How to Not Get Hit by Cars

Our Community Forums General Discussion How to Not Get Hit by Cars

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  • #1008901
    baiskeli
    Participant

    I like the information on this site alot. Really thoughtful. Shows how many ways you can get hit without realizing it, which is why doing stupid stuff that feels safe at the time might actually not be.

    The URL, though, makes me think of this:

    https://cbuscyclechic.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1113121039-01.jpg

    #1008902
    Steve O
    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.
    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.

    What you describe first is exactly what is recommended by LAB in its cycling curriculum. Cyclists should be on the rightmost 1/3rd of the rightmost lane that is going in the direction they are going. That means with a dedicated right-turn lane, the recommended position is to take the rightmost straight lane (2nd lane over) to continue straight.

    Cycling is contextual, though. In a place like Fair Lakes, the lanes are very wide. If I feel comfortable knowing a car may be on my right turning right while another is passing me on my left, because there is plenty of room in the lanes, then I may ride essentially on the line to give them the space to do so. If the lanes are narrower, as in city traffic, I will take the straight lane and not allow cars the space to pass me (unless they move over into the next lane).

    The cyclist you describe probably felt more comfortable giving the straight moving cars a little space to go on by but still leaving room for right turning cars. Particularly if the straight cars were moving fast and if there weren’t any cars turning right anyway. In essence he was creating an invisible bike lane for himself a little farther from the traffic. Agreed that he would have to take care shifting left again at the intersection.

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