Description
I watched yet another cyclist get hit by a car at the Bow & Summer intersection. Fortunately he fell clear of the car's wheels, but it could have been very very bad. This intersection needs to be fixed ASAP, before someone gets seriously injured.
The issue is this:
Cars who are traveling northwest on Bow and taking the right fork onto Summer St do NOT realize that they are making a right turn, and need to yield to bike traffic "continuing" to the left on Bow.
In the situation yesterday, the car half-passed the biker from behind, and then right-hooked him as the biker tried to continue in his lane to the left.
The design of this intersection is so obviously terrible — please please fix it before someone ends up in the hospital...
20 Comments
cambia (Guest)
nikibrown (Registered User)
skrap (Registered User)
niki, I get what you're saying, but please be very careful not to give the appearance of blaming the victim. I don't think it's what you meant, but it could be read that way.
The driver in this case was clearly at fault.
nikibrown (Registered User)
Acknowledged Heather (Registered User)
Good Morning,
Thank You all for reaching out to the City about this issue. I have created a work order 289700 so the engineering dept can investigate this area. As soon as I have any information I will inform you all . Have A Great Day.
Bill Fitzgerald (Registered User)
+1 voice to how badly this needs attention.
As an occasional driver through this I've been confused about how I'll be getting to Summer, and then had to make a snap decision to turn right. This is very dangerous to cyclists - most drivers will not make that snap decision with proper care.
I agree that sharrows would be better than lanes here, but only because the lanes give cyclists's a false sense of security. While taking the lane is the safest thing for cyclists to do here, it's not something the more timid cyclists will do, and they're the ones who need to be accommodated safely and properly.
Eric woods (Registered User)
I believe I was the biker mentioned in this post (hi Jonah!). I did signal at this intersection, even though I technically shouldn't have to, but cars are often going too fast to safely merge into that lane, and usually don't signal one way or the other.
I think the bike lane can stay as long as the entire intersection is redesigned so you actually turn right to go onto summer st. That said, paint is easier, and perhaps removing the bike lane entirely would make things safer, especially given the awkward angled parking that precedes the intersection.
neil (Registered User)
Donal Waide (Registered User)
Ms. Richards (Registered User)
Not for nothing, but I think it needs to be said that sometimes cyclists need NOT to be more assertive/aggressive to "claim" their traffic rights, but a little more cautious. I know it sucks - bc everyone (drivers and cyclists) likes to fly around unimpeded - but just as drivers need to drive defensively - ie, yielding even when they shouldn't "have" to to avoid an accident - so do cyclists. Sometimes that means even braking! A spindly little bike with an exposed human on it is going to take the worst of it in a collision. Everyone needs to just chill and offer each other a little leeway in sucky traffic sitches. If your "rights" are trampled...well, better that than your hide.
It's just traffic, right?
Ms. Richards (Registered User)
Bill Fitzgerald (Registered User)
Claudia Mastroianni (Registered User)
Ms. Richards (Registered User)
gnaff9093 (Registered User)
In this case you can be both right and dead. Think about it!
Ms. Richards (Registered User)
CaptainCyclist (Registered User)
Ms. Richards (Registered User)
Concerned Cantabrigian (Registered User)
Ben (Registered User)