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Our bike shop Downey is running a series about the top ten situations that cause bike wrecks, from Bicyclesafe.com. #6 The Right HookA car passes you and then tries to make a right turn directly in front of you, or right into you. They think you're not going very fast just because you're on a bicycle, so it never occurs to them that they can't pass you in time. This wreck is difficult to avoid because you typically have little response time, and because there's nowhere for you to go when it happens.
How to avoid this wreck:
1. Don't ride on the sidewalk.
When you come off the sidewalk to cross the street you're invisible to
motorists.
2. Ride to the left.
Taking up the whole lane makes it harder for drivers to pass you to cut
you off or turn into you. Don't feel bad about taking the lane: if
motorists didn't threaten your life by turning in front of or into you
or passing you too closely, then you wouldn't have to. If the lane
you're in isn't wide enough for cars to pass you safely, then you
should be taking the whole lane anyway. Lane position is
discussed in depth on Bicyclesafe.com.
3. Check mirror before
approaching an intersection. If you don't have a handlebar
or helmet mirror, get one now.) Be sure to look in your mirror before you get to the intersection. When you enter an intersection, you need to be look forward.
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