The reality of sharing roads with vehicles means cyclists need to stay alert, especially when it comes to right-turning vehicles.
A recent incident sparked heated debate about responsibility and safety in these situations.
Full video further below 👇
The Cyclist’s Perspective
Many cyclists rightfully point out their legal standing in these situations. “Driver still required to check blind spot and yield especially while crossing a bike lane,” explains one experienced rider.
“You are not at fault for this. Just to be clear… Drivers should be better and held accountable more, and they messed up.”
Another cyclist emphasizes the driver’s responsibility, stating “Drivers are to look for traffic in the direction they are turning. Don’t excuse their reckless laziness with victim blaming.”
The sentiment is further reinforced by those who firmly state, “I am not blaming OP (it’s 100% the driver’s fault).” This view aligns with most traffic laws protecting cyclists in bike lanes.
Perhaps most emphatically, one cyclist notes, “You are not at fault for this. Just to be clear… Drivers should be better and held accountable more, and they messed up.”
The Driver’s View
“Graveyards are full of people who had the right of way.”
However, drivers and some cycling advocates raise valid points about defensive riding. “The car has a turn signal on for about 8 seconds. Unexpected?” questions one commenter, highlighting the importance of situational awareness.
Others point to preventability: “This was very avoidable by just… Braking.” This practical approach emphasizes that regardless of right-of-way, cyclists should prioritize their safety.
The age-old saying gets repeated often in these discussions: “Graveyards are full of people who had the right of way.” While blunt, it carries an important message about prioritizing safety over being right.
Finding Middle Ground
The solution isn’t about assigning blame but preventing accidents altogether. Whether you’re on two wheels or four, staying alert and anticipating others’ actions can make the difference between a close call and a collision.
Remember, the best ride home is always the one where everyone arrives safely, regardless of who had the right of way.
The Video
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Both sides are at fault. The driver should have checked their blind spot before executing their turn. However, in their defense they had their turn signal on for more than a few seconds beforehand. I say this as a cyclist, we also have to be aware of our surroundings on the road. This goes both ways. Never assume that a motorist is keeping their eye on you. Keep your wits about you at all times and always expect the unexpected.
You can see the driver is driving along side a bike path and is doing so for some time before signalling the intention of a right hand turn.
Being aware of your surrounding is your responsibility so the driver should have been aware they were crossing the bike path and should have made sure (paused) to check the lane was clear before making the turn. The cyclist on the other hand should have anticipated this because the the driver signalled their intent ( I would go further and say the cyclist being the more vulnerable of the two here should have proceeded with caution even if the driver had not signalled!). This is such a common occurrence (like being doored) that it’s been wired into my bike riding awareness.
Legal liability is 100% the driver. There should be no discussion about that. It is impossible to properly claim that they didn’t know there was a bike lane there. It was there with poles for a long time.
But there is indeed a responsibility on the rider too. The driver did have a signal on and was not slowing. If the rider perceived this (possibly they didn’t), they should have been preparing to stop for the idiot car driver. Not crashing takes priority over right of way. Fight it out later while standing, alive, not in the hospital or morgue.
These segregated lanes running along short-coupled driveways and cross streets are FAR less safe than people think for this reason (and people popping out from driveways and side streets). The proper design is well proven by the dutch and others where the cyclepath continues across the crossing in a distinctly different mode like elevation or surface texture. The driver then gets the clear message they are CROSSING something not just turning on a road.
Right of Way at Intersections
Understanding right of way rules is crucial for safety.
Bicyclists’ Rights — Bicyclists have the right of way when going straight through an intersection.
Motorist Responsibilities — Motorists must yield to cyclists in these situations to prevent accidents.