Bicycle commute + Road Rage...?

[kramer5150]

I have been commuting to work by bike/bus for the last 3.5 weeks. I ride 2 miles to the bus stop, take the bus for about 9 miles, hop off and bike 5 miles to the office.

SO... today I was stopped at a red light, semi-busy intersection with traffic lights and bike lanes all around. I was stopped in the bike lane waiting for a green light. I was about 1.5 arms length from the car to my left, my front tire about a foot from the pedestrian cross-walk.

This car somewhere behind me starts honking. I ignore it, thinking its directed at someone else. It persists, and the lady in the car rolls down the window and screaming obscenities at me to get out of her way so she can make a right turn. I turn and look at her, and I continue to ignore her for 10 more seconds, thinking I am not really doing anything wrong

. I would have really liked to help, and move over, but there wasn't any other place for me to move to. The light turns green and I then proceed through the intersection with the rest of the cars. She makes her right turn once I clear out of her way... continually screaming at me as she makes her turn onto the cross-street.

SO... I ask all the more experienced motorists and cyclists. What was I doing wrong? I mean... I was on a bike in the bike lane, waiting for a traffic light. Isn't that where bikes are supposed to be... or should I have been closer to that car on my left? Am I supposed to be much closer to the curb? That however would still be blocking her turn a little, and I would have gotten scolded for that too. I'm not about to ride my bike on the sidewalk, there are a lot of pedestrians and families walking there.

????

 

[Rednamalas1]

you did the right thing. If there is a bike lane, bikers get the priority (at least up here in Canada - but I don't think it's different down there). I would have assumed that lady is insane and given her appropriate hand signal.

 

[uzziah]

the only thing you should have done is slash her tires

 

[Akathisia]

I used to ride a bike to work and back every day, but after I got hit by an SUV mirror, I gave up.

I'd say you were fine since were in a bike lane. I would have kindly told that lady to go screw herself. People feel pretty safe in your car, but just drop your bike once and start walking towards their car. You'll feel like a million bucks when you see someone piss themselves waiting for a light to change while you stand outside their door.

 

[Lazarus Short]

The road to Hell is paved.

 

[darkninja67]

Peds have right of way over bikes, then bikes over cagers.

 

[Rednamalas1]

more reason to carry a chainsaw when commuting

 

[gshan]

Some people are just too anxious behind the wheel. Everyone is out to get them. Need to chill out, give the benefit of the doubt, or whatever it takes, g*ddamn...

Kramer, even if you weren't in a bike lane...she had no right. Were you supposed to just pedal forward and kill yourself in the flowing traffic?

 

[Uncle Erik]

You were in the right and your patience is admirable.

 

[vibin247]

It was your right of way, and she was impatient. It's good that you kept your cool. Who knows what would've happened if you returned with anger.

 

[intoflatlines]

I would have spat on her car or something, her face would have been more satisfying.

I don't know what the laws are where you live, but here's some info for Chicago.

It is illegal to drive, park, or stand in a designated bike lane.

Bikers are supposed to yield the right of way to other vehicles, and ride as far right as safe.

It is also illegal to ride bikes on many sidewalks in Chicago.

I think you were right in what you did.. what did she expect you to do? Cross the red light? Think of it this way.. if you were in a bus or truck that doesn't make right on red, what would she want you to do then? I could understand her anger if you were in a car in a right turn only lane, but you were biking in a bike lane, so she needed to relax. She was wrong.

I kind of wish more bikers in Chicago followed the rules. If you see a biker on a street (no matter how busy it is), you can bet that he/she will blow all the red lights, cut across any and all lanes, and do other dangerous things just to get where they want.. I have seen so many near crashes, especially from bikers blowing through red lights. I don't get it.

 

[Mr. Tadashi]

As others had said you did nothing wrong as in your position you had the right of way.(Ironicly I herd of something like this happening today near by my office.

In Portland there was about 2 deaths recently due to people hitting cyclist while they made a right turn(past 6 months) and now in areas we have designated bike boxes which in those intersection it is illegal to make a right turn at a red light to go with the emphasis that cyclist have the right of way.

 

[ronin74]

Kramer,

Was there another lane to your right, a right turn only lane? Some intersections have the bike lane split the far right lane and the "go straight" lane. Also was the portion of bike lane you were in delineated with solid white lines or dashed white lines?

If the sidewalk was directly to your right and the bike lane was painted with solid white lines, you were definitely in the right-of-way, but you being right doesn't matter, the car aways wins. If the cross traffic was clear I would have run the light. Check out how to avoid the Red light of Death.

 

[Aimless1]

Until sereral non biking related injuries laid me up I commuted 7 miles to work each way by bicycle.

Ha Ha, I can't say as anyone ever rolled down their window to have a friendly chat with me. I've had people yell at me, lecture me, swear at me, threatening to call the cops on me....all for using my legal right of way on a public roadway. Generally the public needs to be better educated. As a bicyclist if no bike lane is available you are entitled to the entire lane. You have all the rights and responsibilities of a motorists in the use of that lane.

If you're new to bike commuting this will be the first of many such encounters. I always chose to smile and attempt to be friendly. Handled yourself right fine IMHO.

 

[aaron313]

Living in Berkeley, I have to put up with all kinds of annoying cyclists. Honestly, these people think they own the road. They disobey traffic signals, blow through stop signs, cut you off, ride in the middle of the street, etc. However, when you have your own lane, and you stay in it, you have the right of way. If I were a cop, I would have pulled that bitch over and given her a mouthful. It's important for cyclists to be just as vigilant as motorists, but you can't expect a cyclist to move onto the sidewalk so that you can make a right turn.