A Dangerous Bicycling Situation - What would you do?

[ABQNetwork]

Ride to the next intersection with a traffic light. Cross in the cross walk. Sometimes, I'll dismount and walk across 5 lanes of traffic just to play it safe. Sure, you have the right to be in the suicide lane. I truly think many of your scenarios are legitimate concerns but you like to be in these "close calls" to fuel your rage at motorists. I ride a bike and don't like motorists. However, I don't want to get into a pissing contest with drivers.

[luminorguy]

This video is a perfect example of why all cyclists should never even attempt such a maneuver. Negotiating high-speed car traffic on such an avenue is beyond dangerous. It doesn't matter what the rider's skill level is, this creates a lethal scenario not only for the cyclist, but all affected motorists. A cyclist should always leverage a controlled intersection to cross such a busy roadway. Your life is too valuable to take such a senseless risk. Stay safe! Warm regards, Ed

[chumpychumpychump]

What would I do? For starters, I would be riding a normal bike that didn't make me lurch around like I was drunk while doing simple maneuvers. Riding at a normal adult height on a normal bike makes you taller than most cars, and more conspicuous at a distance. Riding in a chair not only makes you take drivers by surprise when they finally see you, but also promotes a false impression of your speed. Subconsciously, drivers don't expect a person in a chair to be moving at 20mph.

[toronto2wheeler]

Since you approached the left-turn lane first you have the right to go first, but the oncoming traffic doesn't look favorable. I would signal my intention to go, but the white car may just zoom ahead anyways. Vehicular cycling is quite tough sometimes!

[GillEBean21]

I might bike on a road that busy to the far side, but I don't think I would cross traffic that way! That would give me so much anxiety dealing with like 6 lanes of traffic! I agree that cars need to share roads with cyclists, but as cyclists with only a helmet for protection we should NOT be putting ourselves in situations like that!

[xtristanox]

boring...

[WeirdHalogeno]

Well, you have two options:

First one: when you crossed two lanes @ 0:08 of video, you could go all the way to the other side of the road, safely, then use the walk way to complete the reamaining trench

Second one: @ 1:15 of video, you can see a crossroads, with lights fully operational. You go to it and safely cross the road at the zebra stripes, like you should have; and to back to the park way your destination is/was

As you can see, you chose the least safe way to do it, you earned the insult

[arushandapushand]

doesn't look like a safe road for bikes.

[MAPFWH]

Like I said...nobody pulls out in front of me. If I am in the correct lane, like this cyclist, people see me.... because what I drive is indeed a REAL genuine Land Rover, but built before the Defender range (so called in 1989 when the Tdi was fitted) My daily driver as built in 1970. I use it as a tax-free (no annual registration charge due to the age) heavy duty van. I carry my tools and equipment, also engines/gearboxes/axles etc. I have 2 others. Both ex-Military, 1961 and 1982. I'm no poser

[RenzoKukin88]

When you chose to ride in double lanes that are going to move faster then you, you must 1 use the ped crossing or 2 make fast and radical decisions and stick to them no in between. as far as your Situation I would have dove across traffic to the left far sooner then you did.

[FCImaverich]

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! Not suitable for advice...always think defensively with the bike....stupid idea....

[MAPFWH]

I would have been driving my Land Rover. Nobody pulls out in front of that.

[straatman12345]

@MAPFWH I coudn't care less, land rover/no land rover, u hit me and ur in court bitch :/ Simplez. I bet u use it just as a chelsea tractor, nothing else and the real land rovers are the defenders, other than that they don't look that intimidating at all - thats the only reason u hav one, am i right(im ready for the excuses) :/

[symboliceon1]

Are you riding a recumbent bike? That'd be yer first mistake. Secondly, I definitely saw enough of a break in traffic for you to cut left and you just didn't. Thirdly, 20 miles per hour my ass. You were going maybe 10 on a clearly major road. Sincerely, a guy who's been riding in Boston for 10 years.

