Right on Red With a Bike Lane and a Distracted Pedestrian
You are southbound on a four-lane street in Fort Collins at 7:40 a.m. and want to turn right at a red light onto a two-way street. There is no 'No Turn on Red' sign. A cyclist in the marked bike lane to your left is approaching at about 15 mph. On the corner, a pedestrian pulling a rolling suitcase stands near the curb, facing away from the crosswalk. The cross-street light is green, and a silver SUV has pulled up close behind you-close enough that its grille fills your mirror. A parked delivery van blocks your view of the crosswalk to the right. You have been stopped for about five seconds. Your coffee is in the cup holder, your phone is in the console, and you are already late.
1. May you legally turn right on red at this intersection, and what must you do before your front tires cross the stop line?
Read the worked answer
Yes-right on red is allowed in Colorado after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it, and there is no such sign here. But the turn is not a free right. You must yield to pedestrians in or entering the crosswalk and to vehicles lawfully using the roadway you are entering. The cyclist in the bike lane is through traffic, so you must let the cyclist pass or wait for a safe gap; turning across the bike lane would cut off the cyclist. The parked delivery van blocks your view to the right, so after stopping you should creep forward only until you can see past it, then stop again if necessary. The SUV behind you does not create a right to turn.
2. The pedestrian is standing near the curb but facing away, and your view of the crosswalk is partly blocked. Do you have to wait, and how should you handle the limited view?
Read the worked answer
You do not automatically have to wait for a pedestrian who is merely standing near the corner and shows no intent to cross. But 'facing away' is not a guarantee. Watch for a turn of the head, a step toward the curb, or the suitcase moving toward the crosswalk. Because the delivery van hides part of the crosswalk, you cannot know whether someone else-a child, a runner, or a second pedestrian-is already in it. The safe rule is to stop at the limit line, creep until you can see, and turn only when you can see the whole crosswalk and the bike lane. If you cannot see, wait; a few seconds is cheaper than a collision.
3. The driver behind you honks because you have not turned. What is the safest response, and what should you do after you complete the turn?
Read the worked answer
The horn does not transfer right of way. Your job is to wait for a safe gap and a clear crosswalk; if that means sitting through the light or missing the turn, that is the correct outcome. Do not wave the SUV around, do not accelerate into the bike lane, and do not brake-check after turning. Once you turn, accelerate smoothly to the flow of traffic and give the tailgater room to pass or fall back. If the driver follows you closely or aggressively, drive to a public place, such as a gas station or police station, and do not go home. Pressure from behind is a reason to be more deliberate, not less.