A pucker moment

[cougar8000]

Last weekend I went to ride and meet Evilmedic in the city. After that I rode to a Gerogian bakery, that is not Georgia USA-that is Georgia country. It is located in the city on a crowded street. parked my bike against the curb and went inside. After having a snack there and loading my bags with goodies I got on the bike and was getting ready to move out.

Street is basically parallel parking on both sides and one lane in each direction. I was going to be making right turn out of parking spot. On my right is a cargo van , so I can't really see what is coming from the right side, but since I am not going to be crossing the center lane I am not worried about it. I look left and see an opening. Just as I am starting to move and turning my head to the right a damn bicyclist appears right in front of me and zipped by within inches of my front. He was going on the opposite side of the street and right next to the cars at a good rate. So, there was no way for me to see him clearing the damn van.

It all happened so quick. With out even thinking about it I managed to swerve right and then left to avoid the van. How I did it at 3 mph I still have no idea, but I did on auto pilot. Muscle memory at its finest I guess.

Now the question to our finest.

Does bicyclist has a right to ride on the wrong side of the street? I think not.

if we were to collide, whose fault would it have been?

If I were in the car the guy would have been killed going head on into my bumper and then flying over the car.

Considering that I do not spend lots of time in the city it was a very cheap lesson that I have to adjust to the environment a bit better. Please remember to adjust to your surrounding.

 

[twowheelnut]

The way I understand it the hierarchy is; Pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist. You're at the bottom of the list if you have a motor powering your vehicle.

 

[cougar8000]

The way I understand it the hierarchy is; Pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist. You're at the bottom of the list if you have a motor powering your vehicle.

I hear what you are saying, but is he in the right by traveling in the wrong direction?

 

[jacko]

Bloody push bikes , I was taken out by one just before xmas , I turned left accross a bike lane and crunch we both went down ,my FJR on top of his pushie and me stuck between both

He was in a pushbike lane and i did turn across it ,but he was riding down hill much faster than the traffic ,anyway his bike was stuffed and my Yam was ok

Im in Australia ,by the way , so our left turn is like your right I spose

Trust us to have it arse about (,blame the bloody Poms)

 

[cougar8000]

Googly goo. Bicyclist MUST travel in the same direction as traffic.

"Ride as close to the right edge of the road as practical. Always ride in the

same direction as the other traffic. Certain conditions allow a bicyclist to move

farther to the left, such as broken glass, drain grates, parked cars, left turns and

passing." Source IL Bicycle Rules of the Road

So, according to this, he was breaking the law. No what would PD would do?

 

[FJRSTAR]

The way I understand it the hierarchy is; Pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist. You're at the bottom of the list if you have a motor powering your vehicle.

"He was going on the opposite side of the street and right next to the cars at a good rate."

That's bull caca. They still have to follow the laws. The bike rider was on the wrong side of the street going the wrong direction.

 

[FJRSTAR]

Googly goo. Bicyclist MUST travel in the same direction as traffic.
"Ride as close to the right edge of the road as practical. Always ride in the

same direction as the other traffic. Certain conditions allow a bicyclist to move

farther to the left, such as broken glass, drain grates, parked cars, left turns and

passing." Source IL Bicycle Rules of the Road

So, according to this, he was breaking the law. No what would PD would do?

I say he is breaking the law, just as jaywalkers do and can get ticketed.

 

[Fred W]

Googly goo. Bicyclist MUST travel in the same direction as traffic.
"Ride as close to the right edge of the road as practical. Always ride in the

same direction as the other traffic. Certain conditions allow a bicyclist to move

farther to the left, such as broken glass, drain grates, parked cars, left turns and

passing." Source IL Bicycle Rules of the Road

So, according to this, he was breaking the law. No what would PD would do?

I say he is breaking the law, just as jaywalkers do and can get ticketed.

Yup that's right. Pedestrians SHOULD walk counter to traffic flow, but bicycles MUST ride with the flow of traffic.

Of course if you had run into him and taken him out, then fallen over and scuffed all your body work, that would be of little consolation. But he was in the wrong.

 

[Murph]

I agree ... the bicyclist was in the wrong. But I bet you would've taken all the liability.

 

[Jazzzzz]

I agree ... the bicyclist was in the wrong. But I bet you would've taken all the liability.

