I've had it with the right hook

In each of my last 2 rides I have been right hooked by a car. I don't know if it counts if I don't get hit, but they were too close to call. Whether it counts or not, it's an incredibly dangerous and selfish move that seriously injures or kills. I am not sure if it's illegal to right hook around a cyclist, but I am so fed up with it that I want to call my state rep to suggest that it becomes illegal in Illinois.

Is it possible well-intentioned people aren't aware of how dangerous it is? Should there be an ad campaign to educate people?

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 22, 2018 at 2:46am

I feel your pain. It's a regular occurrence on my rides, too. Yes, turning right in front of a cyclists is illegal. It's no different than turning right in front of a bus.

Permalink Reply by David P. on October 22, 2018 at 4:45am
It is illegal, and it is certain that many people who drive but don't ride bikes in the city don't know how dangerous it is. It would seem obvious - we're talking about bodies - but it isn't.
Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on October 22, 2018 at 5:55am

I was able to find the municipal code for that in Chicago, but could not for Illinois. What I would like to know is if I catch someone doing it with my camera, can I turn it in?

Permalink Reply by Sean Newby on October 22, 2018 at 8:14am

not unless you've entered into a kickback scheme, i mean "administrative revenue sharing program" with the city.

after all, the city needs to know that you haven't manipulated the image or the equipment in order to capture and report violations.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on October 22, 2018 at 5:27am

I did some bike riding in Urbana this weekend. Lovely place to ride. But on the Champaign side of town, the concept of "allowing the cyclist in front of you to pass through the intersection before you turn right instead of speeding past the cyclist so that you can turn right in front of him" seemed to be a foreign concept to some drivers.

Permalink Reply by Andy J on October 22, 2018 at 7:54am

No need to go all the way to Urbana for that kind of treatment - I got the same in Highland Park a few weeks ago. 

Like a previous poster mentioned, Chicago has a statute on the books, but once you get out to the ‘burbs, you’re SOL. 

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on October 22, 2018 at 6:04am

https://www.lifeordeathillinois.com


IDOT's 'Life or Death Campaign'.

https://chi.streetsblog.org/2018/06/09/idots-life-or-death-campaign...

Oooh, I didn't see you! campaign. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 22, 2018 at 8:46am

Right hooks and doorings are the most common types of crashes here in the Chicago area.

I've had some close calls myself. 

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on October 22, 2018 at 3:47pm

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh... 

Right turns:  Vehicle must be as close to the curb as possible.  Does not mention yielding to bicycles or pedestrians in crosswalk.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on October 23, 2018 at 3:36am

Here's the Chicago Municipal Code:

§ 9-16-020  Turning at intersections.

(f)   Turning right in front of a bicycle. When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street, or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.

Permalink Reply by Phillip Hutchinson on October 23, 2018 at 6:25am

Unfortunately, many drivers seem to think that a few feet in front of you is "safely clear" and at that point they're free to change lanes/turn/slam on their brakes as they please, and it's the cyclists job to avoid them. 

This is most prevalent in situations where drivers approaching an intersection will accelerate to to get ahead of a cyclist before turning right. This type of behavior is unlikely to be considered illegal by most cops, and most drivers don't know or care if they're putting a cyclist in danger because in their mind, once they've passed them it's no longer their problem. 

Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on October 25, 2018 at 9:36am

Yeah... like this morning, a small SUV with an Old St. Mary's decal on the back (now I know they are not so holy) was going north on Wabash. It started to slow down from traffic that had stopped at the light on Wabash and 14th... no blinker, just a sudden jerking at the wheel as I was passing them on the bike lane. I swerved so I wouldn't get hit on my left side. I got honked at and I just waved. Entitlement. 

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