Just want to share. I had a very lousy commute home today, perhaps it being Friday afternoon, many, many vehicles on the streets and chaotic traffic. Had what could have been a very close call/accident today. I attach a picture to illustrate. Hope it's clear by itself (see pic below):

I had been on the right side of a bus as we were waiting for the red light to turn green. Once the light turned green, the bus got behind me as it tried to approach bus stop, so I sped up to get away from the bus-stop area. A van was parked nearby ahead. Since the gap on its right side is very narrow, I chose to pass the van on its left.

As I was passing the van on its left, a big truck came up on my left, sandwiching me between the truck and the van (a situation I dread most). All I could do was to "pray" that the van would not start, as its wheels were actually slightly turned left as if ready to go (not sure if the driver was inside or not). Thankfully the van stayed still, and I passed it without an incident.

There were quite a few close calls in today's chaotic traffic, but the above was the most scary and its non-occurrence was not due to me but due to the luck that the parked van did not start while I was passing it.

Any comments/tips welcome!

Glad you made it through okay! In the future you might move in front of the truck if you are able.

Yeah. Try to get ahead of the truck. If it's going too fast, DON'T try to pass the parked van. Instead, stop behind it and pull all the way out into the traffic lane when traffic is clear. You try that stunt too many times and sooner or later you'll cut it too close and we'll be talking about you in A&S.

Thanks. I was unaware of the truck coming. I had mirrors but I was concentrated on the bus and the van. Perhaps I should have waited even after light turned green, to let the bus go before me. On the other hand, even without the bus, passing a parked vehicle is often tricky in heavy traffic.

Do you have a helmet mirror? It's what I use and it's pretty good for quick glances. Plus I can move my head and scan around behind me.

My commute home today was a little later than usual and coincided with the post commute rush in a congested low income/retail stretch. Traffic was hectic enough I decided to go pedestrian cyclist on the sidewalk. Its legal in Washington, and only added a few minute to my ride.
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

No helmet but my mirrors are pretty good.

Often when I read of these scenarios posted by others I wonder if I would have been in the same situation. In this case, I think my tendency to stay out of the door zone might have had me farther to the left of the van than you were. This either would have kept the truck behind or at least given more room in the "sandwich". It seems that the dooring threat from the van in this case might have been more significant than that of it pulling out in front of you and a truck.

The distance traveled during the this happening was quite short, so if I was too far out, I'd be right in the path of the oncoming truck, whose driver may not have expected the sudden appearance of me (blocked by the bus), and could have hit me. (In the beginning the truck was more behind than shown in the picture, and traveling fast.)

This. I'd either cut off the large truck (in slow traffic) or wait for it to pass.

Yes, and it's easy for me to sit in the calm of my desk chair as opposed to your situation. At any rate, glad you weren't squished or doored. Maybe it's one of those live and learn things.

This is a case where you should have either waited for the truck to pass, or you should have been in the lane the entire time.

I like reading "close call" as opposed to "road kill" but that being said you will be making a lot more diagrams in the future because I can guarantee alot more close calls. Like some members have said. Stay visible( not just bright clothing) by not tucking in between parked cars. If cars are honking at you it means they see you. Use the lane when space allows and if you don't make eye contact with a driver know THEY DON"T SEE YOU. To me surviving 20+ years of dense urban bike commutes is based on being aggresive, being seen and to an extent being annoying. The last one may sound weird but when you are on a bike don't wait for a car to be generous or courteous... Take the initiative and when in control make the first move. The driver may get miffed or upset and think you are not in control but I think a cyclist that is fully aware of their surroundings is the only one who IS in control. This type of riding isn't for everyone or even condoned by some but it works for some of us. My friend describes me as a "Safe Psycho" and I take that as a compliment.

Cheers,

Dave

[MENTION=200151]vol[/MENTION], stuff like this happens to me several times a day. Or at least, it seems so. As others said, don't cut off a vehicle too closely. If you made someone brake or change course to avoid you, you changed lanes improperly. Not that this happened, but bear it mind.

All comments are well taken! Thanks to everyone!

Thanks. I usually try to avoid large vehicles such as trucks and buses. This time I somehow ended up next to the bus too closely. I think in future I'll take the caution even more in avoiding getting too close to buses and trucks; let them go before me... Once being in the midst of some large vehicles, it's a very passive situation and safety will depend on luck and mercy...

From the diagram it looks like the bus was screening you from seeing the truck (and vice-versa).

Sitting in the comfort of my chair not knowing the context of your diagram:

Take a much more aggressive position in the lane since it's too narrow to share side by side.
Change lanes earlier to avoid disrupting traffic flow (yours and others) when there is a parked vehicle ahead.
If there are a lot of parked cars in that right bus/parking lane, abandon it unless you have an imminent R turn.

But I make mistakes all the time even though I strive to be mindful when operating a vehicle, car or bicycle.
I just hope I don't make a mistake when the other road users are also making mistakes.

Even in my car on a highway I am really uncomfortable in a middle lane with trucks on both sides. It's scary thinking you could get squeezed.

Thanks. It was a very congested area near a major intersection. I did not anticipate the parked van until I was forced by the bus toward it; also didn't see the truck coming (didn't look at my mirror).

Exactly, a very dreaded situation!

Lessons: avoid getting too close to large vehicles incl. buses which not only can hit you by themselves but also block the view of other drivers and yours; remember to look at the mirror whenever changing the lane.

if you don't ride in the parking lane you don't have to veer out for parked cars. i've witnessed multiple injury accidents where a cyclist that "sine waves" in and out of parking spaces got clobbered. in one case the victim had a nasty compound fracture.

Yes.

I think the root cause of putting myself in this situation is to have ridden on the right side of a bus that is heading to a bus-stop, to begin with.

Get rid of the mirror and instead, turn you head. Use your hearing. Situational awareness will improve dramatically.

if I understand the situation clearly...since the light was red, I think I would have creeped out to check the trucks lane. allow him to pass then pull out behind him. the bus can wait. he should have seen you sitting there. and since the bus was pulling into a stop anyway, they should have been going slow enough to allow plenty of time for you to check for clearance.

i strongly believe that mirrors are detrimental to the development of urban traffic cycling skills. they are great for cautious "hold your line" riding but for anyone who wants to learn how to weave through angry traffic they are not only a hindrance but potentially dangerous.

I have had a disproportionate share of close calls -- and one T-bone collision -- on Friday afternoons. I now try to remind myself on Fridays to be extra cautious and take it easy on my speed.
I think the difference on Fridays is people on their mobiles connecting with friends on weekend plans. I've also noticed a lack of turn signals particularly on Fridays, again perhaps because one hand is occupied with a phone or a beer.

reminds me of Comm. Ave in Boston ... multiple death traps with parked cars, double parked cars, and endless buses passing, pulling over then passing again. on that road I just say f**k it and ride in the middle of the left lane. anything else is suicide!

STAY AWAY FROM BUSES, TRUCKS & TROLLEYS! :-)