Andre said:This is an all-too-common roadway feature that stimies cyclists. A long
right turn only exit lane that forces cyclists into dangerous situations
that can end badly. Personally, I stay to the right of the right turn exit
lane, looking back far down the road. When it's clear, I sprint like a
maniac to get back into the main road, just as the exit lane is separating.
The only time I ride the left side of the exit lane to merge smoothly with
the straight-through lane is when the road is blatantly deserted. Also, the
early time of day of this accident made for poor visibility. My policy is
to always assume brain-deadness behind the wheel, which typically helps to
avoid accidents...
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Andre Charlebois
AGC-PC support
http://agc-pc.tripod.com
BPE, MCSE4.0, CNA, A+
This is a problem, b/c if one is behaving like a 'vehicle', the natural
position, if you're going straight, would be taking the regular lane (past
the turnpoint), or at least riding the rightmost tire track of the normal
lane. However, then a faster vehicle wishing to turn right can end up
passing you on the right, and in fact, if you don't take the lane you're
in, you could be passed closely on the left at the same time - at least
theoretically.
I try and speed past the turn point, in the regular lane, in the tire
track, just as a regular car would do, but time it so as not to be passed.
It's a doable sprint on a 25-35mph road most of the time, but the one time
I was passed it was a bit disconcerting to see a vehicle go by on my right,
I must say! ;-)
If you ride to the right in the turn lane, you risk being trapped and
prevented from returning to the road - however, it's easy enough to go
ahead and turn and come back around in a pinch. It just seems a bit too
passive to always be hugging the curb, no matter what, imo.
On the incident, it's not clear if the riders were adequately lighted and
vested.
-B