[dbgelman]

i would have stopped, block the white car until oncoming was clear, then proceed. what you did wasnt all that bad, it was actually way more considerate of you to choose that action. ppl commenting here that are anti bicycle are that way prolly because they have NOT A CLUE what its like. some ppl say you have to 'follow the same rules as a car' i disagree b/c bicycles are inherently different. some rules yes, but unless you want to die or get some type of bs sidewalk ticket, you gotta bend rules

[TheFlyingSwede]

You stop. Also, riding a bike in that situation, I would find an intersection to turn around in, then return to my destination or find a place to safely cross the road as a pedestrian near my destination. I would not ride 1/4 mile in the suicide lane. Safety always trumps getting to where you're going as easily as you can. You are a vehicle. If you cannot ride at the speed of traffic, or find a way to be unobtrusive, you shouldn't utilize that road in such a manner. Period. -Signed: a cyclist.

[111olbap]

IDIOT. Clearly you do NOT drive a car. You STOP. If you had STOPPED and waited for the lane to your right to clear so you could move back over, everything would have been fine. You could have continued and attempted to make a left turn in another 10 seconds. What you did was utterly stupid. The car turning in front of you was doing 5MPH approaching a complete stop. Had you also stopped, there would have been 0% chance for an accident. What you did could have caused a major pile-up. MORON.

[lxyears]

split that lane like you did then bust over to the left side of the road whefin there was a break in traffic

[YouDontKnowJackDude]

I agree with your choice to go to the left, but I would have went to the right due to the fact that the buick was already blocking most of the right driving lane, so it is completely irrelevant that traffic is coming behind you, that traffic would have to stop anyways. You definitely weren't going 20 mph or in the "designated" bike lane either. As you can see cars could careless if you're following traffic laws, they blatantly cut in front of you. easy solution ride on the sidewalk. rookie.

[111olbap]

@YouDontKnowJackDude You're a moron. See my other comment. 

[Orchideous]

turn lane? god you guys have awful road laws

[01rdgolf]

Yeah, 1st off, I wouldn't be riding in the turn lane that long of a time as you did.

2nd, I would have just stopped and let the other idiots figure out what they wanted to do.

[myforwik]

Personally I would keep left, and even stop, and perform a hook turn across 4 lanes when both ways are free. That middle lane is a suicide lane.

[e0richt]

I agree with what you did... you diffused a situation that was caused by the truck and car and waiting there would have been askng to be hit... also you can see down the road while you make your trip around...

[ciclopropano]

mmm I guess I would have turned right thinking the white car crossing made the driver behind slow down, anyway, what the hell were you doing there?

[lKuDDeR]

first of all ide not be riding with cars, ide be on the side... DURRR!!

[ScottGranger94]

I would have done excatly the same as you.

[Ebbonified]

Complete stop. Wait for sedan to come to a stop safely on the turn lane and out of the travel lane. Wait for a break in traffic on the fast lane you were in and come around the sedan. Make the same visual driver aggreement with the driver of the pickup and do the same. Be sure to wear high visability clothing, lighting and perhaps a horn or buzzer to ensure that these drivers can notice you in time.

[sudiskey]

first of all il bring e.t with me before the ride.......... for situations like this :)

[DayvidSlice]

i'd do the same thing you did... or just stop and let them wait..

[COD4SNIPER2]

who cares....I do what ever I like on a bicycle. I think what you did in this video is just fine. Whatever gets the job done. It is not a motor driven cycle, therfore cannot be given tickets, plus the police would have no way of stopping me on a bicycle, LOL, gosh how I wish I was in shape again

[astronut2004]

@COD4SNIPER2 a bicycle is subject to the same laws as any other vehicle and can get the same tickets.

[accacie]

assuming you had no time to stop safely inside the turning lane, you were compelled to take a risk by invading either the lane to the left or the one to the right. or you could also accept the damage of a controlled collision with an almost stopped car.

once you choose to risk (or don't consider the option of intentionally crashing against a car to avoid a bigger risk), I think your choice was the least dangerous one, because both you and the drivers had much better reciprocal visibility.

