deeg_quest

On my normal commute route today, I was cruising straight through an intersection on a green light at about 20 mph, when I noticed a car approaching the intersection from the other direction signaling left. I figured he was turning left at the light and he would be safely behind me. However, he suddenly turns left into the 7 eleven parking lot about 75 feet before the intersection. I lock my brakes and power slide towards the lane of traffic with enough force to taco a normal road bike rim (Fortunately I have heavy duty rims). I miss the side and rear tire of the car by probably less than 1 foot. Saving myself from a hard fall, I get my foot unclipped and “wheelie” around 180 degrees.
The car then continues into the parking lot and stops. I take a few moments to check my bike and regain my wits while I wait to see if the drivers says anything or checks on me. I don’t normally confront people, but since he didn’t approach me, I decided to go to him. I wasn’t really mad even though I could have very easily been seriously injured. I figured he would say something like “Sorry, I didn’t see you”.
When I approached him I said “You almost hit me when you turned”. To my surprise he said “I know I saw you, why didn’t you stop when you saw I was turning”. Now I was irritated. I explained that he could have killed my and that I had the right of way because I was going straight and he was turning left. I could tell you more about the “dialog” but I realized it was going nowhere when he pointed out even though the light was green, the crosswalk light was red and I should slow down and stop. He was also quite aggressive in his behavior and words. To top it off his girlfriend (?) comes back out of the 7 eleven to say, “why are you coming over and talking to us when you weren’t even hit”. Maybe I should have called the police, but I didn’t think it would be worth it.

Lessons learned?
• Get my phone/camera out before confronting people (to take pictures and call police if needed).
• Get license plate number.
• Where a helmet cam (to capture the moment).
• Other advice?

BTW, I was riding in Portland, OR. Even though Portland is “bike friendly” from an infrastructure standpoint (there was a bike lane where I was riding), there are still a lot of bad and ignorant drivers, making it just a dangerous as any other city.

Telly

Plain ignorance which of course will eventually get the driver and/or someone else hurt or killed.

If >>I<< were in the above situation, I would take it to the next level and call the police since the driver is a menace to everyone on the road, BUT I wouldn't do it where I live since the LEO's here don't take cyclists seriously and I doubt they would even show up.

Glad you and your ride weren't hurt!

Burton

The only 'rules of the road' some people live by are 'you're next - right after me!'.

From a police point of view, an 'accident' legally needs to involve contact between two objects, even if there is no damage. Used to be an accident report wouldn't be filled out if there was less than $50 worth of damage unless there were injuries.

But if you even THOUGHT you had touched the car and weren't sure if you were unhurt - that could've wrapped up a couple hours of his time and possibly resulted in a police report.

xenologer

re: other advice;
locking brakes and 'power sliding' is actually going to increase your stopping distance. learn to do emergency endo stops. -focus on keeping the bike pointed straight. Do Not touch the rear brake at all, as this may induce a rear skid that prevents you from keeping the bike straight. Brace yourself with both hands on the bars and scoot back in the saddle. Squeeze the front brake hard enough to raise the rear wheel off the ground, but modulate your power to ride the edge between going over the bars, and a balanced endo. This is the fastest possible way to stop in an emergency.
practice practice practice the technique so you can do it instinctually before having a repeat incident.
the distance saved in stopping may well save your life


and it sounds like that driver is an idiot, who will never be educated no matter how hard you try.
best not to lose sleep over it, just focus on the stuff you can control - see above

scroca

... and who's idiocy is reinforced by his equally idiotic friend.

whk1992

Just a little thought:

Selfish people always take advantage of others. It's a flaw related our society, I guess. Basically, most cities are patrolled by very small amount of law enforcements with respect to the population. (Exceptions include Pyongyang.) Then, idiots (or in some senses, smarties cuz they play the game well) may ignore rules and maximize their benefits, since police is not always around.

