How well do you drive near bicycle lanes?
I’ve read a lot recently how a variety of communities are putting in new bicycle lanes for cyclists. This is a good idea as it can help protect the cyclists from the high risks associated with traffic each time they ride on busy roads. I think the added pressure the cyclists have is when drivers of vehicles don’t fully understand how to drive near bicycle lanes, especially if the driver of a vehicle needs to make a right turn across the bicycle lane. How well do you know how to use them?
Since the bicycle lanes are reserved strictly for cyclists, the cyclist should be given right of way when ever they are riding in those lanes. As a driver of a vehicle, you should not be driving down these lanes. However, when the driver of a vehicle needs to make a right turn, they are allowed to enter the bicycle lane just prior to the intersection. Usually there’ll be a broken line section of the bicycle lane just before the intersection. The driver of the vehicle should signal their lane change early so cyclists behind them know their intentions. The driver should also follow all steps needed to make a lane change; especially with slow moving traffic.
The driver must yield to any cyclist they may interfere with prior to entering the bicycle lane before making their turn. This may mean that the driver should reduce their speed greatly until a cyclist or a row of cyclists pass the intersection and then move in behind the cyclists. Cutting off a cyclist just before the intersection and then having to stop to wait for a pedestrian may cause the cyclists to make a sudden move to avoid running into your vehicle. It may even cause the cyclist to injure themselves if they run into the back of your vehicle.
Using your short term memory is import before going into a bicycle lane. You’ll need to remember if you’ve just passed a cyclist before switching into the bicycle lane. Using your mirrors regularly and having a quick blind spot check will help you spot a cyclist approaching you from behind, especially if you’ve had to slow down tremendously for a pedestrian before making that turn.
If you have to stop and wait for a pedestrian or another cyclist before making your right turn, always check your right blind spot before moving. Another cyclist may be moving quickly toward you; between your vehicle and the curb or perhaps even riding along the sidewalk. A quick blind spot check will allow you to know if you can turn safely. Since the position of your vehicle may not allow you to use your side mirror, a blind spot check will be required.
Always remember that some cyclists are not drivers of motor vehicles. They may not be thinking like a driver and may not be looking out for the dangers from vehicles. It’s your job as a driver to look out for them. Working together means we can all ride and drive safely.
Some additional notes from an experienced cyclist:
Just as drivers need to enter the bike lane to turn right, cyclists will come out of the bike lanes and pass right-hand turning motorists on their left (as they should). Cyclists often move to left side of the right lane as a courtesy to those turning right. Do NOT pass a cyclist on their right (unless you know that they are turning left.)
If someone has parked/stopped in a bike lane, cyclists will need to come out into the adjacent lane to pass that stopped/parked vehicle. Unless you can completely move over to another lane, slow down and wait for the cyclist to complete this manoeuvre and return to the bike lane before making any attempt to pass the cyclists; this is because there will NOT be enough space to share the lane with the bicycle. Lanes next to bike lanes are too narrow to share, and the cyclist will need enough space away from the parked car to be out of the way of the driver’s side door — which is likely to open.
Where there is a bike lane, and even where the is NO bike lane — unless you are driving a bus or are dragging a trailer — you should always pull in as close to the curb as you can before turning right. Doing this will prevent less experienced cyclists from trying to pass you on your right. More experienced cyclists will move towards the middle of the lane as they approach intersections to discourage less-safe drivers from trying to make right-hand turns in front of them; they will move back to the right side of the lane once they are safely through the intersection. If you are slowed down by a cyclists doing this then you can blame those lousy drivers that make a right-hand turns too close in front of cyclists.
Thanks for the added info Anthony!
Also, you should teach your students to use the OPPOSITE hand to open the car door. This forces you to twist in your seat, making it easier to do a shoulder check before opening the door into the path of an on-coming cyclist, car, bus or truck.
So a driver on the left side of the vehicle would reach to open the door with their right hand, and the passenger on the right side would use their left hand to open the door. Passengers also need to look for pedestrians and other obstacles (even cyclists on the sidewalk) before opening their door, too.