A heart-stopping moment caught on camera has sparked a fierce debate about cycling safety and road etiquette.
This video shows just how quickly a routine intersection crossing can turn into a near-disaster.
Video further below 👇
What Happened?
The video captures a collision between a cyclist and a car driver, sparking a heated debate among Reddit commenters about legal right of way, personal responsibility, and the nuances of defensive driving.
Commenters largely agree that the cyclist legally had the right of way.
He was proceeding straight through a green light in a dedicated bike lane, while the driver was making a left turn. Under traffic laws, vehicles turning left are required to yield to oncoming traffic.
“I have a master’s degree
The car and cyclist collided and proceeded to argue. At one point the driver claimed to have a master’s degree.
The pair soon after were on their way.
As one comment states, “Any operator intending to turn left, in an intersection, across the path or lane of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction shall, before turning, yield the right-of-way until such time as the left turn can be made with reasonable safety.”.
Cyclists are typically considered “vehicles” and must abide by the same traffic laws as cars when using public roadways.
Criticism Of Cyclist
“Dumb decision for him…”
Despite having the legal right of way, many criticised the cyclist for his conduct.
He was observed speeding through the intersection even though adjacent traffic was stopped, which significantly reduced visibility for both parties.
This behaviour led some to suggest he had a “death wish” or lacked defensive riding skills, encapsulated by the sentiment, “Better to be alive and cautious than dead and right.”. Some even speculated he might have been intentionally “looking to file a lawsuit”.
The Driver’s Fault
The driver was deemed at fault for failing to yield and for potentially making a “blind left turn” where visibility was obstructed. Her initial reaction was to blame the cyclist, and she later invoked her Master’s degree after he insulted her intelligence.
“Everybody in this situation sucks.”
The Overall Consensus
The overall consensus from many commenters was that “Everybody in this situation sucks” due to the aggressive handling of the altercation by both parties and a general lack of caution.
The discussion also underscored the desperate need for better infrastructure and safety measures for cyclists in the country, aiming to reduce such dangerous interactions between bikes and cars.
Whether you’re Team Cyclist or Team Driver, one thing’s clear – we need better solutions for sharing our roads.
The Video
Warning: contains bad language
Like and share if you enjoyed or have experienced similar close calls. 👇
I had a similar experience in Concord, MA. Most drivers don’t seem to know the traffic laws. Even MetLife, the other driver’s insurance company, tried to misrepresent the law by claiming that I was required to yield to a car making a left turn. I checked the Massachusetts General Laws and also asked a police officer, and it was clear that the driver turning left was required to yield to oncoming traffic. I wrote to MetLife, citing the relevant section of the Massachusetts General Laws, but they ignored me, so I hired an attorney. He told me I was 100% right and that the other driver was entirely responsible for the accident. He contacted MetLife, and this time they backed down and accepted full responsibility for the accident. I asked my lawyer why a large company like MetLife would try to get away with something like that, and he said, “That’s why there are so many lawsuits in this country.”