I'd take you up on that bet. No collision would've occurred if the bicyclist had been in the correct lane. 100% his fault for crossing center. Bicycle > motor vehicle or not, he's governed by traffic law just like a motorist.

A lot of the road bike riders around here don't obey stop signs - it's not a matter of them doing rolling stops or even slowing down, they just blow through the damned things. Idiots like that give bicyclists a bad image.

 

[cougar8000]

I agree ... the bicyclist was in the wrong. But I bet you would've taken all the liability.

And that is what I am afraid off. 10 years ago I had a car turn left in front of me when I was in the car. I stopped from 40mph in less then 3 feet of applying the brakes. t-bone the guy. Chicago PD booked me for he heck of it, because he went to the hospital and I had no scratch on me. in the court his insurance paid for everything but it is a bitch clearing your name.

Thanks guys and keep this in mind when you change your surroundings.

 

[twowheelnut]

The way I understand it the hierarchy is; Pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist. You're at the bottom of the list if you have a motor powering your vehicle.

"He was going on the opposite side of the street and right next to the cars at a good rate."

That's bull caca. They still have to follow the laws. The bike rider was on the wrong side of the street going the wrong direction.

Yep, it sure as hell is, but Murph has it right...

I agree ... the bicyclist was in the wrong. But I bet you would've taken all the liability.

 

[NightShine]

Strangely, bicycles in Kalifornia are considered as "motor vehicles" as far as the motor vehicle code is concerned, and have to obey all of the same traffic laws as other vehicles.

 

[James Burleigh]

Reading about "Insurance Matters" in Friction Zone, my guess is liability would have been allocated in percentages, with the bicyclist receiving the higher percentage, but the MC'list not receiving no blame (in logic we call that "double negation elimination" :blink: ).

My commute is mostly freeways and major arterials. I only ride three city blocks over 30 miles (one way), but although those city blocks are maybe 3% of the commute distance, my risk of accident in that space is, I believe, higher than all the other miles combined. In addition to the usual bicyclists coming out of nowhere, including against traffic. I get:

• Pedestrians jay-walking while talking on cell phones and carrying lattes (my blasters have, I think hope, caused a few dress shirts to be stained )
• Pedestrians coming out of nowhere between grid-locked cars as I (safely, legally ) thread my way through.
• Cars stopping in the middle of the lane to drop off passengers.
• Car doors flying open in all lanes at signals to let out passengers.
• Cars crossing into my lane of traffic over the double-yellow to get around cars stopped in the middle of their lane.
• Metal plates.
• Trolley car tracks.
• Cars doing U-turns from the curb.
• Cars in the lane on my right turning left onto a side street in front of me.
• Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.... ["Thank you, Yul."]

Nothing worse than driving in a city IMHO.

 

[wfooshee]

Strangely, bicycles in Kalifornia are considered as "motor vehicles" as far as the motor vehicle code is concerned, and have to obey all of the same traffic laws as other vehicles.

Why is it strange? They're using the same roadway, how could they possibly have their own set of rules?

The fact that most of them seem to think they do have their own rules is part of the problem in cougar's post.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I agree ... the bicyclist was in the wrong. But I bet you would've taken all the liability.

Maybe where you are, Murph, but totally the bicyclist's fault and liability according to the Illinois law which would've applied:

Illinois bicycle laws

 

[Dusty]

Here in Ontario Canada even the pedestrian isn't always in the right.

A month ago, snow was piled up so sidewalks were impassible. A pedestrian was walking on the road, was hit by a car and sustained major injuries (still in the hospital). The driver was cleared of any wrongdoing, the pedestrian was charged with walking on the wrong side of the road. She was walking with her back to the traffic.

Also, about a week ago an 80yr old man crossed a relatively busy 4 lane road here and was struck by a vehicle. He was also charged for not crossing at a cross walk.

So much for the pedestrian is always right!

 

[rnees]

that'll learn ya, suburban boy...stay outta my city! :devil:

--just kidding.

 

[Derek]

years back, i was stopped at a 4 way stop in my F250. a guy on a 10 speed came flying through the stop sign. he had been riding on a residential sidewalk with his head down.

he jammed his front tire into my front left wheel well. the bike stuck there. he went accross my windsheild like a rocket.

we didn't discuss the legalaties. i may have mentioned something about stupidity and recklessness. i'm certain i mentioned parts of the anatomy.

but, even if he had been legaly right, he would have still been stupid and lucky that i wasn't a foot or two further ahead.

derek