Bicyclist Rights in Oregon: Bicycle Lanes

[samten10a]

It looked like the bike lane terminated at that intersection. It started on the other side of the intersection again.

The cross walk is not marked either so pedestrians also have no right way either .

[WPein]

Very nice video for showing how bad bike lanes are for bicycle users.

[PedalingPrince]

I agree. Particularly that "right hook" demonstration. If the law allows behavior like that, the law needs adjustment; the cyclist should have signaled and merged into the through lane instead of staying in the bike lane (Oregon law notwithstanding).

[skoockum]

@PedalingPrince What the situation (right hook) amounts to is a vehicle in the left lane making a right turn across a lane to his right. Under this circumstance, a vehicle in the right lane is not under obligation to adjust his course (optional etiquette notwithstanding). The left vehicle in the left lane is required to wait for safe passage before moving across the other lane.

[PedalingPrince]

@skoockum Even so, the right side of a motor vehicle has a plethora of blind spots since there's usually space and a whole other seat there for a passenger; it's hard to tell when there's "safe passage" if your view of the lane is obstructed.

That's why I feel that passing motorists on the right, even in a bike lane, is inordinately dangerous; it's far safer to merge into the through lane when going straight.

Of course, it's even safer not to have the bike lanes at all, ironically...

[skoockum]

@PedalingPrince "That's why I ... going straight." ...that or just ride faster than the cars ;)