Car drivers only look in front of them, and have no memory. If they can't see you, right in front of them, right now, you are not considered.

Not necessarily, but they will be well aware of where you are as they pass. At least in theory. This can not take into account the stupidity of drivers, like the one that hit you. You can't fix stupid.

Edit: What I think happens when I'm right on the white line is that it prevents drivers from trying to merge into the bike lane beside me. They'll either have to speed up and get way ahead or slow down and get behind me.

Sometimes I think bike lanes make cyclists even more invisible to drivers. If you're on the road, you're not relegated to the edge. That's a narrow bike lane, too. I hope you're okay.

I've ridden with you, you have reflective strips and light and are otherwise brightly lit, or, at least more than me.

I hypothesize that the woman probably wanted to "beat you" to the driveway, totally misjudged how fast you were going and how much she has to slow down to make the turn. Sure, car drivers can accelerate to get past you but then then have to slow waaay down to turn. It happens all.the.time to me.

One thing I learned on my motorcycle (sorry spent alot more time on it than cycling in traffic) is that drivers look for *threats* not other vehicles. Threats being other cars/trucks. While motorcycles don't have the speed discrepancy problems, they do have the visibility and lane issues. Heck even in my car I find that most drivers don't judge the speed of vehicles in other lanes very well. They look once for half a second and assume if nobody in in that spot then, nobody will be there in the time it takes to complete their turn/merge.

That is the opinion of many strict Fosterites... which is why they don't like bike lanes. They feel that just sharing a lane is more effective...

So we should equip bikes with all sorts of threats like outward pointing spears... THEN we'll be visible... ;)

I got hit by a car standing inside a goodwill once. It was an old guy, that had it in drive instead of reverse. ? Stuff happens, And when you are really old it happens easier. ;) I would say you could have been running a full set of cop lights and she would have creamed you.

What is it about a car/bike collision that makes drivers think it's OK to leave the scene just because no one appears injured? If I cut from the middle lane, across the RTO lane and clip somebody's front end as they screech to a halt to avoid t-boning my illegal right, I'm pretty certain everyone witnessing the action would report my plate if I just drove off.

VRK - Glad you're OK, and that your bike is mostly alright. That said; this is one of those instances which should be used to impress the consequences of the driver's actions. She's got a ticket showing she's at fault. Have her insurance cover any medical expenses; right down the cost for a box of Band-Aids and tube of Neosporin if that's all you finally need... but start with the fact that if you're swelling you should probably have a doctor give you a once-over to assure there isn't any initial damage masked by the adrenaline rush. Make sure they cover all repair/replacement related expenses for your bike/equipment. Torn clothing or bike luggage, broken lights, inspection by a reputable LBS to determine if any CF damage has occurred, all the way down to the cost of a new paint job. (Yeah, I'm that petty. Think about what gets charged in a low-speed auto/auto collision. Bodywork and paint. Not just a $5.00 bottle of touch up, either. They repaint the entire damaged panel of a car for a little scuff: A bike frame should be no different. You'll need a new helmet (if you wear one) because any helmet invoved in a collision should be replaced. The list goes on... retape on the bars if it got scuffed. New saddle if there's any damage. New shifters if there's any scuffing, (they'd replace a scuffed side-mirror on a car; no different here.) Seriously, check the Cascade website and discuss this with one of their suggested legal councellors.

Not much to add. Not totally a visibility thing. I also got hit last night and it was only from shining my head light directly into the driver's eyes, that it finally registered this is not good. This is with a bright headlight.

Agree with motorcyclist, bikes are not seen as a threat. Many bikers wear leathers and club like symbols and have loud loud exhausts so drivers see and hear them as threats.

You didn't mention time of day so don't know if light was a factor. If it was somewhat or totally dark many have difficulty judging speed from blinking lights. I have a double row, one steady to help guaging distance correctly and one blinking to get their attention.

Suggestions for future:
1- either hug the left side of the bike lane, or cross it when you see a popular business approaching
2- be more alert to noises of vehicles changing speeds
3- if not full daylight, add some active lighting, especially something with steady light source
4- if riding in lower light levels, add left side blinkie
5- wear full finger gloves and helmet. As bikers know, it's not if you will go down, but when. You must be prepared.

On a side note, I've found some great side lights, cat eye orbits, blink or steady spoke lights.

Yep. Totally true, all of this. (especially the get well wishes!)

My preferred strategy for dealing with the invisibility gap is to coast if I hear a car trying to pass me. It won't prevent all right hooks, but it buys me a fraction of a second to brake. Even if I can't see any place the passing car could turn, I'll still coast. It's saved my ass a few times. The most precious thing in any potential crash is time to think, and time to react.

Slowing down also plays into their assumptions. A surprised driver is a dangerous driver. I try *really* hard to be as boring as possible.

This is rather the problem with bike lanes. You are taking the lane, but it's not affecting driver behaviour like it should.

Apparently the city here is installing its first non-counterflow bike lanes this summer. I am somewhat concerned and I'll have to see what they look like. If there's driveways like that, I'll be decidedly unimpressed.

As for the accident, don't go with "my frame's okay." It's probably not, and if you don't make the claim now, you will have a much harder time when the problems manifest themselves. Carbon is not an easy material to assess.

No we need carbon fiber jousting poles, that way we can make drivers think twice about opening their door into traffic.

Another note about these oblivious people are cab drivers dropping fares off/picking fares up... always they ZOOM ahead of you and then slam on the brakes while turning right and parking diagonally across the bike lane or your lane... what the ****.... time to get my jousting pole and add another side-view mirror to my collection!

YEAH! And you think your neck is REALLY sore...

The driver was clearly in the wrong, of course, so I hope you get yourself and your bike checked out, and sue for damages as necessary.

As for the future, always be very wary of any car on your left that seems to be passing you, but not going all too fast. Thing is, drivers generally do not turn right at 40 mph - right before turning, they'll be going pretty close to your speed. In my experience, as I'm approaching an intersection (including one like in the picture) and there is a car on my left that is kind of passing me but not speeding away and disappearing into the sunset - DING DING DING, alarm bells are be going off in my head and I'm preparing to avoid a potential collision. Or if a car passes me fast, but then starts slowing down - same thing. Watching out for this and being prepared to slow down, speed up or bail out as needed saved me from a right hook or two.

I stay wary of any car that's remotely near me. I generally expect any car may do something stupid, at any time. This kept me from running into the side of a car that made a left in front of me at a four way stop last year, when it was my turn to go. If I'd done my usual "get through the intersection as fast as possible" take off, I'd have either run into the side of him, or he would have clipped my front wheel. Ten years earlier at the same intersection, this had me ready to pull my leg up to keep from getting it caught between my bike and the bumper of the car that came through the intersection while I was still crossing.

I still remember the look on the look on the earlier driver's face, when she finally realized I was in front of her. You'd have thought I'd have darted out in front of her, despite being almost past her, before she saw me.

The idiot making the turn was too busy bopping around to whatever music he was listening to, to realize that anybody else was trying to use the intersection. :notamused: