Driver plows into bicyclist at JP rotary and then just keeps on going

although poorly designed and constructed traffic systems, roads and throughways can be and often enough are a contributing factor.

Last night I was driving up the expressway when I noticed a car start to drift right. My hand moved for the horn and I prepared to swerve. Good thing - because s/he kept coming and could have run me off the road. I honked and I made a defensive maneuver swerving into the breakdown lane.

You should always be a defensive driver - including (especially?) when you are on a bike.

this isn't victim blaming (the guy in the car is 100% at fault and is a criminal for not stopping). However, it's possible that this could have been avoided if the cyclist looked over her shoulder while going through the rotary exit. Not her responsibility - but preventable by a defensive maneuver in a situation that could have easily killed her.

No blame - not her fault at all. But defensive action could have prevented what was almost a tragedy.

I see this all the time on my corner. I know there is a bike lane so always check for oncoming bikes before turning right. But a lot of people aren't familiar with the area and I'm surprised we don't have more right hooks on that corner as bikes pass turning cars on the right with no consideration for whether or not the car saw them. Not their fault perhaps, but if you don't want to die - I'd suggest watching for and yielding to the turning cars if you are to the right of traffic.

@cinnamngrl, as you say, this is an internet forum. This is not in any way, shape, or form the same as being the first people on the scene trying to help the victim. I absolutely agree with you that lecturing the victim on her cycling style would be an asshole move. It would also be completely inappropriate, say, on her social media accounts, or those of her family, unless she *specifically* asked for such advice.

But this is a public forum, and we are all just kibbitzing here. As a cyclist myself, I want to know what I can do to prevent that from ever happening to me, or to others. One way is to hold motorists accountable for this action, and I'd really like to see the driver here serve jail time at the very least for leaving the scene of a crash, and most likely for culpability in that crash. Another way is to improve facilities to make such collisions less likely. And yes, another way is for us cyclists to ride defensively. Suggesting that cyclists ride defensively is no more victim blaming than suggesting that people lock their doors to prevent being robbed.