Hit by a car while in the cycle lane.

stevencn88

So while out enjoying the lovely Paddys Day weather I was hit by a car. Both traveling in the same direction when the car turned left and hit me (I was in the the cycle lane). The Gards arrived and were unsure if the motorist was at fault as they didn't know the rules of the road around cycle lanes. My understanding is a cycle lane must be kept clear, and can only be temporarily occupied by other road users when not occupied by a cyclest. Has anyone had a similar situation or experience?

The bike is a little scratched but nothing I'd be worried about. Got checked out by a Doc this morning. Right shoulder isn't great and I've an odd tingleing in my hand and elbow.

wench

Did he catch up to you and turn across you, or did you go up the inside of him as he maneuvered?

stevencn88

wench wrote: »

Did he catch up to you and turn across you, or did you go up the inside of him as he maneuvered?

I came up on the left while he was stopped waiting for cars to clear from the entrance to the carpark he was trying to turn into, I was nearly clear of him when he started his maneuver. Should have mentioned above that after the accident I noticed his wing mirror on the passenger side was closed in. So there was no way he was ever going to see me

Wailin

Was he indicating to turn left as you came up on his inside?

Sam Quentin

Wailin wrote: »

Was he indicating to turn left as you came up on his inside?

Good question because if he was(I'm not sure of the law here!?)well you should not have proceeded... So DODGY

stevencn88

Wailin wrote: »

Was he indicating to turn left as you came up on his inside?

Honestly couldn't say either way.

Locotastic

stevencn88 wrote: »

I came up on the left while he was stopped waiting for cars to clear from the entrance to the carpark he was trying to turn into, I was nearly clear of him when he started his maneuver. Should have mentioned above that after the accident I noticed his wing mirror on the passenger side was closed in. So there was no way he was ever going to see me

Did you know he was turning left?

Did he have his indicator on signalling that he was turning left?

A cyclist can overtake a vehicle on the left (or inside of the flow of traffic) if the vehicles to the right are stationary or moving more slowly than the cyclist.

However as a cyclist you cannot overtake on the inside if the vehicle you intend to overtake:

Is signalling an intention to turn to the left and will move to the left before you overtake it

whippet

when undertaking a car you do so at your own risk - you seemed to know that he was turning in to the carpark and yet chose to continue on as if the driver was going to spot you and give way to you.

whippet

stevencn88 wrote: »

Honestly couldn't say either way.

this is the answer to the question then - if you don't know you were not cycling with due car and attention

07Lapierre

If the car was indicating that it was turning left, then you should have passed the car on the right or stopped and given way.

BUT using your indicator does not give a motorist right of way. Their is still an onus on a driver to ensure it is safe before moving.

Was the bike lane clearly marked with a solid white line or was it a broken white line?

stevencn88

To give an idea as to the junction (I hope the link works)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oyoNLbE6m5qwGNw89

Driver was stopped outside of the yellow box when I started to pass him.

Wailin

Broken white line, car more than likely indicating to turn left. Lack of awareness from both parties imo so 50/50.

Thelonious Monk

I don't know why you'd turn left without checking for cyclists first though, if his wing mirror was down this was his fault imo

07Lapierre

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't know why you'd turn left without checking for cyclists first though, if his wing mirror was down this was his fault imo

OP probably wasn't wearing Hi viz!

Stihl waters

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't know why you'd turn left without checking for cyclists first though, if his wing mirror was down this was his fault imo

The same could be said for the cyclist tho, can't say if indicator was on or not, both at fault, all the driver has to say is their indicator was on and it becomes a cyclist undertaking illegally

stevencn88

Stihl waters wrote: »

The same could be said for the cyclist tho, can't say if indicator was on or not, both at fault, all the driver has to say is their indicator was on and it becomes a cyclist undertaking illegally

So would the fact he was stopped and behind the yellow box (in the above Google map link) when I started to pass him make any odds?? Was it an illigal undertaking?

zell12

On a wee tangent,
Imagine instead of a cycle lane, it was a bus lane.
A double decker is travelling along, car in regular lane indicates left, takes a left and bus hits car.
Who would be responsible, why is it different than a pedal cycle? or is it the broken/solid white line differential?

