A**hole. Jerk. These are some of the nicer thoughts we have as we're forced to swerve into traffic around a car in the bicycle lane.
But is every driver who pulls into a bike lane being a jerk? Are there any exceptions?
Actually, there's a big one. One that's misunderstood by cyclists and drivers alike.
Simply put, there is a right way to turn right and the drivers you share the road with, even if they're in the bike lane, might be doing it correctly.
What the bike lane is NOT: a convenient place to pull over because you want to, or feel like it, or need something, or any other lazy dangerous reason. Jerk.
What the bike lane IS: a traffic lane for, you know, moving traffic. That means mid-block there should be moving bicycles in it, and nothing else. At intersections however, things get more complicated.
In the interest of safety (and the law CVC 22100) any vehicle turning right should do so from the right most lane. Where bike lanes are present, the bike lane is usually the right most lane.
Do: The dance
Cyclists merge left, drivers merge right
Drivers should signal and when clear, merge into the bike lane before turning right. That's right, some cars should be in our lane. Many bike lanes indicate this area - called a mixing zone - with a dashed white line.
As a cyclist approaching an intersection, be on the lookout for turning drivers. If a car is ahead of you and turning right, merge into the left lane and proceed straight through the intersection. If a car is behind you, hold your ground. This dance will keep you safe and moving fast through the intersection.
Don't: The dash
Don't try and squeeze through, it's too risky
Being on the inside of a turning car is one of the most common causes of injury for cyclists across the country. Merge left to stay safe, and keep moving.
Let's lead by example... left around right turning cars. We'll refrain from cursing every driver in the bike lane, a few of them are actually turning right, right.
P.S. After Friday's Wall Street Journal article (and Pee Wee Herman's tweet), we're just about sold out of Lumen frames. Click here to snatch up one of the last few.
P.P.S. Join us this Wednesday 5:30pm for a behind the scenes factory tour. See the people and the workshop behind the curtain. More info here.