 |
 |
The Right Hook
The right hook is not what you’ll need to catch a prize-winning fish, nor is it a boxing term.
It is something that can and does happen to cyclists far too often. It is a dangerous situation that can easily be avoided by using correct Effective Cycling practices.
Here is a typical scenario.
You’re riding your bicycle and intending on proceeding straight at the next intersection, but you’re riding on the far right side of the road.
A car passes you and then tries to make a right turn directly in front of you. Sometimes the driver doesn’t see you and turns right into you. Most of the time the driver
thinks you're not going very fast because you're on a bicycle. He/she doesn’t realize that there isn’t enough distance between his car and your bicycle to pass safely. Nor
does he realize that he can't pass you in time. To avoid the impending collision you slam on your brakes to avoid hitting the car. This kind of collision is extremely difficult
to avoid because you usually don't see it happening until the last second – and because there's nowhere for you to go when it does happen.
|
|
Here are some things you can do to avoid this dilemma.
1. Take the lane when approaching an intersection. If the lane you're in isn't wide enough to share (e.g.: for
cars to pass you safely), then you should be taking the lane anyway. By taking the lane it is harder for cars to pass you and then turn into or in front of you.
2. If you’re riding in a wide lane or in a bike lane, it is more difficult to “take the lane”, and Georgia law does not clearly permit bicyclists to take the lane in
these circumstances. If you stay to the far right while crossing an intersection, you should be prepared at all times to react to avoid a right-turning car. Look over
your shoulder or glance in your mirror before approaching an intersection. If a motor vehicle is approaching from behind, or is coming up alongside you, assume it is
turning right until you are certain it is not. Do not rely on its turn signal. Unless you are clearly far enough ahead of the car to avoid their right turn, prepare
to slow or stop as they pass you and turn right.
3. Cardinal rule: Never proceed through an intersection alongside a car, or near its right rear bumper. It is impossible to be right-hooked if you avoid that position!
4. Don't ride on the sidewalk. When you come off the sidewalk to cross the street you're invisible to motorists. Motorists are looking for pedestrians on the sidewalk,
not faster moving bicyclists.
There is another type of right-hook situation that is caused by the cyclist. How many times have you seen, or worse,
done the following? You're passing a slow-moving car (or even another cyclist) on the right, when the driver (or cyclist) unexpectedly makes a right turn right into you.
Here are some
things you can do to avoid this situation.
1. Don't pass on the right. This collision is very easy to avoid. Always remember to never pass a moving vehicle on the right. If a car ahead of you is traveling slower than you’d like,
just slow down and stay behind it. It will eventually start moving faster. If it doesn't, pass on the left when it's safe to do so.
2. If several cars are stopped at a light, and there is clear space for a virtual bike lane to the right of the cars, then you can try passing on the right – cautiously. Remember that
the driver may suddenly decide to turn right into a driveway, or someone can suddenly open the passenger door as they exit the car. Also remember that if you pass on the right and traffic
starts moving again, you may find yourself closer to moving traffic than is comfortable or safe.
Staying safe on the roads is a full time job. To make your cycling both safe and enjoyable always be alert and aware of what’s happening around you. These and other important traffic pointers are included in ABC’s popular Effective Cycling classes. Consider taking one of the up-coming classes this season, even if you’ve been riding for years!
Click here to return to the Effective Cycling page.
Click here to see the upcoming schedule of Effective Cycling classes.