The Chainlink

Car with turn signal--should cyclist approaching from behind stop?

This morning I was traveling eastbound on Kinzie, approaching Wells with a green light. I intended to go straight through the intersection (and ultimately did).

As I approached the intersection, a pickup truck also traveling eastbound was slowing down, with its blinker on, to turn right on Wells.

My first thought was, "I have the right of way here because I am in a traffic lane (the bike lane) and intending to proceed straight." So I didn't slow down.

Of course, the truck "cut me off" and I had to brake abruptly.

Looking back, I feel that this near-accident was foreseeable. Perhaps I should simply have yielded to the turning driver.

At the same time, shouldn't the "right" thing be that a driver wishing to turn right yields to the traffic in the (bike) lane to his right?

Maybe the answer is that, as in so many other instances, it is dangerous to assume drivers know the law and thus the safest action is to ride extremely defensively.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 14, 2014 at 11:55am

Julie, yes--thanks to you, Brendan, and all who've responded.

While I agree that the safer course of action is to yield, I have to say I'm surprised by the unanimous view in favor of yielding. I feel like I see cyclists assert their right-of-way in this situation by not yielding all the time. Perhaps Chainlinkers are more enlightened than the average Chicago cyclist. :)



Julie Hochstadter said:

So it sounds like legally you had the right of way to go straight, but everyone is suggesting you yield to avoid getting hit (copied below from Brendan's blog post) 

9-16-020(f)  Turning right in front of a bicycle
When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.

Are drivers educated on this (i.e. are there signs, PSAs, significant test questions on the driver's license exams)?

This does seem to be one of the bigger potentials for crashes.  

I was driving on Sunday  and realized how easy it is for drivers who aren't aware that they should look before they make a right for us cyclists who may be going straight.  Although I always use my side mirror and look before I turn right when I'm driving, it's only since I started biking that I am MUCH MORE diligent about it.  I doubt I looked before I started biking. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on May 14, 2014 at 12:04pm


Perhaps Chainlinkers are more interested in getting there in one piece than they are in being "right". :-)


Alex Z said:

. . . . . I feel like I see cyclists assert their right-of-way in this situation by not yielding all the time. Perhaps Chainlinkers are more enlightened than the average Chicago cyclist. :)


 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 14, 2014 at 12:07pm

Yes, you should be ready for it.  Even without a signal most cars will either be over to the right or will have wheels turned.  Don't pass if you don't think it's safe in any situation, wherever you are or whatever you're riding or driving.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Now, what about a driver who makes right turn with no signal at all? Happens all the time. Should you just assume that a car in the right lane might be ready to turn in front of you?

Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on May 14, 2014 at 12:09pm

I don't know about the legalities in Illinois yet, having been here for less than a year. In California where I moved from, the truck would be required to merge into the bike lane (if clear) prior to making the left hand turn. At this intersection, the protected lane bollards disappear and are replaced with a dashed white line to allow for such a movement.

In reality, this rarely happens. I agree that the best advice is to hold back or pass on the left hand side. 

Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on May 14, 2014 at 12:18pm

I do, sort of. Cars do seem to have a sort of "body language" (based on their speed changing, lane placement, etc.) that is far more accurate than a turn signal. I watch for that. 

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Now, what about a driver who makes right turn with no signal at all? Happens all the time. Should you just assume that a car in the right lane might be ready to turn in front of you?

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 14, 2014 at 12:55pm

agreed 99 percent of the time. If a car slows down when they shouldn't be, I go on the defense and pay more attention.  Many times they are getting ready to do something.

David Altenburg said:

I do, sort of. Cars do seem to have a sort of "body language" (based on their speed changing, lane placement, etc.) that is far more accurate than a turn signal. I watch for that. 


Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on May 14, 2014 at 1:27pm

This little bit of advice saves me from getting right hooked practically every day.

Julie Hochstadter said:

agreed 99 percent of the time. If a car slows down when they shouldn't be, I go on the defense and pay more attention.  Many times they are getting ready to do something.

Permalink Reply by Tominator on May 14, 2014 at 1:44pm

Sounds like cyclist was overtaking the car, however, in which case she does not have the right of way.

Motorist has to yield if it's overtaking the cyclist. But if a bike is coming up on a right turning car, that car is not very likely to see the overtaking cyclist. Cyclist has to yield.



Julie Hochstadter said:

So it sounds like legally you had the right of way to go straight, but everyone is suggesting you yield to avoid getting hit (copied below from Brendan's blog post) 

9-16-020(f)  Turning right in front of a bicycle
When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.

Are drivers educated on this (i.e. are there signs, PSAs, significant test questions on the driver's license exams)?

This does seem to be one of the bigger potentials for crashes.  

Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on May 14, 2014 at 1:47pm

Similarly - and mentioning because it took me a few close calls to learn it - if cars to your left are backed up, and some car ahead is leaving a lot of space in front of it, look out, because that car's driver may be waving someone else through right into your path.

Julie Hochstadter said:

agreed 99 percent of the time. If a car slows down when they shouldn't be, I go on the defense and pay more attention.  Many times they are getting ready to do something.

David Altenburg said:

I do, sort of. Cars do seem to have a sort of "body language" (based on their speed changing, lane placement, etc.) that is far more accurate than a turn signal. I watch for that. 


Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on May 14, 2014 at 2:25pm

At a stop light with a lineup of cars, stop behind the first car at the red light.  Follow them through the intersection.

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Now, what about a driver who makes right turn with no signal at all? Happens all the time. Should you just assume that a car in the right lane might be ready to turn in front of you?

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on May 14, 2014 at 2:36pm

Amen!

And don't get pissed if you do try to pass him and he gives you a right hook.  

On that note, does anybody know if "The Angry Cyclist" is on this forum?  He rides a bike with a milk crate on the back with a sign that says "Be Careful, Right on!"  and/or a Gunnar Crosshairs. That guy is pure comedy, I love seeing him on my morning commute.  Yelling at cars, and shaking his head in disapproval at every SUV.   I thought he was a rules of the road follower, being ridiculously vocal to any and all cagers on Milwaukee.   But he did the skip the red and go to the cross street to get a head start on all the other cyclists waiting at Grand/Mil/Halsted.   I lost a little faith in you buddy, but keep up the good fight!


John Durham said:

If the truck is clearly in front of you, and you saw him signaling the turn, you should yield. 

Share the road.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 14, 2014 at 2:42pm

I don't think this is technically correct...Brendan, if you are still reading, can you advise?

Tominator said:

Sounds like cyclist was overtaking the car, however, in which case she does not have the right of way.

Motorist has to yield if it's overtaking the cyclist. But if a bike is coming up on a right turning car, that car is not very likely to see the overtaking cyclist. Cyclist has to yield.



Julie Hochstadter said:

So it sounds like legally you had the right of way to go straight, but everyone is suggesting you yield to avoid getting hit (copied below from Brendan's blog post) 

9-16-020(f)  Turning right in front of a bicycle
When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.

Are drivers educated on this (i.e. are there signs, PSAs, significant test questions on the driver's license exams)?

This does seem to be one of the bigger potentials for crashes.  

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