Wailin

zell12 wrote: »

On a wee tangent,
Imagine instead of a cycle lane, it was a bus lane.
A double decker is travelling along, car in regular lane indicates left, takes a left and bus hits car.
Who would be responsible, why is it different than a pedal cycle? or is it the broken/solid white line differential?

Well, for one thing, a bus wouldn't plough through a junction without stopping.

stevencn88

zell12 wrote: »

On a wee tangent,
Imagine instead of a cycle lane, it was a bus lane.
A double decker is travelling along, car in regular lane indicates left, takes a left and bus hits car.
Who would be responsible, why is it different than a pedal cycle? or is it the broken/solid white line differential?

My understanding was that a motorist can enter a cycle lane with a broken white line as long as it is clear/safe to do so and a continuous white line they can't?

martyc5674

whippet wrote: »

this is the answer to the question then - if you don't know you were not cycling with due car and attention

Ah that’s hardly fair- I can’t remember every detail about my drives or cycles- doesn’t mean I wasn’t giving due attention at the time. You get clipped by a car you go into shock a little, your not necessarily going to remember every detail.

OP if this goes to court or you give a statement- choose your words carefully, the above response will give you an idea of how your views can be dismissed/twisted very easily.(that’s not a dig at whippet)

Wailin

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I don't know why you'd turn left without checking for cyclists first though, if his wing mirror was down this was his fault imo

According to the original poster. Seriously though, who drives around with a folded wing mirror?

Thelonious Monk

Stihl waters wrote: »

The same could be said for the cyclist tho, can't say if indicator was on or not, both at fault, all the driver has to say is their indicator was on and it becomes a cyclist undertaking illegally

Yeah but one person is in a machine that can kill, onus should be on them to check before turning.

Wailin

martyc5674 wrote: »

OP if this goes to court or you give a statement- choose your words carefully, the above response will give you an idea of how your views can be dismissed/twisted very easily.(that’s not a dig at whippet)

Compo culture at it's finest. You sound like an expert.

stevencn88

Wailin wrote: »

According to the original poster. Seriously though, who drives around with a folded wing mirror?

A very old man who hit me with his car!

martyc5674

Wailin wrote: »

Compo culture at it's finest. You sound like an expert.

Expert I ain’t in that field!!

whippet

stevencn88 wrote: »

A very old man who hit me with his car!

How did you notice this ore accident and not note the indicator .. or maybe you bumped the wing mirror when you hit the car and it folded in ?

secman

"The Gards arrived and were unsure if the motorist was at fault as they didn't know the rules of the road around cycle lanes"
This wasn't very encouraging from a cyclists perspective !

07Lapierre

stevencn88 wrote: »

My understanding was that a motorist can enter a cycle lane with a broken white line as long as it is clear/safe to do so and a continuous white line they can't?

I don't think the law is that "black & white". Car can't cross a solid white line. A broken white line ....yes, "as long as it's safe to do so". But the same applies to cyclists.

Buddy Bubs

I cycle to work once a week and I'm a motorist too so I'm on both sides of the fence here.....hinges on whether the indicator was on or not as to where the fault lies in my opinion.

However, I'm a bit confused as to how there's a left turn into somewhere that goes through the bike lane. Any junctions I've seen the bike lane ceases to exist for a while.

Grey area really and without all the facts hard to determine who is right and who is wrong here.

stevencn88

martyc5674 wrote: »

Ah that’s hardly fair- I can’t remember every detail about my drives or cycles- doesn’t mean I wasn’t giving due attention at the time. You get clipped by a car you go into shock a little, your not necessarily going to remember every detail.

OP if this goes to court or you give a statement- choose your words carefully, the above response will give you an idea of how your views can be dismissed/twisted very easily.(that’s not a dig at whippet)

Can't see myself going the route of a claim. Honestly just trying to figure out who's at fault so I can learn from it myself. But I appreciate the advice.

magicbastarder

stevencn88 wrote: »

My understanding was that a motorist can enter a cycle lane with a broken white line as long as it is clear/safe to do so and a continuous white line they can't?

motorists are not allowed drive or park *in* mandatory cycle lanes, but they can cross them for access.