Passing intersection next to large vehicle...tips?
 

In the scenario pictured in the attachment, which I often encounter:

I (green) am passing an intersection while riding to the right/rear of a bus or other large vehicle, and an oncoming car/vehicle (red) is waiting to make left turn. If I don't want to wait, then I usually "take advantage" of the bus/truck and follow through next to it. But sometimes this can be dangerous, as the turning car's driver may not be aware of my presence, so if he is also impatient, may hit me.

So in such scenario, is it safer to wait behind the bus so that the turning car driver can see me? (3 possible positions of bike)

Get in the lane behind the bus. Move left of center in the lane so that oncoming cars turning left have the best possible view of you.

Lots of great info here: Bicyclist Behaviors & Crash Risk - i am traffic

And also here: FAQ: Why do you ride like that? | CyclingSavvy

http://iamtraffic.org/wp-content/upl...08-533x400.jpg

Thank you so much!--and for the links, too!
But what if I had been riding on the right side of the rightmost lane all along and will continue to stay on that side? Wouldn't it be odd to move to the left lane just to pass the intersection?

Perhaps, but it's still the safest place to be. That's why I ride in the lane by default, so I'm not always weaving back and forth.

In the speed that I ride, if I take the lane, all the drivers would be honking at me :p. But I get it from you that this is yet another case when I should be away from large vehicles.

I routin ely use trucks and buses as blockers coming through intersections.

However, I have rules. I don't ride forward of the rear axle unless I'm 100% sure the bus or truck is going straight. I prefer being just aft of the rear axle, or even hanging on the rear corner, or a few feet behind.

But the one thing you absolutely don't want to do is be more than a very short distance behind. In that position the bus screens you from sight and a person timing his left to just clear will nail you.

So the key, either be in plain sight well back of the bus, or use it as a blocker, but not in between.

Please do not ride alongside the right side of a large vehicle. Yes, they do have mirrors, but a cyclist is relatively small and easy to miss if the vehicle decides to make a right turn. If you don't want to move to the left of the traffic lane, drop back far enough that there is room for a the car to make its turn between the vehicle and you.

Yes, between the axles on a long vehicles is the kill position. However, staying behind the rear axle, and moving at the same speed can be safe if you stay alert. This is especially true if the front is well into the intersection coming off a stop. The speed is well within your maneuvering range, and if the front is well past the turning point you know he's not going to turn.

I just do my own thing based on the situation unless i need to make a turn. If i need to turn left, i'll be at the left side of the lane.

- Andy

Thanks--I'll keep all your tips in mind. Btw, I don't know about others, but for myself, I often fail to pay attention to the oncoming left-turning cars (the same when I am a pedestrian crossing a street), as my attention is devoted to the cars behind or passing me.

I either:

1) I usually choose a position between A and B, giving me room to hit the brakes and have the big vehicle pass in front of me if it starts merging into my space and keeping me in the shadow of the big vehicle as far as the oncoming turning traffic or:

2) take the lane behind the big vehicle, positioning myself to the left of the lane so that I can be seen by the oncoming traffic.

Which I choose varies depending on the exact traffic situation at that moment and my mood.

+1

I'm all for vehicular cycling, but I'm flexible too, this is a place where you can use your judgement and cycle safely, taking advantage of the cover the big vehicle provides, particularly if you are starting out far to the right and going to end up there anyway.

Ignore the cars behind you. Do you have a mirror? The amount of time you devout to vehicles behind you should decrease some with one, or at least you are still facing forward and spending less time on checks to your 6. If you've positioned yourself to the far left of the lane or in the shadow of the big vehicle, you shouldn't have to worry too much about the left turning vehicles anyway.

Yes, I have two mirrors :)

This. Depending on the bus in relation to the next lane over, I might even hug the "traffic side" white line to make sure anyone turning onto a cross street behind the bus sees me, or at least that I see them. Of course one can always skitch off the bus, but haven't recommended that since I was much younger ;-).

You have to know who's ina position of threat which changes as you approach an intersection. Early as you're first approaching, you need to worry about a passing car right hooking you. However, at a certain point that isn't a problem since they can't get around you, and the chances of one turning right into you are very low. So you have to give attention to the possible left cross, especially in NYC where drivers sometime try to make a left shooting a gap in traffic.

Also, do a check to make sure crossing traffic with a red is actually stopping, until they confirm that by slowing, you have no idea what they'll do.

All of this, checking shoulder, left front, and both cross directions is a quick head swivel, and there's plenty of time at bicycle speeds. You just train yourself to run the checks the way a quarterback checks of his receivers working down to backup targets.

True. Thanks.

I typically split lanes and pass the bus on the left. Riding on the left increases your visibility to oncoming traffic and typically provides room for an emergency bailout in the *unlikely* event the larger vehicle turns left (rare for buses). If you are a slower rider then getting behind the bus is a better idea. Don't tail gate. I've seen terrible facial injuries on cyclists who did not have time to respond to a vehicle that emergency brakes.

Yours truly had an accident four years ago: riding just behind a bus that was going slow, so slow that I lost balance, fell behind the bus. My metal front basket hit my ankle, which to this day still has the visible scar. Handlebar also twisted and basket both twisted.

I should add that the SEPTA bus drivers around here are usually amazing at passing me with me being in the lane on the right side and not encroaching much on the opposite lane. One of these spots has no shoulder. I have called a few times to note this to SEPTA so the bus operator gets my thanks.

I think the most important thing to do when near larger vehicles, is be predictable, and if possible stay visible/in their mirror. If you see these vehicles being operated unsafely/illegally definitely stop and call the cops if you can, as there are a lot of overloaded and mechanically unsafe rigs out there being driven without insurance and by people with expired or no licenses.

- Andy

Yes. I would stay behind the bus, in a position where you can be seen by both the driver of the bus in his/her left side mirror, as well as being visible to the driver who is turning left. As soon as you're past the intersection, then you are free to return to the right portion of the lane, unless of course the bus is stopping.

What this video, it will help when you think about bike position around large vehicle:


As a former commercial driver, I can tell you, as hard as you try to watch blind-spot, it is hard to see everything.

In general, I'd ride slightly behind the right rear corner of the bus or truck.

However, if it is a bus and there is a bus stop at the beginning of the next block, there is a good chance the bus will pull to the right to get to the bus stop, leaving you stopped and trapped behind it. In that case I ride behind the center of the bus so that I can move left and pass the bus as it slows and moves right.

Don't ride to the right of the central part of the bus or truck, you are at risk of being invisible to the driver and getting right hooked or squeezed.

Probably been said but I would ride on the extreme left of the lane.

The bus can see me in his drivers side mirror. I can see past the bus. I can see on coming traffic and the hopefully see me.

Just keep eyes peeled for someone pulling in from the right behind the bus/truck.

It also gets you away from a bus pulling up to a stop without seeing you on the right.

That is an excellent video. I always they to ensure I can see the drivers face in the mirror, it seems to work so far