I got hit (right hand turner)

[Biker Jo]

Maybe I'm confused, but wasn't this guy behind you at some point before he turned in to you? If so, he should have known that you were in the bike lane and waited for you to cross the entrance before turning.

You did nothing wrong. He was at fault.

I'm glad you're okay.

[greycoral]

when he said he had his blinker on (didn't I see that) I felt small ,and stupid. He mostly just stared at me ,and then rubbed his car dent.

Big deal. Turning your blinker on doesn't magically clear the road of any other cars, cyclists, or pedestrians. It also doesn't automatically give you the right of way. He should have waited until you passed before making that turn.

Maybe I'm confused, but wasn't this guy behind you at some point before he turned in to you? If so, he should have known that you were in the bike lane and waited for you to cross the entrance before turning.

You did nothing wrong. He was at fault.

I'm glad you're okay.

exactly.

[DebTX]

I'm so glad you're okay - and I CANNOT believe that this man did not get ot of his vehicle horrified that he'd hit someone. I'd be hyperventilating if it were me behind the wheel. Even if the cyclist was ok, which thank god you were, my mind would run amuk with what-if scenarios.

So I think he's an absolute jerk!

Ditto what everyone's said on filing a police report. See if it's possible to file one now. The purposes are many - first, it's useful if you later have to file an insurance claim for your bike. Also, who's to say this guy doesn't do this twice a week? With no reports on file, the police could never see the pattern. We've got some wierdos in Austin who I swear are looking for opporutnities to hit cyclists.

Bottom line - thank god you're ok. It's a big deal to get hit, so allow yourself time to settle down. If you feel frazzled, it's normal and it will pass.

I'm so sorry this happened to you!
Deb

[pardes]

It's completely outrageous that many motorists consider bikers and pedestrians as almost subhuman things there to make their life difficult and that all fault lies with anything but a big metal container on the road hurling itself through space and demanding to be recognized as the ultimate thing with any rights.

The guy is a jerk and his photo should be posted in the dictionary as defining the word, "JERK."

I'm so glad you are not hurt in a serious way but that doesn't mean that the spirit of all human beings hasn't been injured by this atrocity of human idiocy. I suppose all we can do is continue to ride the roads in a lawful, polite way and hope our positive energy is contagious to all vehicles.

[suzieqtwa]

Thanks for everyone's concern.
Susan , obviously I don't know my rights as a cyclist. I guess if I commute in such bad traffic all the time knowing my rights should have been something I knew. I will get on that sight ,and get the book sent to me. Thanks
Lisa...ya ,for as old ,and skinny I as I am, I'm sure lucky that I haven't been hurt more seriously in all my accidents.
Biker Jo...as far as the blinker ,and him passing me ,I'm not sure he did, as the traffic really gets backed up. I was just thinking right before I got hit ,that I would probably be getting home quicker on a bike than if I drove. Plus it was twilight (not dark ,and not light)...the worst time to see someone.
Yes, there is a false sense of security when you are in your bike lane. I have had so many close calls where the driver didn't even know that he almost ran into me.
I could always file a report with the police ,but it was dark ,and the only info I have is the piece of paper on which the guy un willingly gave me his address ,and #. He didn't even come close to me...mostly stared ,and when I asked for his information he just stood there. I do wish I could have done things different ,but Ill just chalk it up to experience. Its done ,and there is no damage to the bike ,or me. I'm not going to beat my self up about it anymore.

[Grog]

I'm SO glad there's no serious harm done to you.

Definitely do NOT beat yourself down for that.

How pathetic: "I had my signal on." Based on what he said after ("So I have to look to the right even if I have my signal on?!"), I'm thinking it's totally possible that the signal was not even on but he thought it was a good defense for himself. "I had my signal on." So?

Not that it would have helped with this air-head, but in the near future I would encourage you to have lights on your bike and to have them pretty much at all times in the winter, especially here in the PNW. And a lot of reflectors. It seems that we're taken more seriously by law-enforcement personnel if we are pushing diligence to new limits.

Heal well and take it easy...

[Trekhawk]

Sorry to hear about your accident. The girls are right dont beat yourself up about your reaction after the accident Im sure you were in shock I know I would have been.

Glad to hear you are ok but take things easy for awhile and get plenty of rest.

[solobiker]

Maybe I'm confused, but wasn't this guy behind you at some point before he turned in to you? If so, he should have known that you were in the bike lane and waited for you to cross the entrance before turning.

You did nothing wrong. He was at fault.

I'm glad you're okay.

I compltely agree. How could he have missed seeing you?? I know I would like to think if this happened to me I would file a report and not back down when he said " but I had my blinker on" but in all honesty it would catch me off guard and I would be probably stunned that I was even hit so I have don't really know how I would responded. So glad that you are okay

[redrhodie]

I think there were a lot of things working against you in this situation, suzieq. The bike lane, the twilight, the traffic congestion, the stressful holiday season. You're right to not beat yourself up over it. It's one of those things that makes you realize how lucky you are to be alive!