Preventive methods are always the best way to protect yourself. It's pointless to set camera and capture the moment, assuming that your goal is to survive. What if a car crushes you at high speed? You'll probably die right they way. The cam does record the moment of collision, and the driver is likely to be prosecuted. However, you'll be dead anyway.

Stay alert. When you see a car approaching, yield the car before the driver yields. Remember that the vehicle's occupants are shielded by metals vs your bike is shielded by your flesh.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I find it best to always assume that everyone in a car is a moron. That way I'm never disappointed.

Ns1

+infinity

HardyWeinberg

I am coming to think that a constant-on video-cam is as important as a helmet for commuting.

Bluish Green

+1

Ride defensively and assume idiocy.

If driver intelligence is normally distributed, and you do a lot of riding in traffic, you will eventually cross paths with the one guy at the left tail end of the curve. Sounds like you met him and his equally clueless friend the other day. Glad your skills saved you.

Telly

Allow me to agree and paraphrase that.... "I find it best to always assume that everyone in a car is a moron. That way I'm never disappointed."
Present company excluded of course!

JoeyBike

One more level of correction please:

...everyone in a car is a moron AND/OR distracted AND/OR drunk/high.

Telly

your forgot texting/talking on the cellphone! lol

JoeyBike

I figured that was covered under "distracted". Texting, blocking peripheral vision with cellphone at ear, applying makeup, attending kids/pets, reading the newspaper, tweezing nose hairs, whatever holds a persons attention other than paying attention to the windscreen and mirrors for events occurring outside of the vehicle.

GrouchoWretch

It is so tempting to knee a guy like that in the solar plexus.

whk1992

Your correction wouldn't be necessary.

Drinking/Being high/Being distracted while operating a vehicle is very idiotic, which makes the operator a moron.

so... everyone in a vehicle is a moron.

I-Like-To-Bike

I agree with you, both serve equally valuable purposes for bicycle commuting.

cyccommute 

Sorry but no. Moving your center of gravity rearward is the correct action. Not using the rear brake is incorrect. Using the rear brake doesn't cause the rear wheel to skid but not moving your center of gravity far enough rearward so that the rear wheel can lift off the ground does. When you do move your center of gravity rearward, you increase the effectiveness of both brakes. Although most of your braking power comes from the front wheel, the rear does have a contribution until it loses contact with the ground. That contribution is about 20% in a 'normal' riding position and more when the center of gravity is moved back.

You are correct that a sliding wheel is harder to control but the answer to that problem is to not let the rear wheel slide. But you can brake with the rear brake and not slide the rear wheel by using a technique that every mountain biker learns within the first 10 miles (or less) of off-road riding. When the rear wheel starts to skid, let up on the front brake. This will transfer weight from the front wheel back to the rear wheel, puts the rear wheel back in contact with the ground and allows you to control the bike.

You are correct that you should concentrate on the things you can control. Just learn how to control them better...see above.

squegeeboo

I'm confused, were you on the sidewalk? Otherwise what does the crosswalk light have to do with any of this, besides to show just how ignorant the driver was?

Mr. Hairy Legs

I thought the same thing, but didn't dare to ask.

HardyWeinberg

Aren't you a sarcastic one.

nelson249

Round here the cops would do bugger all (can I say bugger?). No one was hit, no one injured and they wouldn't bother getting out of their cruiser.

xenologer

My assumption is that the op was in the road; however the driver is under the missimpression that bikes belong on the sidewalk and are thus governed by pedestrian signals.
No point trying to make sense of it, the guy's got flawed/ignorant logic.

GrouchoWretch

I hope his girlfriend drowns him in the bathtub next time he passes out on Busch Light.

deeg_quest

Yes, I was in the road. This is when I realized this was a hopeless discussion with the driver. I had already explained I had the same right of way as a car. Also I was not in the intersection anyway but crossing in front of a driveway after the intersection. So, I guess if I was walking, he thinks it's okay to run you over too if the crosswalk light behind you is red.