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 [censored] 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 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 [censored] 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"
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 [censored] 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.
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.
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.