[DEADGLOW]

there was nothing dangerous about this unless you are an amateur. nothing but a run of the mill bike ride. you just seem nervous and scared about everything.

[fagan420]

The main rule i use is ride like your invisible. Not to say don't be visible. Be as visible as possible but if you ride like you are invisible then you won't be caught off guard when someone doesn't see you.

[lucaseq77]

Bicycle and car on the road should have the same rights...

You should hold your ground and make them go around....

[insaneRideOuts666]

because your not on a motor you got treated like shit

[zamoranyc]

at the 10 sec break i would off crossed traffic, and made to the other side even if i had to go the wrong way to the next 20 feet, safer then navigating around the cars in the middle turn lane, other then that i would of stopped and let the two cars sort it out 1st.

[Danark81]

I dont put myself in that situation in the first place. Vehicles have blind spots and may not see you, and not to count on all the bad drivers out there to. Im sure many accidents involving motorcycles and bicyclists happened because the bike was in a blind spot so it doesnt matter how many times the vehicle driver looks. Its just not worth your life

[skoockum]

At the start of the vid that was a huge opening across the whole street and onto the sidewalk.

But, had there not been an opening, I would have done what you did, but likely without slowing down. As long as you can see the enough room/time between oncoming traffic, there's no REAL issue.

The stupid move in the video was the white car's, not yours... she had no business whatsoever even entering the roadway. But halfway out, she should have quickly backed up instead of blocking right of way.

[Jeimuzu00]

first of all for me personally, i wouldnt ride on a road that has cars going 50 mph or have that much traffic, even if there is a bike lane. In Portland, we have bicycle boulevards, where the entire road is catered to cyclists, but obviously in your situation, i would act more like a pedestrian and wait on the side of the road for all the traffic to pass then cross the whole road. Alot of people dont give a shit about cyclist's and our rights, so its better to play it safe then get yourself kill

[bkny718s]

this happened to me but it was a cop . back wheel came up.. i just would of done what you have done theres nothing else you can do other than hurt you or someone else..

[HackHunters]

I'd turn right, not left, at an intersection and then go with traffic to get across the street. I'd also never do what you did with vehicular traffic moving so fast because if someone hit you (50mph - 20mph = 30 mph) would certainly have to potential to kill you.

be safe, ride smart :-) and thanks for sharing, good question.

[MegaTrumpy]

well fukd if id put myself in that situation!!! i ride a push bike (lectric & road bike) & i firmly believe your dicing with death! imagine the cars/trucks (that don't c u) are bowling balls & your a little snail who cant get out of the way fast enuff! BAMM! instant road kill! sorry cycle people but you r truly out of your depth! in this situation i would ride on the xtreme right until i could cross! if its busy that i cant cross its not where a bike should be

[whateva247]

20mph? lol

[RickTheStickman2]

I would be immortal and crash into the incoming car.

[snaip]

What's that middle lane used for? Is it shared by traffic wishing to turn going on both directions? Never seen one like that. Looks pretty dangerous to me.

[MEGAONE302]

Buy a car?

[MEGAONE302]

What's the point?

[ro1ri]

wait for the white car to go to the other side, and follow him closer...

[fuddyboi]

I would pull out a gat, shoot that sucka in the face. Then rape his wife. Then stop off at Maccy D's for a happy meal

[AndrewPhelps611]

flip em off and dent the front bumper!!

[chrisbear08]

@AndrewPhelps611 Hahaha!

[jasontheogre]

id stay in the bike lane untill my destination is in plain sight and then just stop look and go when surely safe. value your well being out there. dont let impatience get u killed. motorists are unpredictable bungholes

[jsallen1946]

@swishablowa420 1) no law against going *under* the speed limit. 2) the right to the road exists for slow vehicles -- bicycles, farm and, construction equipment, Amish buggies etc. otherwise people would be housebound without a fast car. 3) *All* vehicles travel at less than the speed limit and even stop on ordinary roads at traffic lights, when entering or leaving the road, turning etc. Only on limited-access highways where entrances and exits are ramps can there be a minimum speed limit.

