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Driver cited in car/bike collision in Newton
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Comments
Alright, who wrote the
Alright, who wrote the comment and signed off as "jordan lewis ring"? The satire is almost outrageous enough to be believable, but who ever wrote it went to far with this line : 'NO ROAD WAS DESIGNED FOR BIKES---NONE!" That right there gave it away, nobody is that stupid.
Wicked Local's Prolific Troll
His/her rants appear under many of the Wicked Local Newton articles. Each are similar in style to his latest rant.
He sure is
You should check him out online. The guy is a lawyer who has been suspended for conduct unbecoming during his divorce. The guy is just a mental midget who spouts off absolute stupidity. I wish him luck in his lawsuit to keep bicyclists from using the roads. I could use the laugh.
Book 'em
Despite the crazy people and those in denial, it's bound to take enforcement to fix caution and some minimal awareness in many drivers' brains. I hope this reckless operator got a MA Chap. 90 Sec. 14 charge that includes, "No person operating a vehicle that overtakes and passes a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall make a right turn at an intersection or driveway unless the turn can be made at a safe distance from the bicyclist at a speed that is reasonable and proper."
That carries a financial fine, and surchargeable, moving violation points. Unlike crimes of passion, wild driving even by supposedly non-wild operators is likely altered by publicized punishment.
Earlier this year, I was similarly j-hooked by a driver passing me and immediately turning in front of me into a restaurant parking lot. I was going downhill at perhaps 25 or 30, braked hard, but still got hit by the turning car and knocked to the pavement. I was livid as well as bruised and in pain, she was in tears, but we ended up discussing it. Despite my being big, colorfully dressed (for safety, I thought) and on a yellow bike, and her just having passed a foot or so beside me, she claimed she didn't think I was going fast enough to have a problem.
I honestly believe that her failures of physics, vectors and solid geometry contributed here. I also believe that if driver know that if they j-hook cyclists, motor cyclists or pedestrians, and then they get the fine, points and maybe worse that would make a difference.
/rant.
Non-cyclist Drivers underestimate the speed capability of bikes
You are definitely onto something here. Non-cyclist drivers either do not appreciate how fast a bike can go or routinely underestimate it or both. As a regular cyclist (and driver) in this area, I can say that I do my best to educate everyone while on my bike by almost always beating the vehicles off the line at lights, and maintaining the lead for at least 100 yards. I can see the expressions of surprise (and I'd like to think a touch of envy) on the drivers when they catch up. The two most dangerous places for this type of J-hooking on Beacon are near the Whole Foods (all of the businesses) and in Newton Centre (which might be the worst for near doorings - I don't know what it is, but the people there throw open driver side doors as if there weren't any vehicles coming, let alone bikes.
N.B., on the topic of bike speed, I am constantly telling my non-cyclist colleagues that in the urban environment, my average speed on the bike is at least as great as that of their car. Two weeks ago, I personally obtained evidence of this. I pulled up next to a Chevy Tahoe at the light at the intersection of Beacon and Centre in Newton Centre (we were heading eastbound). The driver, passengers and I all acknowledged each other because their windows were open.
Both the Tahoe and I obeyed all traffic control devices for the next few minutes. When I got to Beacon and Chestnut Hill Ave., I pulled up next to that same Tahoe, which I had kept in my line of sight pretty much the whole time (I know that it did not stop other than at the lights). For those of you who don't know it, that stretch of Beacon is not really urban, other than the speed being set at 30. There are only 3 lights between our starting and ending point. The expressions on the faces of the driver and passengers were priceless.
A Couple Of Unanswered Questions
1 - Was the motorist signaling an intention to turn?
If so, depending upon the rate of speed of the bicyclist, it could be the bicyclist's fault for not paying attention to that signal and then modifying speed.
2 - Was the bicyclist on the street or on a sidewalk?
I assume the street, but if the sidewalk, well...
Just raising a couple of points that may be salient. These things are not mentioned in the story, one way or the other.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
1 - Was the motorist
With the exception of a sidewalk rider or passing on the right in the same lane, I can't think of a case where that would be relevant. If you're in the left lane and signal to turn right and then turn into the path of someone else in an adjoining lane, you're still at fault, regardless of whether or not you signaled.
Left Lane?
Where do you get that the driver was in the left lane? Left of the cyclist, obviously, since the cyclist was attempting to pass on the right of the motor vehicle, but the motorist was turning into a driveway. From the LEFT LANE? If that's the case, yeah, big time at fault. But nowhere does it say that.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
You're right, I made an assumption
I was picturing a roadway with a bike lane, but nonetheless, from what I gather from the story it appears that the driver turned into the path of the cyclist who was to the right of the driver. That the driver was ticketed makes me assume that she passed the cyclist, either in the same lane or to the left of a bike lane, and then cut in front of her while making her turn. Again though, innocent until yadda yadda yadda.
Neal, there you go again.
Assuming as usual.