Near Miss This Week

[Jorg Lueke]

I was going straight through a green light when a car coing the
opposite way making a left turn nearly ran right through me. Luckily
I was contemplating that possibility so I had accelerated in advance
as I was trailing the last two cars clearing the intersection on my
side. Unfortunately the car also accelerated into his turn so it took
an extra effort to get clear. I'm assuming that we was focused only
on the cars and the sun was in his eyes. Looking back he did stop but
there wouldn't be much to say.

I suppose to be more safe I should get in line behind the cards going
straight rather than sticking on the right side. Of course doing that
too much and the people behind you get ****** and try to pass you
dangerously. I can also take a less busy route for five of the seven
city miles. That's probably the best bet. Then I just have to worry
about getting through downtown though it is a little longer ride.

 

[Paul Myron Hobson]

Jorg Lueke wrote:
> I was going straight through a green light when a car coing the
> opposite way making a left turn nearly ran right through me.

That was how I got hit last November. Still healing and 'taking it
easy' now.

Glad you're OK.

\\paul

 

[SMS]

Jorg Lueke wrote:

> I suppose to be more safe I should get in line behind the cards going
> straight rather than sticking on the right side. Of course doing that
> too much and the people behind you get ****** and try to pass you
> dangerously. I can also take a less busy route for five of the seven
> city miles. That's probably the best bet. Then I just have to worry
> about getting through downtown though it is a little longer ride.

On my commute I was often running into this sort of situation--vehicles
turning left in front of me at a green light. A big part of the problem
is that many drivers do not realize that a bicycle can be traveling at
20-30 mph so they are sure they can make it. At night it was less of a
problem, as I have very good lights and they don't realize that it's a
bicycle coming toward them. In the daytime, I solved the problem with a
very loud horn.
"http://www.nordicgroup.us/s78/images/img_0281.jpg"

 

[[email protected]]

On Sep 15, 7:46 pm, Jorg Lueke <[email protected]> wrote:
> I was going straight through a green light when a car coing the
> opposite way making a left turn nearly ran right through me. Luckily
> I was contemplating that possibility so I had accelerated in advance
> as I was trailing the last two cars clearing the intersection on my
> side. Unfortunately the car also accelerated into his turn so it took
> an extra effort to get clear. I'm assuming that we was focused only
> on the cars and the sun was in his eyes. Looking back he did stop but
> there wouldn't be much to say.
>
> I suppose to be more safe I should get in line behind the cards going
> straight rather than sticking on the right side. Of course doing that
> too much and the people behind you get ****** and try to pass you
> dangerously. I can also take a less busy route for five of the seven
> city miles. That's probably the best bet. Then I just have to worry
> about getting through downtown though it is a little longer ride.

I think the best thing to do is get all the way over to the left side
of the lane and cut back over to the right after the intersection.
The problem with staying on the right is that if you're far enough
back for the oncoming car to see you you're far enough back for him to
try to cut you off. Also, getting over to the left side of the lane
gives you some more road to play with if he cuts you off anyway and
you have to make a hard right. If there's a car behind me, I'll stay
to the right just because it's probably following closely enough that
anyone trying to cut through the gap is going to hit the car and not
me.

 

[amakyonin]

On Sep 17, 8:04 am, [email protected] wrote:
> I think the best thing to do is get all the way over to the left side
> of the lane and cut back over to the right after the intersection.
> The problem with staying on the right is that if you're far enough
> back for the oncoming car to see you you're far enough back for him to
> try to cut you off. Also, getting over to the left side of the lane
> gives you some more road to play with if he cuts you off anyway and
> you have to make a hard right.

I adopt the same strategy of staying at the left edge of the lane if
it looks like there is a dangerous left-turner ahead. My escape
strategy is usually to swerve hard-left, though, since that gets one
out of harms way quicker. I'd rather slam into the side of a vehicle
than be plowed over by the front of one. This is obviously dependent
on the oncoming traffic situation behind the offending driver.

 

[cycledork]

Here's one more commuter who anticipates this situation every day and
agrees with the folks who say stay left. Be as visible as you can be
to oncoming traffic. Also be sure you do that in the right most
through lane. Though it might not be necessary, stand on your pedals
through the intersection just to be a little bit bigger and more
seeable. Depending on how approaching traffic is looking move
gradually to the right as you go through the intersection. I'm glad
you didn't get hit.

cycledork.blogspot.com