I ride a bike and drive a car. And while doing both, I do my best to obey the laws and not injure other people. In Boston, and more specifically in my area of Cambridge we have major issues with drivers turning without looking at the bike lane and bikers running through red lights or riding on sidewalks.
In MA, we have very specific laws regarding how bikes are to be treated under the law and whenever riding I abide by them because they exist to keep myself (most important) and others safe. As the biker nearly hit me (I fortunately jumped out of the way with less than a foot of clearance), he yelled at me calling me an asshole and continued through the intersection with himself having a red light.
I watched a college kid die last year while walking to work as he slammed into the side of a truck. It ignited a debate about who was at fault and if trucks should be allowed to turn at that intersection. Nothing but finger pointing was done, a young man was killed, and just last week another pedestrian was hit at that same intersection crossing the street to catch the T.
Our transportation is changing in this country and instead of adjusting, in most areas we're just pointing the finger, much like you did in this post.
I'm also in the Boston area (Somerville) and have been wondering about the proper way to respond to right turns with a cyclist in the bike lane behind me.
When I have right-of-way and use my turn signal ahead of time, shouldn't I have the ability to turn right without waiting for the bike to pass (similar to how the cars behind me must wait for me to make my turn before continuing?)
I believe (so don't take it as fact), if your turn signal is on and they're behind you, you have the right of way. IF they edge forward to the line (as many do, which I think is legal?) and are to your front-right you should wait.
Again, driving and biking laws get muddled so it's hard to tell.
I'm not pointing fingers. I'm saying both parties are guilty. I just thing that the level of danger posed by the automobile drivers demands greater attention. Less than one person per year is killed by a cyclist. Drivers kill 100 in the united states every day.
In MA, we have very specific laws regarding how bikes are to be treated under the law and whenever riding I abide by them because they exist to keep myself (most important) and others safe. As the biker nearly hit me (I fortunately jumped out of the way with less than a foot of clearance), he yelled at me calling me an asshole and continued through the intersection with himself having a red light.
I watched a college kid die last year while walking to work as he slammed into the side of a truck. It ignited a debate about who was at fault and if trucks should be allowed to turn at that intersection. Nothing but finger pointing was done, a young man was killed, and just last week another pedestrian was hit at that same intersection crossing the street to catch the T.
Our transportation is changing in this country and instead of adjusting, in most areas we're just pointing the finger, much like you did in this post.