[1956kdc]

@swishablowa420 just where did you get your license to drive at wal-mart or was it k-mart.Bicycle riders has the same right to the road as a car driver you need to go back to driving school and learn it.I can see you don't like bicycle at all.Ask your local police about bicycle rights then tell us we can't ride in the road.

[chiquisbaby81]

Bunny hop over the cars...dduhhhhh!!

[teenguy9753]

@swishablowa420 try again you fail. bikes have the same rights as cars. there for they must follow all traffic laws. second rideing on sidewalk is twice as dangerous and often illeagle in many states.

[mtbie31]

just mosh up over both them cars

[eXPerienceyeah]

Stay where you are and don't pull in front of the white car like you did.

[zestron]

Oh wow, that looks like a mess. People should learn to drive

[BeeryUSA]

It seems like your turn was about 50ft behind both vehicles. I probably wouldn't have entered the turn lane until later. Having said that, I can't see what's behind you, so I can't fault you if you have an 18 wheeler or something bearing down on you fast. I also have to say that these turn lanes are the stupidest invention. No one knows how to use them, so stuff like this happens all the time.

[00invader0]

i would stop and bring my bike back so the white car could pull in safely, then id wait for a break in traffic and go across the oncoming traffic, i did that today, in a much more busier road

[wpoulin]

I would cross at the corners.

If you are going to turn into a parking area, you could use the corners to cross and then enter the parking area from the side streets.

This way you are safer using a turning lane.

[pcfxer]

You aren't supposed to be MOVING in the turning lane. When you pull into the turning lane all vehicles are to be at a COMPLETE stop. Just sit tight and if someone comes at you, do your best to bail.

Three wrongs there and everyone there is stupid.

[Xijnjoey38]

Five's alive! I would tranform into a starscream decepticon and lose all the weight.

[akush55]

do like i did, i have headlight that flash like police do...

[gcrebel2008]

Alright, this is what I would do: GET A DAMN CAR OR TRUCK!!!

[wpoulin]

@gcrebel2008 Clearly you don't belong here!!!

[gcrebel2008]

@wpoulin Yeah and this guy doesn't belong in the middle of the road either. I know you guys are gonna bring up the share the road bullcrap but this is how you cause wrecks and get yourself killed because not everyone is expecting a bicycle in the middle of the road everyday.

[wpoulin]

@gcrebel2008 We cyclist are trying to educate ourselves on different situations, like this one.

Buying a car just because of a incident like this one is not an option.

I say you sell your car so you won't pollute the air.

[gcrebel2008]

@wpoulin Oh I love pollutin the air. I got a big F-150 that gets around 14 MPGs but its PAID OFF!

[BeeryUSA]

@gcrebel2008 Yeah, because bicycles never turn left, right?

Honestly, how do folks like you even get a driving license?

[tylerbernard]

I feel you need to get to the turning lane a little early or it is too hard to get across all the lanes. vehicles don't care. if they see you signal they cut you off so use every opening to your advantage before a motorist can rape you with his/her ego

[flawless]

i will carry my bike not riding it, people will respect a person who wants to crossing the street, specially a person who carrying a bike

[andyr798ken]

don't pull into the turning lane until your ready to turn, then hold your ownn problem aused by being in it uneccessarily

[regbrant]

Hi Luvmastertx

I am in the UK & so I am not familiar with those road marking layouts. My suggestion - made from ignorance - would be to have the road markings re-designed to avoid such confrontational situations. Other than that I would stop & block the white car & truck, wait until the road is clear of moving traffic, then manœuvre around the other vehicles taking the same route as you.

[CH1CKENQUIFF]

Be glad that your still alive and go skydiving

[wpoulin]

I think you went to the center lane too soon.

I try to avoid these center lanes as much as I can.

They are a tricky spot for cyclists.

[pcfxer]

@wpoulin exactly. Should've been straddling the paint marker and pulled into the turning lane when he could've come to a COMPLETE stop. Using the turning lane to do anything but turn is incorrect and unsafe. In fact, I actually think the car and truck are doing this properly.

