Help a driver out...

I am a cycle commuter...in the suburbs. I'm not really experienced with today's bike lakes in the city of Chicago. I used to ride in the city in the late eighties/early nineties when there were no bike lanes and it was less confusing (for me anyway).

This summer I visited the city and was driving around on the near northwest side there was lots of bike traffic even in in the late afternoon on a Wednesday. At one point I wanted to make a right turn but I could see in my right rear view mirror several bikes approaching the intersection from behind me. They were in the bike lane and I did not want to cut them off or "drive in the bike lane". There were cars behind me but  I waited for the bikes to pass (on the right). I was at the intersection and I believe that the marked bike lane ends just before that point but still I did not want to pull in front of the cyclists (camaraderie). This really irritated the drivers behind me and they started honking. Then as soon as the the bikes past one driver then another passed aggressively on the right in what I perceived as the bike lane. Is it OK for the driver to move the right at the intersection to prepare for a right turn and if so how soon can one do this?

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on October 17, 2015 at 5:37am
Just take your turn when a reasonable opening occures. Be respectfully assertive so as not to offend tailing motorists.
*signal right turn.
*move to the right turning lane near the curb (this is a shared area near the intersection).
*check your rearview mirrors to check that no one is sneaking thru on your right.
*proceed to turning right into the intersection after you have checked that it is clear to proceed in that direction.
Permalink Reply by Steve G on October 17, 2015 at 5:49am

Tom's response is right. I just want to add that the law does indeed give bikes the right of way in this case, and that many drivers don't know the law, while other drivers disagree, or don't care, so maybe that's why they're blowing their horns. ;)

And thanks.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on October 17, 2015 at 8:28am

I think I would pull my car to the right enough to leave plenty of room for the bicycles to pass, but not enough room for a car to pass on the right.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on October 17, 2015 at 10:11am

+1.

As soon as the solid line becomes a dashed line, you can move over into a gap of bicycles.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 19, 2015 at 6:01am

Move as far right at the intersection as possible and rely on riders seeing your turn signal to know you are turning and either stop behind you or pass on the left. Only the most pedantic sociopaths or distracted riders will insist on trying to pass you on the right, but keep an eye out for them because they are pretty numerous.

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