Tips for urban riding around large trucks.

[MCL1981]

Works nicely for commuter buses in DC too. Never ever ever pull up the right side of a bus.

You told me this when I first started commuting. And it stuck in my head. And every day when I see a bus or truck, I see your avatar saying "never ever pass a bus on the right!". And there are many occasions where I stopped myself, usually when the bus is at a red light. I could pass it along the shoulder and get ahead. But I never do it. Other cyclicsts will pass me in the should and do it. And I always say, out loud, oh my god they're going to die."

[DCLiz]

Thank you for posting this. I personally did not realize the dangers of being in a bike lane standing to the right of a bus/truck until now. I took Confident City Cycling 1 & 2 two years ago -- I don't recall learning this information. If it hasn't been already, how to cycle near large vehicles should be included in the curriculum.

[DSalovesh]

What about this?

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/truck-...econstruction/

[RESTONTODC]

I saw this video on CNN's Dr Gupta reports. Here's an another deadly accident between cyclist and truck. I can't believe NYPD gave more tickets to cyclists than truck drivers.

I'm also seeing many distracted dump truck drivers on their phone in DC.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#...for-action.cnn

[creadinger]

In my experience after several years of commuting, weekend rides and touring I have found that dump truck drivers tend to be the worst! They consistently pass well within the 3ft distance required by law and rarely if ever slow down. Semi-truck drivers aren't so bad. Getting passed by semis usually sucks, but they at least seem to have respect for the size of their vehicles and know what they can do if they get too close to bikers.

The dump truck idiots (driving school flunkees) on the other hand - they just don't give a crap. Part of the problem is in how they're paid. Many of them are paid by how many loads they haul in a day so slowing down to safely pass a cyclist is not economically viable. Especially if they want to pick up a couple of cases of the High Life on the way home.

If I'm out riding and notice a lot of dump trucks traversing back and forth on the road I was planning to take, I'll usually pull out my smart phone and try to find another way.

[justasaintz]

It's interesting that you cited the NY article. I was wondering if its the same with DC police.

One observation that I constantly see and wonder is - Do police care whether the motor vehicle driver is wrong or not? Minor details add a lot to the situation.

The same thing came up when reading the article about big rigs. I absolutely agree that the safety of a cyclist lies with none other than the cyclist-self. However, we live in a "land of law" (atleast supposedly!), if the trucker did not give a signal atleast 50ft (or is it 100ft) before turning, that would count as an illegal turn (or do people even read manuals these days?), In which case the driver has to be cited - Is it still the case?

Why would cyclists cross a truck that is giving a signal turn?

[RESTONTODC]

Why would cyclists cross a truck that is giving a signal turn?

I watched the video again but didn't see the truck turn signal. It's a dumb idea when passing a truck on the right if the truck has a turn signal, even in a car.