The Chainlink

Who is at fault? Cyclist or Taxi Driver?

There's a debate going on right now over this video:

Luckily, no one is hurt and it ended on a handshake. I think it's a great example of what can happen when there is some ambiguity. The taxi did clearly indicate it was turning left. The cyclist may have been on autopilot following the other cyclist ahead of him.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 24, 2015 at 1:30pm

Yakkety yak. :)

Permalink Reply by Steve G on November 24, 2015 at 1:46pm

Agent Provacateur! 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on November 24, 2015 at 1:56pm

ha! :-) When Brett and I had lunch, we watched it 3-4 times and still felt there was some ambiguity to it - changing our minds a few times. 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on November 24, 2015 at 2:28pm

I agree with the comments that this is a British right hook.  I find fault with both.  Taxi seems to have signaled late and seemed to assume the bikes would stop or simply did not care about them. It was hubris for the cyclists to pass on the left (passing on the right for those of you playing at home) especially when the taxi's body language seemed to indicate it may be turning. Had the cyclists been to the right of  the taxi there may never have been a crash.Finally, I wonder, as Skip did, whether any of them belonged in the bus lane.  When I first watched I assumed it was a bike lane and then after reading the comments took a second look to see it is a bus lane and not a bike lane. With no injuries we have a safe training film to show us what not to do whether we ride a bike or drive an Uber and what to do when a crash  occurs with fault an elusive item.  Hands were shaken and anger not stirred.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on November 24, 2015 at 2:43pm

Bicyclists are usually allowed to ride in bus lanes.  Cars and taxis are usually only allowed for a turn.  So the bicyclists should have been following the taxi and not passing it.

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on November 24, 2015 at 8:02pm

I agree. Let's say the same thing happened here in Chicago (a right turn by the taxi driver), I believe the guy on the bike would be considered at fault. The bicyclist was where he shouldn't have been.

Permalink Reply by David P. on November 25, 2015 at 10:46am

I do not know UK road law, so I am not qualified to give an opinion on who is legally at fault, but this was a dumb move on the part of the cyclist. By 'this' I mean passing on the curb side through an intersection. He should have either passed on the street side ('off side' in British English) or waited until he was past the intersection to pass the cab.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Blumenthal on November 27, 2015 at 11:33am

One can be dead right, but that's not the point.  I personally never make the assumption that drivers will properly single their intentions and give them space.  It only impacts my ride by seconds.  Taking advantage of operating room can be dangerous.

Permalink Reply by Ben R. on November 28, 2015 at 8:02am
Agree. No amount of 'being in the right of way' will keep you out of the ER. But I Do try
to respect the right of way of others on the road in the hope that they'll return the favor.
Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on November 27, 2015 at 2:35pm

All I can say is that if I were the cyclist, I would have slowed down before I passed the cab (and stopped if necessary) and made darn sure whether he was turning.  It doesn't matter to me who's right and who's wrong in that situation.  I just want myself and bike to remain intact.   

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