3 ms·

The problem with an X-crossing like that is the angle at which the crossing happens. A driver needs to look all the way over his shoulder to see a cyclist he's

by Doxin 8y ago

The problem with an X-crossing like that is the angle at which the crossing happens. A driver needs to look all the way over his shoulder to see a cyclist he's about to hit. For the improved crossings you see in e.g. the netherlands the cars and cyclists cross at a 90 degree angle, meaning the driver has a much easier time spotting cyclists.

jessaustin 8y ago
Practically, if bike lanes are adjacent to the street as they are in many places, cyclists can only really expect motorists not to hit them from behind. Motorists simply are not aware of what's going on around them. If the cyclist is next to an auto, she must always be ready to react to it. In fact, "next to an auto" is a somewhat tenuous location, because you can't always jump up on the curb. Passing (usually on the left) is fine, being passed is fine, between autos is fine, because all of those allow either the driver to observe the cyclist or the cyclist to react safely to sudden changes in direction by the auto. If I'm approaching an intersection like that pictured and I'm even with an auto, I brake and take the lane behind it. If the auto moves to the right to turn, I pass it on the left in the main lane of traffic. No matter what the auto does, I re-enter the bike lane after I clear the intersection. No one needs to pass me while in the intersection, and I want to be both visible and able to react to right-turning autos from the street I'm crossing. Faster traffic makes this impossible, but faster traffic can see you from behind and will generally discourage turns from the cross street. There are morons who try to race around you to hook in front of you, and this type of intersection offers no protection from that, but most drivers are not that thoughtless, even if they lack general awareness. You just have to deal with that asshole. Once he gets that front bumper even with me, I'm already ducking right and braking. In some instances, I'll also be grabbing my U-lock and preparing to damage his car with it. Like I said, completely separating the traffic seems like a great solution, but it simply will not be universal any time soon. Until then, ride defensively.

by Doxin 8y ago

jessaustin 8y ago

Practically, if bike lanes are adjacent to the street as they are in many places, cyclists can only really expect motorists not to hit them from behind. Motorists simply are not aware of what's going on around them. If the cyclist is next to an auto, she must always be ready to react to it. In fact, "next to an auto" is a somewhat tenuous location, because you can't always jump up on the curb. Passing (usually on the left) is fine, being passed is fine, between autos is fine, because all of those allow either the driver to observe the cyclist or the cyclist to react safely to sudden changes in direction by the auto. If I'm approaching an intersection like that pictured and I'm even with an auto, I brake and take the lane behind it. If the auto moves to the right to turn, I pass it on the left in the main lane of traffic. No matter what the auto does, I re-enter the bike lane after I clear the intersection. No one needs to pass me while in the intersection, and I want to be both visible and able to react to right-turning autos from the street I'm crossing. Faster traffic makes this impossible, but faster traffic can see you from behind and will generally discourage turns from the cross street. There are morons who try to race around you to hook in front of you, and this type of intersection offers no protection from that, but most drivers are not that thoughtless, even if they lack general awareness. You just have to deal with that asshole. Once he gets that front bumper even with me, I'm already ducking right and braking. In some instances, I'll also be grabbing my U-lock and preparing to damage his car with it. Like I said, completely separating the traffic seems like a great solution, but it simply will not be universal any time soon. Until then, ride defensively.