The Oregon Department of Traffic (ODOT) reminds bicyclists to always ride with traffic. Drivers pulling into traffic often look only in the direction that cars are coming. If you are coming from the other direction, they may not see you until they are on top of you.
Right Hook
It might seem counter-intuitive to a bicyclist to move over from the right hand bicycle lane into the motorist’s lane to the left to make a right hand turn, but that is what ODOT recommends.
A car in the lane to a bicyclist’s left often misjudges the speed of the bicycle or their own speed, and will pass the cyclist as they’re both going in the same direction. Then the car turns right in front of the cyclist, and the cyclist and the car collide. The motorist is also more likely to see a bicyclist in the motor vehicle lane.
To avoid a collision, a cyclist approaching an intersection needs to come out of the bicycle lane and take the motorist’s lane, blocking that lane for a short time. The car behind the cyclist can then safely turn in back of the cyclist rather than in front.
Left Cross
A car traveling in the opposite direction of a cyclist attempting to make a left hand turn looks for cars traveling in the motor vehicle lane and may not see a cyclist in the right hand bicycle lane. The car will then turn right in front of the cyclist, and the cyclist, who is going straight ahead, will collide with the car.
Again, the best way to avoid collision is for the cyclist to take the motor vehicle lane to be more visible to motorists.
Hurt in a collision while riding a bicycle? Contact the bicycle accident lawyers in Portland at Rizk Law today for your free consultation.
