How to Not Get Hit by Cars
Our Community › Forums › General Discussion › How to Not Get Hit by Cars
- This topic has 31 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 5 months ago by
Steve O.
-
AuthorPosts
-
January 9, 2014 at 4:59 am #990645
Steve O
Participant@slowtriguy 74027 wrote:
but he kept saying “I didn’t even see you!” I kept thinking, “Dude, I’ve got 900 lumens on my head pointed right at you, and another 150 blinking on my handlebar, and red spoke lights on each wheel — what more do you want, neon?” So naturally, I added that over the holiday and am now sporting a blue EL wire wrapped around my top tube, seat tube, and down tube.
Bike Snob has no sympathy for the “I didn’t see you” excuse. Nor do I.
I also think I read–maybe here on the forum–of a cop who told someone, “This cyclist is a lot more visible than a sign, and you wouldn’t use the ‘I didn’t see the sign’ excuse for breaking a law.” Kudos to that cop.January 9, 2014 at 5:20 am #990647bobco85
Participant@slowtriguy 74027 wrote:
…but he kept saying “I didn’t even see you!”
The questions to then ask back are, “Were you looking? How did you not see me with my lights?” (of course, it would be said in a “I don’t understand why you didn’t see me” kind of way)
It’s like closing your eyes while walking, bumping into someone, and then saying, “Oh, I didn’t see you.”
No amount of lights will counter a driver being blind due to fatigue, drunkenness, incompetence, or distraction.
January 9, 2014 at 8:58 pm #990742Riley Casey
ParticipantAs much as I like the points made on the website under discussion the topic of lights really needs to get upgraded there. Triguy is spot on – no matter how many lights you have it’s just not enough light. I’ve come to the conclusion that the only really effective way to be noticed by drivers is to look downright bizarre in a way bright enough to over come the light pollution of a dozen other cars, street lights, store windows and genuine neon. I ride with four lights in traffic including a strobing front bar light, a helmet light, a strobing rear light and a strobing down facing light to illuminate my bike frame and furiously pumping legs. That last addition seems to be effective at least in getting drivers to stare in amazement which of course is the whole point.
Now lets not even start on the guys in skinny black jeans, black sweaters and black frame fixies darting out from side streets at full speed without lights of any kind at 11 pm in Columbia Heights! 😡
@slowtriguy 74027 wrote:
“Dude, I’ve got 900 lumens on my head pointed right at you, and another 150 blinking on my handlebar, and red spoke lights on each wheel — what more do you want, neon?”
January 9, 2014 at 9:50 pm #990747jnva
ParticipantHeadlight on during the day makes a difference, it’s why motorcycles have them on all the time. You will be more likely to be seen during the day if you have a light. I always turn mine in when riding in traffic.
January 9, 2014 at 11:43 pm #990763vvill
Participant@culimerc 74082 wrote:
Yeah, and that wont be for much longer.
Let the battle of the basement begin!
We’re 100 pts clear of last place now! Firmly in the top 10.
January 10, 2014 at 12:49 am #990772Arlingtonrider
ParticipantDeleted. Wrong thread for BAFS discussion.
August 28, 2014 at 10:00 pm #1008863Steve O
ParticipantI am bringing this discussion over from the “Found Connections” thread.
=====================
@MattAune 93441 wrote:How would he get right hooked by a car in the right turn only lane?
Easy. A driver who doesn’t want to wait for the cyclist will pass the cyclist on the left and then turn right. The wider the road, the more space they have to do this.
@MattAune 93441 wrote:
If the road is 2 lanes going straight, and one lane turning right, why would any cyclist want to be at the far left of the right turn only lane? You are just going to have to merge back into the straight lane, and you are now blocking the only lane for right turning cars.
Being at the right side of the right turn lane is ambiguous. Are you going straight or turning right? Drivers cannot know this.
If you are in the middle of the right turn lane, it is also ambiguous: are you going straight or turning right? Drivers cannot tell.
There is no recognized hand signal for “straight.”Blocking cars turning right is good. It’s much more dangerous to not block the right-turning cars, because they may pull alongside you, edge in front and then turn right across your path. I’d rather block them for 3 seconds and make them turn right behind me (which is legally what they should do anyway).
If you are at the left edge of the right lane, you are signaling intent. Although it may still be somewhat ambiguous, you are far more likely to be seen as going straight than either of the other positions. Riding right on the line makes it even clearer that you intend to go straight. Cars can then move around you on either side without creating turning conflicts.
As you clear the intersection your position is perfectly aligned with being at the right side of the continuing straight lane, which is where you want to be. Also, you are farther from the right side of the intersection, giving you more visibility and time to react to cars that may be turning right from the other road into your lane. If you are over in the right-turn lane, those cars, too, may not see you or may not understand your intent to go straight.
Essentially this is what you are doing, but without the painted infrastructure:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]6511[/ATTACH]August 29, 2014 at 12:28 am #1008870AFHokie
ParticipantFunny, I was almost lunched by a red Ford Explorer today while doing exactly what you described.
I was trying to cross 4 Mile Run Rd to head east on the WOD. If I catch that red light I get into the straight ahead lane in order to cross 4 Mile so I’m not run over by cars trying to turn right onto 4 Mile while I’m trying to cross so I can turn onto the trail. It usually works out rather well, but today I heard the engine of the Explorer making a left turn to head east on 4 Mile before I saw him. I looked up and thankfully he was stopping, BUT he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking to his right down George Mason at another car. Thankfully, that car caused him to stop before I became his new hood ornament.
