Certainly a crappy attitude, but I do have some comments about the incident that caused the kid to ask for action. I hate when a cyclist gets dinged (or worse) by a driver doing a "normal" action. The cyclist must have been in front of the line. A normal risk analysis while waiting for light is always required.
Is there someone behind me who wants to turn right that doesn't know i here?
Is there someone coming from the right who wants to turn right and might not realize I am here?
What is the speed limit for cross traffic so I can calculate how likely it is that someone I can't see is going to blow the light?
What are the left turn patterns here, who has green when we have green?
I would like to know the specific geometry and timing of the accident, because I am very cynical and wonder why she didn't stop when she saw the car turning left, or veer to the left hard, etc. these types of accidents so often have an action that a good bike handler could take. If you aren't a good bike handler then I don't think you should mixing it up on busy streets. And when a driver does what he normally would do if you weren't there, then that is something you can prevent. It is the driver who does the random act that are tricky. Driving wrong way on one way street, blowing red lights or stop signs, driving on the sidewalk, etc. those are a bitch to predict and prepare for. But someone turning left on a green? That is a normal action, and you have to watch for it.
I am overly sensitive right now because a guy at work had a run in a couple weeks ago. He was riding two abreast on the left and a kid pulled out turing left cross their face. One guy saw it coming (hmmm, there is a car at the intersection, we are shadowed in his A Pillar, I bet he cant see us, be ready) and stopped. The second guy just kept riding and splat. Broken bones. Clearly the car driving kids fault, but was certainly preventable by simply getting out of the way. I am fine with the attitude of "my road too", but do not tolerate the surprise that even when a cyclist has the right of way they lose huge to cars.
Again, I am pro cycling, and really pro bike commute, but the larger object always has physical right of way, and you need to be ready to ditch.
Doen whining. Would go for a ride, but I am too bid a weenie to ride in temps below 40.