[biker4fun1]

I think you were in the left lane too long before you made your move to the center turn lane. And it seems that the traffic was flowing in packs probably as a result of stop lights ahead and behind. I would have timed it better so as not to put myself in that spot.  I NEVER would have gone left around the Buick as that is the exact direction he/she wants to go. Did the Buick driver see you? If so, I would have just stopped and let it clear the center turn lane before proceeding.

[spettenati]

That was crazy, you want to kill yourself, why are you on a road with cars going 50+ miles an hour. Other than not being on this road I think I would have hit the brakes when seeing the white car pull in. Insted you move left because you cannot move right but you risk getting hit head on by on coming traffic at 50+ mph, no way you would live through that. This is a road I would not be on despite a bike lane or not. Find a different road to take with slower moving traffic.

[neeeeenja1]

that was really dangerous man, you need to be more defensive on your bike. I would yeild to the oldsmobile.

[TheRUSSIA69]

first off i would not be in the middle of the road.

[cyclenut]

Eaually tough, I had a motorist passed me close then cut in front of me and jammed their brakes... I had three choices.

1 swreve into the next lane and hope the car behind is paying attention,

2. jam brakes and endo

3. slam in to the back of the truck..

The first time this happened I had to swerve in to the lane beside me. The last time I saw the attack forming and slowed down so when the jerk did cut in front of me I was slow enough to hit the breaks..

[cyclenut]

that was a tough spot.... Saying I'd hit the breaks doesn't always work.. In a panic stop we could do an endo (over the bars header).

@ luvmastertx, to me you are a Vehicular cyclist. You were not on the sidewalk and you were using your bike for transportation. Common since is needed and you showed that.. Thank you for showing us tough situation and helping us prepare before we get in the pickle..

[Pezdetz666]

I would have just stopped as soon as I saw the white Buick pull up to the curb and the SUV pull into the center lane. Better to let them go by first. Actually, in traffic that heavy, I would have just kept going until I got to the next crosswalk and then ridden back to this location on the opposite side of the street. Not sure why you would EVER try something like that in a 50mph area, especially not when it seems like this is a busy main street.

[cougarethan]

Just as you passed the second car there was an empty spot i would have went then.

[timtak1]

I agree with jowo3.

Should he have turned out in front of you like that?

[JoeJoeToth]

NO HE SUOD HAVE WHATED!

[CycleMan2200]

After seeing this and realizing what i could of done, I would of just stayed in the Left lane until i came upon the road i was intending to turn onto. Its illegal to drive a car or ride a bike or any vehicle in the center turn lane unless your turning. You kinda made a poor decision on your part. Be safe!

[TheJimDandy2008]

Since both the truck and the car was at a stop and (I assume) see you since you're right ahead of them it was the right move.

Otherwise it would be safer to merge back into the traffic and cross the traffic ahead and double back to your turn.

But either way it's dangerous. You have to assume that traffic have seen you. With all the car headlights on, traffic from behind you will have difficulties seeing you.

[BrundukasLT]

i would bump into the front of that car ;)

[borderlinebuddhist]

i would have rode my bicycle on the sidewalk and walked my bike across at a crosswalk or stop sign, or look for a median so i can cross less lanes in each go.

[qwedfifyful]

Riding on the sidewalk is illegal and stupid. I have had more flats and more close calls on the sidewalk than on 35+ and 45+ mph roads in one of the worst cities for traffic in the world.

[2009jimmy2009]

get a car you loser!

[KrunchyJD]

The guy is looking for useful comments not idiot ones

[dwarfer777]

I would stop IMMEDIATELY after realising this idiot came in my turn lane and I would be prepared to get the hell off my bike if he doesnt see me (as you are less likely to be injured if you're on your feet than a bike)

When I'm sure he's spotted me I would make my turn when safe to do so as he won't move untill you do.

