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Three Common Bicycling Accidents – and How to Avoid Them

07.31.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 3 Comments

This is a guest post from attorney Ray Thomas, who represents injured cyclists.

Sharing the road with motorists can be frightening, especially if you live in an area where drivers don’t consider bicycles as legitimate vehicles. I often hear bicyclists say they’d like to incorporate cycling more into their everyday lives, but they just don’t feel safe riding alongside high-speed traffic.

Many states are increasingly enacting laws that help establish and protect the rights of cyclists. While these laws can provide critical legal resource in the event of a collision, they don’t necessarily prevent such accidents from happening. Instead, the onus is still on the cyclist to be aware of how these collisions occur and get proactive about preventing them.

Here’s a look at three of the most common types of bicycling accidents – and how savvy cyclists avoid them:

1. Hit by a right-turning car (aka the Right Hook).

When making a right turn – whether at a stoplight or into a driveway – motorists often fail to look for bicyclists who may be coming up from behind. What’s worse, many drivers nowadays will simply turn suddenly, without signaling, giving the cyclist no advance warning. Whether you’re riding in a bike lane, on the road or on the sidewalk, it’s always safest to assume motorists traveling in the right lane may turn right at any time.

There are two things you can do to prevent this type of collision. First, when you’re at a stoplight next to a car in the right lane, stop either just in front of the car (out of the motorist’s blind spot) to make sure you’ll be seen, or just behind the car so you can gauge whether the driver is going to turn right. Second, never pass a slow-moving vehicle on the right. Instead, wait for an opportunity to pass on the left, assuming it’s legal to do so in your city. Having a rearview mirror on your bike is invaluable for this.

2. Smacked by a car door.

Street parking is another common hazard for cyclists. Many drivers who park by the curb will simply open up the car door without thinking to check for approaching cyclists. Often the cyclist has no time to react, or cannot safely swerve left to avoid the door.

If you’re riding on a street with curbside parking, it’s wise to stay on the alert for vehicles that have just parked or have people inside them. That way, at least you have enough warning to give these cars a wider berth. Again, a rearview mirror is also a valuable tool, as it allows you to continually monitor the traffic behind you so you know whether it’s safe to swerve in a pinch.

3. Hit by a left-turning car (aka the Left Cross).

You and a motorist are approaching an intersection from opposite directions. The motorist either doesn’t see you or misjudges your speed and decides to suddenly turn left just as you cross the intersection. This can be one of the most difficult types of accidents to avoid, because cyclists often simply don’t see it coming.

The important thing here is to make yourself as visible as possible to motorists. For starters, don’t cross an intersection by riding from the sidewalk into the crosswalk, as this makes it even harder for motorists turning left to see you. Instead, stay as far to the left as you safely can; if possible, consider taking up the entire lane as you cross the intersection. Also, by being aware of this type of hazard, you can adjust your speed while traveling through intersections in order to allow yourself to brake quickly if needed.

Defensive cycling skills can take time and practice to develop. However, hyper-awareness coupled with the ability to think quickly and plan an escape route can go a long way toward preventing collisions.

Ray Thomas, a founding partner of the Portland law firm Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, applies his personal injury litigation expertise to the area of bicycle and pedestrian law in the state of Oregon.

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Categories // guest post, Safety Tags // guest post, Safety

As Far Right As Practicable

02.02.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 10 Comments

In the last post, I mentioned the often-used rule of bicycling on the road: Ride as far to the right as practicable. But what exactly does that unfamiliar word — “practicable” — mean?

Here’s what it’s not: It doesn’t mean ride as far to the right as possible. I can ride in the gutter, an inch from the curb. That’s possible. But it’s not practicable.

It doesn’t mean as far to the right as practical. “Practical” is close to practicable, but refers more to something being useful, as in, “Riding to the right is a practical way to cycle.”

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines practicable as “capable of being put into practice or being done or accomplished. Feasible.”

“Feasible” provides the cyclist with some latitude. What is feasible for an experienced cyclist might not be feasible for a newbie. So how far to the right you ride is, in the final analysis, up to you.

A French reader, Ronan, commented after the last post, “I while riding alone take something like 70cm between the right shoulder and the edge of the road. This puts the bike’s wheels in the trace of the cars’ wheels.”

The League of American Bicyclists suggests the very same thing: “Ride in the right third of the lane if there is not sufficient room for lane sharing.” That would put your wheels in the spot occupied by a car’s right-side wheels. Ronan points out that such a strategy forces passing cars to pull out into the oncoming lane to pass. That could pose a hazard to the car, if there is oncoming traffic. But if that’s the case, a safe driver will wait until the traffic has cleared, then pull around to pass.

A cyclist rides in the right third of the lane, leaving room to avoid door of parked cars.*
This cyclist rides out from the curb, not quite out to the right tire track.**

When I’m out riding, I tend to stay farther right than the right wheel track of cars. On most of the roads I ride, that’s practicable — for me. Your mileage may vary. Most roads are in good enough shape that I can ride close to the right edge without jeopardizing myself. Of course, I’m always aware of a crumbling road edge or debris and will adjust my position to account for those things. Interestingly enough, I often find that riding in a designated bike lane is not practicable, because bike lanes seem to be magnets for broken glass, gravel, and other crud. If that’s the case, I do ride out in the traffic lane. The law does not require cyclists to use the bike lane.

So, to reiterate what I stated in the last post, when someone yells, “Car back!” and you’re out in the lane riding two abreast, ease over to the right side of the lane. A far right as practicable.As far to the right as feasible. As far right as you are comfortable with.

*Picture from YouTube video, “Lancaster, PA road course.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK4IbydpmQA&feature=g-hist&context=G2ddd92fAHTyrKBQADAA

**Picture from bikecommute.com

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Categories // Safety Tags // Safety

What Does “Car Back” Mean to You?

01.31.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 16 Comments

It happens every time more than one cyclist is riding on the roads. Sooner or later, one will raise the call, “Car back!” It’s an important warning, because whenever we cyclists tangle with two tons of metal, we’re going to lose — so it’s a good idea to minimize any possibility of car-bike contact.

However, I’ve been concerned lately by some behavior I’m seeing on the roads.

If cars aren’t around, cyclists tend to ride side-by-side and have rolling conversations. This social aspect of cycling is one of the things that attracts people to the pastime. We’re not just out riding — we’re spending some quality time with our friends.

Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News

Nothing wrong with riding side-by-side. The law says it’s fine, too: Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. (Texas Transportation Code, 551.103c)

However, in that same paragraph, the law states: Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Here’s why we (or at least I) yell, “Car back!”

Now, what’s supposed to happen when that call is raised? I like to see cyclists out in the middle of the lane ease into single file. A person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway (551.103a). Riding in single file accomplishes two things: It lets the overtaking vehicle pass, which will free up the lane more quickly so cyclists can resume their chats; and it creates goodwill between cyclists and cars.

Here’s what I see sometimes: The rider on the inside of the lane (closest to the center line) moves closer to the line of cyclists along the edge of the roadway, without getting into the single file. The overtaking car swings wide to pass. In the most egregious cases, the rider doesn’t even attempt to make way for the car.

We can’t be doing that, folks. Things are tough enough out there between drivers and bikers without adding to the animosity. And yes, drivers can be prats sometimes (often?). That doesn’t justify antagonistic behavior.

So the next time one of your co-riders cuts loose with a bellowing, “Car back!,” do what you’re supposed to do. Stop the chatter, ease into single file, wait for the car to pass, then resume the conversation. You’ll finish your ride with a lower stress level.

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Categories // Safety Tags // etiquette, Safety

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