The Right Turn Across a Bike Lane
You are driving a sedan in town on a four-lane street with a marked bike lane on the right. You are in the rightmost travel lane, signal on, preparing to turn right into a parking lot. A cyclist is coming up the bike lane behind you at about 15 mph. You are doing 25 mph and are roughly 60 feet from the lot entrance. There is a car close behind you. The cyclist is currently just off your right rear quarter, slightly behind your rear bumper.
1. Who has the right-of-way here, and what is the correct sequence of actions for your turn?
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The cyclist going straight in the bike lane has the right-of-way over your turning vehicle. Correct sequence: (1) signal early (already done), (2) check your right mirror and blind spot for the cyclist, (3) if the cyclist is alongside or close behind in the lane you must cross, slow or stop and let them clear before turning, and (4) turn only when the bike lane is clear. Do not swing wide left and cut across the bike lane in front of the cyclist - that is the classic 'right hook' that causes crashes. Because the cyclist is near your right rear quarter, turning now would cut them off.
2. The car behind you is close. Does that change your obligation to the cyclist?
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No. A tailgater behind you does not give you the right to turn across the cyclist. You may not speed up or cut the corner to 'get out of the way.' If you must wait for the cyclist, wait - a rear-end collision from a tailgater is their fault and generally lower-energy than striking a cyclist. Signal clearly and brake smoothly so the driver behind understands you are slowing. If needed, you can proceed past the lot and turn around later rather than forcing the turn.
3. After the cyclist passes, what final checks should you make before completing the turn?
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Re-check the bike lane and your right blind spot for a second, faster cyclist or a rider filtering up, confirm the lot entrance is clear of pedestrians, and check your mirror for the tailgater before slowing. Then turn at a controlled speed without drifting across the bike lane markings. Treat the bike lane as a travel lane you must not block or cross until it is clear.