The reason I would stop is to max the gap from me &the car to increase my reaction time to jump off me bike if he moves, I would be positioned a little more to the right tho

[MewFushisDad]

What type of lights if any do you run? I run close to 700 lumens off the front, 80 flashing red LEDs off the back, an orange vest with 16 more flashing LEDs and 4" wide, orange reflective straps on my wrists to make my signaling clearer. I run lights night and day. One can never be bright enough when on the road.

Remember, "Weight Makes Right." Most motorists are not paying attention to what they are doing. It's just way to easy to get a drivers license in the U.S.A.

[MewFushisDad]

You are a vehicle behaving as a vehicle should. It is the car and truck that are complicating the situation.

The closer a cyclist behaves as a motorist in complying with the rules of the road the safer the cyclist is.

That is, when the other road users also obey those same rules of the road. In this situation they clearly did not do so.

[FlyinPig]

If you new your destination was 400 ft up the road, as you moved into the passing lane at 0:07 seconds Why not just cross over to the other side and avoid all the 50mph traffic? The road was clear at that point. Minimize the risk.

[bodybait]

I would take the lane longer and stop riding in the center lane. Reflective vest, mirror, and hand signals work. Your turn is after these vehicles so you could have avoided this by not riding in the turn lane. Also you don't stop. You clearly have about 5 seconds (not alot of time) which the car pulls out into traffic. You didn't die though so it was wrong what you did.

[bodybait]

wasn't wrong

[jjwat23]

I think you made all the correct decisions for the situation. It was unlucky to be cut off by thoes two cars... by overtaking them on the left hand side (facing the on coming cars) you probably make the right choice, as you were able to easily see all of the cars, you also became more visable. If you took the other option and went on the right hand side of the cars, you wouldn't have been able to see the cars behind you and the 4WD probably would have cleaned you up.

[CycleMan2200]

I have came upon a few situations like this before. Best thing to do is wait till the cars merge into traffic since the driver of the white car likely saw you waiting there..along with the pickup. Going into the oncoming lanes is illegal and dangerous anyways.

[luvmastertx]

Waiting is not a good solution. I have a wide angle camera and I am much closer to the white car than it looks. The white car is blocking the truck from turning. The truck is blocking the view of the white car. The white car can not safetly move. Any other suggestions.

[cyclenut]

@luvmastertx I too have been in the same situation. Stopping makes the most sense, but the other two motorist will get angry, very stuipid angry and WILL do something stuipid.. I've learned the hard way.

Still to this day I don't know the corret action.

[dasquirrel715]

@luvmastertx turn around and let the white car move?

[stopglobalswarming]

@luvmastertx Throw a water bottle into traffic and when people stop, make a run for it.

[phantompanther]

Interesting video. I'm glad that you weren't hurt.

I'm not really sure how it's supposed to work, when it comes to bikes. If I were riding a bike, I would bring it up the sidewalk, go up to a crosswalk, and cross there.

In the situation you were in, however, I wouldn't know what to do. Err, spaz?

I wish there was a good way to balance the usage of cars, bikes, and other modes of transportation. It seems rather difficult to do, sadly...

[downfader2]

I agree, difficult to know what to do (even more so for a Brit like me seeing this). If there is a dedicated pedestrian crossing nearby I would have taken that option on foot and rejoined the road later. I've done this in certain areas in the UK and felt it works best if there is that option..

[roadmonitoroz]

Tough choice. The vehicles are now blocking your view. It is risky pulling in to oncoming traffic although it's also risky pulling in to traffic in the correct direction doing 50 mph. Depending if you can stay in the turning lane safely waiting for the vehicles blocking your view to move off that is an option but I'm guessing the turn you want to make is directly to your left and they would have to drive over you to get to it. In that case you probably made the best choice possible.

[cyclebrewer]

Perfectly reasonable given the circumstances. This is just one of those very rare cases where they--those drivers in the lane with you-- didn't see you in time, or didn't make the right judgement call, so you're all in that awkward situation. I'll bet they felt as uncertain about what to do as you did. This sort of thing is normal, but rare, in VC, and in all driving. It's nothing to worry about.