Comments on: Cyclist Injured In JP

By: Dot Deb

Dot Deb — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:21:37 +0000

While it does not sound like the cyclist was crossing Centre St. on the SW Corridor, this is one of the SW Corridor road crossings. I am surprised at how tricky nearly all these crossings are, with light cycles that always require a cyclist to be competing with turning traffic, even when there is a pedestrian walk signal (actually, this Jackson Sq. intersection is one of few where you really can cross at the walk signal with all car traffic at red lights). I have seen a few people hit at these crossings and assume there have been many more.

I am also surprised at how often a fellow cyclist flies by me into the crossing while I am waiting for a safer opportunity.

I wonder if it’s possible to check the traffic patterns along the SW Corridor roads and see if there are any intersections that could include in the light cycle an opportunity to cross while all traffic has a red light.

By: Paul Schimek

Paul Schimek — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:55:22 +0000

Boston Biker wrote:
“Also if you are a cyclist, be aware that almost no one does this, so if you are on the right hand side of a car and it is approaching an intersection assume that it could turn right (even if the turn signal is not on, which it almost never is).”
Therefore, never pass a car on the right at a place where it could turn right (which is pretty much anywhere, except if the car can’t move because there is another car stopped in front of it). If necessary, merge left into the travel lane to prevent a motorist behind you from making a right hook.

I don’t think requiring motorists to look to the right before turning will solve the problem. Car drivers have a blind spot on the right rear, and drivers of big trucks have a huge blind spot. Further, you can’t look to your right rear and look ahead at the same time. You can only check one and hope that the situation doesn’t change while you are checking the other. And it’s pretty dangerous to do this while moving, so to do this proposed practice safely people would need to stop at every intersection (including on a green light) before making a right turn.

But there is a better way — do as the traffic law requires:

- motorists (and bicyclists) must merge as far right as practicable BEFORE turning right, including into the bike lane.

- bicyclists (and motorists) should not pass on the right if there is any chance the vehicle ahead may be turning right.

See video of “Motorist right turn across bicyclist’s path” on this page: http://massbike.org/police/

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:32:17 +0000

I hope the cyclist has a full recovery. There’s no reason why something like this should ever happen. Part of the responsibility of driving a motor vehicle is being aware of other people on the roadway.

Whenever I cycle, particularly at night, I’m always extra cautious. Whenever a motorist passes me, I pretty much always assume that he/she will cut me off at any time. It sucks that we have to bike so defensively, but the outcome of not doing so is clearly not in our favor…

By: Boston Biker

Boston Biker — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:52:55 +0000

alydar: How is looking over your right shoulder before you turn right (or using your right mirror) any different than looking to the left and in front of you before you turn left, or looking both left and right before coming out of a drive way? In my opinion it is not only possible, but totally safe to look over your right shoulder/look in your right mirror before turning right.

By: alydar

alydar — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:35:19 +0000

I’m sorry, I have to disagree with your assertion that drivers should turn and look over their shoulder every time they turn right. Taking your eyes off the road — and in a turn, off of where the car is headed — is far more dangerous (read Tom Vanderbilt’s great book “Traffic” for more).

Certainly the driver could have been at fault here — not using a turn signal, for example. Certainly the biker could have been at fault — no lights, for example.

I am a driver, a biker, and a pedestrian, and sometimes the biker is at fault (nor do I have any soft spot for bad drivers — I was hit by a car while biking, driver at fault, back in May, and I’ve only started to walk again this past week).