August 29, 2014 at 12:47 am #1008871peterw_diy
Participant@creadinger 74012 wrote:
That’s why I prefer the helmet mount for my big light. In the dark, I can beam drivers in the eye at cross-streets with my light to make sure they see me and don’t pull out.
Maybe they’re not pulling out because you just ruined their night vision. Not cool.
August 29, 2014 at 12:54 am #1008872mstone
Participant@peterw_diy 93460 wrote:
Maybe they’re not pulling out because you just ruined their night vision. Not cool.
I’m actually ok with that if it results in not being dead.
I also seriously doubt that any bike light can destroy night vision like those damned HID lamps.
August 29, 2014 at 1:01 am #1008873creadinger
ParticipantHah! Even if that’s true I still accomplish my goal of not getting hit.
Besides, when I drive, so many people around here have badly aimed headlights or use high beams you’re more likely to lose night vision from those much more powerful headlights. I’m not the problem.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
August 29, 2014 at 1:25 pm #1008879dplasters
Participant@Steve O 93452 wrote:
I am bringing this discussion over from the “Found Connections” thread.
=====================Easy. A driver who doesn’t want to wait for the cyclist will pass the cyclist on the left and then turn right. The wider the road, the more space they have to do this.
Being at the right side of the right turn lane is ambiguous. Are you going straight or turning right? Drivers cannot know this.
If you are in the middle of the right turn lane, it is also ambiguous: are you going straight or turning right? Drivers cannot tell.
There is no recognized hand signal for “straight.”Blocking cars turning right is good. It’s much more dangerous to not block the right-turning cars, because they may pull alongside you, edge in front and then turn right across your path. I’d rather block them for 3 seconds and make them turn right behind me (which is legally what they should do anyway).
If you are at the left edge of the right lane, you are signaling intent. Although it may still be somewhat ambiguous, you are far more likely to be seen as going straight than either of the other positions. Riding right on the line makes it even clearer that you intend to go straight. Cars can then move around you on either side without creating turning conflicts.
As you clear the intersection your position is perfectly aligned with being at the right side of the continuing straight lane, which is where you want to be. Also, you are farther from the right side of the intersection, giving you more visibility and time to react to cars that may be turning right from the other road into your lane. If you are over in the right-turn lane, those cars, too, may not see you or may not understand your intent to go straight.
Essentially this is what you are doing, but without the painted infrastructure:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]6511[/ATTACH]I had a hand in this but my approach is – take the right most straight lane. Cars can pass on the left lane. If a car wants to turn right they are able to use the right hand turn lane when it comes up. Someone can always be a jerk pass on the left and then swerve across you no matter what position you put yourself in. But if I’m in the middle/right tire area of the lane I have a lot more room to maneuver to avoid them.
If I see a cyclist in the middle of or on the right hand side of a right turn lane, I fully expect them to turn right, unless they are signaling their intent to get left and merge back into straight traffic. I don’t approach that with any ambiguity.
I think you are speaking to a strategy where there are two lanes and then there is no dedicated right hand turn lane. You simply have the ability to turn right from the right most lane of traffic. The example that you post has a clear right hand turn lane. You being in that lane as a cyclist clearly means (to me) you intend on turning right. Now if that right turn lane didn’t exist and cars had the option of going straight or turning right from the right lane, then I can see what you are going for.
The guy I was riding with would get into every single dedicated right hand turn lane and then ride on the left side of it. I find that odd.
August 29, 2014 at 1:56 pm #1008882Subby
ParticipantI have always thought of being in the far left of a right-turn-only lane as maximizing my ability to “take the lane”. If it is a long turn lane, I may get over to the right early, depending on the flow/how heavy traffic is. Heavy traffic and I will just stay left.
August 29, 2014 at 3:36 pm #1008892GB
ParticipantI think it comes down to – it depends – on the road, the traffic, the rider. Do what you feel comfortable with and feel free to mix it up. Keep in mind that blocking traffic isn’t great and getting hit is terrible – things everyone should be keeping in mind at all times anyway.
August 29, 2014 at 5:38 pm #1008897Terpfan
Participant@dplasters 93469 wrote:
I had a hand in this but my approach is – take the right most straight lane. Cars can pass on the left lane. If a car wants to turn right they are able to use the right hand turn lane when it comes up. Someone can always be a jerk pass on the left and then swerve across you no matter what position you put yourself in. But if I’m in the middle/right tire area of the lane I have a lot more room to maneuver to avoid them.
If I see a cyclist in the middle of or on the right hand side of a right turn lane, I fully expect them to turn right, unless they are signaling their intent to get left and merge back into straight traffic. I don’t approach that with any ambiguity.
I think you are speaking to a strategy where there are two lanes and then there is no dedicated right hand turn lane. You simply have the ability to turn right from the right most lane of traffic. The example that you post has a clear right hand turn lane. You being in that lane as a cyclist clearly means (to me) you intend on turning right. Now if that right turn lane didn’t exist and cars had the option of going straight or turning right from the right lane, then I can see what you are going for.
The guy I was riding with would get into every single dedicated right hand turn lane and then ride on the left side of it. I find that odd.
I tend to agree. I avoid going into right-turn only lanes unless I’m actually turning right. I take the right of the straight-most lanes if I’m proceeding straight. It’s the P in PAL.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.