I got hit (right hand turner)

[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?