Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge or the roadway.
This way, there is very little chance of "accidentally" right-hooking a cyclist, since theoretically there shouldn't be a cyclist on your right since the curb is there. There have been plenty of times I've been cycling in the bike lane and a driver ahead of me will turn from their lane, essentially cutting me off. That is why there is a dotted line in the bike lane, drivers---it's so you can enter it. PREDICTABILITY, people.
2. Conversely, I get super peeved at the bike lane hoggers who position their vehicle half-in & half-out of the bike lane while they are stopped in traffic because they are going to make a right turn half a block ahead. NO. You are also doing it wrong. You move your vehicle into the bike lane at the approach to a right-hand turn. You are not approaching anything if you are stopped. And half a mile away. Stop it.
3. I get really peevey at drivers that go around me while I'm stopped at a red light so they can make a right turn on red. NO! You will just have to wait your damn turn. You wouldn't go around a stopped vehicle at a red light so you can turn right, why would you do that to a human being? If your vehicle is not positioned next to the right-hand curb/edge because there is a cyclist next to you, you shouldn't make a right turn (asshat). This should be common sense. Maneuvering your 2-ton vehicle directly in front of a human being so that you don't have to wait 25 seconds for the light to turn green is a dick move.
That last one happens to me in Rosslyn all the time.
ReplyDeleteThese are the worst! The other day while riding to work I saw almost all of these things happen. I was recording with my video camera so I hope I can put together a companion video piece for this rant.
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to commute to work through Georgetown, I often experienced #3 at the intersection of M and Wisconsin NW. More than a few times I got honked at because I was waiting to go straight, and the motorist behind me wanted to turn right on red. Honking just guaranteed I wasn't going anywhere until that light flipped green (not that I would have gone through otherwise).
ReplyDeleteStupid drivers. I usually pass left if they put their turn signal on. just a couple days ago though, an unmarked (and but for the license plate otherwise unobtrusive) k9 police vehicle made a right without a turn signal. idiot almost got me.
ReplyDelete:). Happy days. nice blog.
Signed,
first time visitor - ftv, fwiw.