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Old June 19th 17, 08:06 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
NFN Smith[_2_]
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Posts: 33
Default Learning from a fatal accident

Frank Krygowski wrote:
So yes, the area to the right of a motor vehicle that may turn right
should be avoided, whether moving or standing still. Don't let paint
think for you. Just take your place in the normal traffic lane.


Agreed.

When I was out this morning, I was paying attention, and I forgot that
one of the things I also do is if I'm approaching a line of traffic
that's moving, watch for cars that are signaling. In this particular
case, the car that was about 3rd in line was showing a signal (and
accelerating), and for that, I didn't want to try to pass on the right.
Stay back, let him turn, and then after that, the way through the
intersection is clear, even if I stay in the bike lane.

One of the things that we have a lot of around he when there's
dedicated right turn lanes, the solid fog line becomes a spotted line
that communicates to motorists that the bike lane is still there, and
that to move into the turn lane, they're having to cross the bike lane.
Not all motorists pay attention, but I think it's definitely a help.

What's a little harder is in places where there's scalloped roads, where
a lane of traffic is dropped at an intersection (often, when the right
lane becomes a dedicated turn lane, and there's a corresponding street
sign that signals "lane ends, merge left"). Around here, the dashed line
approach is generally used, and I can't think of any places where a bike
lane get pinned against the side, and simply disappears). And a lot of
the time (but not always), the bike lane is shown between the right lane
of through traffic and the dedicated right turn late.

However, in some places, that's not done especially well, and you have
to move through the right turn lane for a distance (often hugging the
spotted line) before the bike lane is formally re-established. The place
that I find that I have to be careful is watching out for traffic behind
me, where a motorist that's in a hurry may try to get ahead, and then
turn in front of me, rather than slipping in behind me. That's one of
the places where I tend to be more likely to move to the center of the
lane, to make it more difficult for the motorist to try to go around me,
than waiting and going behind. But that's one that definitely has to be
done carefully.

Smith

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