4 ms·
I saw it happen to someone two days ago crossing the Caltrain tracks and going over Alma on Meadow in Palo Alto. White van went past the cyclist and then turned
by i_am_ralpht 12y ago
I saw it happen to someone two days ago crossing the Caltrain tracks and going over Alma on Meadow in Palo Alto. White van went past the cyclist and then turned right into him -- luckily he just hit his front wheel (though the van drove off, ignorant of everything).
It happens all the time and it's a function of poor design. I'm not sure what the right fix is (preventing right turns on some Alma crossings? Forced right turn lane to the right of a green lane?). With this intersection at least the cyclists start out ahead of the traffic when waiting on a red -- but if the light is green and a cyclist is at the speed of traffic then this design does nothing to prevent right hooks...
- penrod 12y agoSpeaking without specific knowledge of the junction you mention, but with 20 years' experience of urban cycling, my observation is that this type of accident is usually a function of cycling too close to the curb. I've learned to move a foot or two further out into the street when approaching an intersection where cars are likely to turn right, and the effect is that drivers will tuck in behind me to turn rather than overtaking.
- alphapapa 12y agoThe solution is simple: 1. License and insure all cyclists on public streets. Equal rights, equal responsibilities. 2. Require all cyclists to stop at all intersections, no matter what. Any cyclist who runs into a vehicle is at fault by definition. This is the only realistic solution.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]