I think you should forgive yourself and the driver for your peace of mind. This sounds like an accident, not an on purpose.

[Norse]

I am with zen. Years ago I surprised myself by jumping out of my tiny little 2-door Japanese econo car, which had just been rear-ended by a Mack truck, and swearing a blue streak against the big, burly Mack driver, who went mute.

I also would have filed the report if nothing else but to give this moron pause. So freakin what if he had his blinky on? Legally, he has no right to go wherever he wants just because he puts his blinker on - he is responsible to look first and you were riding properly and did nothing wrong. Glad you're ok.

[fidlfreek]

Suzie thank goodness you're ok! Couple of things:

1) A few years ago I was in a car accident (other guys fault) where he turned into me. (Kinda like you on the bike)...He totalled my car, injured me bad enough to have to take a semester off college, and was SO awful (that and his terrible insurance company) that I felt I had to protect myself and hire a lawyer. I think that in any situation like this it never hurts to have an attorney. Mine saved me endless anxiety and it felt like I had a bulldog in my corner. So. If and when I get hit I will have an attorney simply because of the peace of mind it gave me.

2) I thought that at an intersection you're supposed to put your bike in a place so you never have someone turning right in front of you. At intersections (even with a bike lane) I aggressively take up the middle of the car lane so that these Texans in their huge trucks don't miss the little lady in the funny hat and shoes. It means that the cars going straight along with me have to wait, but it also means that I'm not in a position to be hit. Does this sound reasonable to anyone else? I don't remember where I heard this.....Does this sound more dangerous than the alternative?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

2) I thought that at an intersection you're supposed to put your bike in a place so you never have someone turning right in front of you. At intersections (even with a bike lane) I aggressively take up the middle of the car lane so that these Texans in their huge trucks don't miss the little lady in the funny hat and shoes. It means that the cars going straight along with me have to wait, but it also means that I'm not in a position to be hit. Does this sound reasonable to anyone else? I don't remember where I heard this.....Does this sound more dangerous than the alternative?

This is usually the safest thing to do- at an intersection where you are going straight, take the lane and act like a car to get through the dangerous part....then you can get back to the right hand side of the lane after you are through the intersection and safe.
However, this situation was a bit odd since Suzie was in a bike lane on the ride side, and the 'intersection' was apparently an exit/entrance to a store/mall or something, as far as I can tell. That would make it amore like a busy right hand driveway rather than an intersection. I suggested she get off the bike and temporarily become a pedestrian when she crosses over that entrance road rather than breeze through the trouble spot in the bike lane. It's hard to know what to advise when we can't see the actual traffic layout there.

[eclectic]

Suzi - thank goodness you are ok and no lasting harm done.
People can be jerks and react differently in different situations (not to excuse the drivers bad behaviour

As I was reading this I thought what lessons can we all learn from this.

#1 - Be VISIBLE as I think it was Grog said - light clothing and lots of reflectors and lights. Dusk and dawn are horrible times - also oftentime people are tired, in a hurry and not focused.

#2 - if at all possible look for routes that avoid busy or dangerous intersections even if it means you have to go out of your way

#3 - The read that Bleeker street girl sent is good for everyone to read because it covers a lot of scenarios. We use it in our bicycle safety classes

#4 know your rights as a cyclist according to your state laws - here a cyclist over 12 is not allowed on the sidewalks and cyclists are treated as vehicles following those rules of the road. (a fellow group rider got cited and fined for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign - he thought of fighting it but everyone said just pay it - you were wrong according to the law)

#5 - realize no matter what rights we have - cars are bigger and heavier and are going to win every time.

#6 be sure to have your bikes listed under your home-owners ins policy


Take care and How is your bike?

[Biciclista]

Suzie thank goodness you're ok! Couple of things:
hit I will have an attorney simply because of the peace of mind it gave me.

2) I thought that at an intersection you're supposed to put your bike in a place so you never have someone turning right in front of you. At intersections (even with a bike lane) I aggressively take up the middle of the car lane so that these Texans in their huge trucks don't miss the little lady in the funny hat and shoes. It means that the cars going straight along with me have to wait, but it also means that I'm not in a position to be hit. Does this sound reasonable to anyone else? I don't remember where I heard this.....Does this sound more dangerous than the alternative?

and you never know from WHERE someone is going to turn. we were going down 2nd avenue, a 1 way street, in the center of the left lane at about 18 mph on our tandem one day. Some lady in the center lane decided suddenly that she was going to turn LEFT which would have taken her directly across our path. Fortunately Raleighdon has a big loud voice and he let them know they'd better NOT turn from the center lane. they changed their mind and sped up and turned on the next block, but they could have killed us both.

YOu can never assume anything about another driver.

[OakLeaf]

YOu can never assume anything about another driver.

Actually I do. I assume that most of them don't see me, and the few who do, are trying to kill me on purpose. If they want to pleasantly surprise me, then fine.

That goes for the m/c too, although avoidance strategies are obviously quite a bit different.