LoriRose

Hi all, I have just started commuting in a big city and have discovered that I completely suck at sticking out my left arm to signal and keeping a straight line. I keep swerving to the left. BAD IDEA I know. Luckily my commute is exclusively restricted to bike paths but I'm probably freaking out some of the other riders. I know I will get better with practice, but I'm wondering if there is a trick to maintaining a straight line. I can control the bike with my just left hand no problem, but oddly, even though I am right handed, letting go of the left side screws me up. It seems weird that I have spent hours upon hours on my bike (when I was younger), yet this simple skill has eluded me. Any suggestions?

howsteepisit

Its a skill that you need to practice to master. Practice riding while signaling in an empty parking lot for an hour or so. It can be mastered.

FBinNY 

There is a trick of sorts, and that's to relax and let the bike steer a straight line by itself. Bikes will steer in the direction of any lean, plus humans are programed to steer where they're looking. So as you stick out your arm, you're thinking left and steering that way.

Over time, you'll learn to disconnect your head and arm motion from your intended steering action, but it's a learned art, like not jumping when someone says BOO!!!

LoriRose

Hi howsteepitis, thanks. Yes I realize it takes practice. My question was for any OTHER advice.

LoriRose

Shoot. I still jump when someone says boo. I'm doomed.

Chris516

On a ped/bike path, you don't need to 'announce' it with your arm. Just say, 'On your left'.

LoriRose

I disagree. I live in Montreal and we have many bike paths/lanes downtown. Some are to left of traffic, some to the right (depending of course on which way you are going). There is a left turn I need to do from the right side of traffic to the left side. If I do not signal that I will be turning left someone faster might try and pass me on the left.

LoriRose

Ok, after giving it some thought I am really not sure what I am supposed to do at this intersection. I need to turn left from a two-way bike lane to the right of traffic to a two-way bike lane to the left of traffic. If the light is green, then there will be many cyclists heading straight through, but I need to turn left and check for traffic coming up from behind on my left - so I need to at minimum slow down and maybe even stop and wait until I can turn safely. If the light is red, I can turn safely but I think it might be illegal as the local laws say I must obey traffic lights like any other vehicle. I need to figure this out. Help!

Chris516

Well, Being on the road, is entirely different. So, Yes, Signal with your arm.

When you say "left of traffic", where specifically are they?

If you are about to make a left turn, 'take the lane' in the turn. So, They don't try to pass you in the turn. Then, Once you have completed your turn, they can pass.

LoriRose

I can't take the lane because the bike lanes are protected. Apparently I am not the only one concerned about this setup. The following .pdf shows my dilemma, i.e., this is the actual intersection I take (starting on pg. 11 Berri Street /Maisonneuve Boulevard ):

https://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/annua...13/kellner.pdf

I need to take a left (head north) on Berri coming from de maisonneuve. So far I just follow other riders and hope they know what they are doing - but it makes me pretty nervous.

Chris516

You can 'take the lane'. By getting out of the 'protected bike lanes', and into the left turn-only lane, a block before you have to make the left-turn. You also have get nerves of steel for riding within the traffic-flow, of the motorized traffic.

LoriRose

If you look at the pdf you will see that it's a one-way going in the opposite direction. (I was mistaken earlier thinking I would have traffic coming from behind to negotiate). So if I took your suggestion I would be riding against the flow of traffic, which of course is not safe. I'm thinking just take take a street that doesn't have bike lanes - at least it would be straight-forward.

mobilemail

You should also watch for this when looking behind you to check for traffic.

CliffordK

It all takes practice.

You need to look behind yourself before initiating a left hand turn. A signal alone isn't enough.

I never signal a turn until I'm sure I have a clear path to move left... at which point signalling and moving left is just fine

kickstart

Observe what other cyclists are doing there and which are having the least problems.
Be wary of asking advice here about a specific situation as some will simply use it as an excuse to pontificate their favorite one-size-fits-all solution.

mr_bill

First, I didn't see anyone (well anyone but me) use hand signals on the two-way cycle tracks in Montreal or Vancouver - not saying it wouldn't be wise, but the locals communicated their intentions in other ways.

Which is lane position - even in a bike lane, right side of center of your lane for right turns and through, left side center of your lane for left turns.

And the locals also sorted through the intersections quite well. I didn't see *anyone* in an intersection overtaking a left turning cyclist on the left of the turning cyclist! That would be - bad, very bad.

(The locals even gave room to the "inexperienced" cyclist who was trying to figure out just how do I make a left turn here? Vancouver's version of Rue Berri et Boulevard Maissonneuve is Dunsmuir & Hornby.)

Watch what other people are doing - and pretty much do that.


To the other problem - practice just removing one hand or the other while maintaining your line - look where you want to go, which is straight ahead.
Second, add in the point - but keep looking straight.
And remember, you don't need to be signalling *while* you are turning, before you turn is often enough.

(Somewhat related - practice the head check over the left shoulder and over the right shoulder while maintaining your line. And a mirror might be helpful too. You shouldn't be worried about traffic behind you because you should *know* about the traffic behind you. There's no need to guess. You've got plenty of time approaching the intersection to figure out who is where.)

-mr. bill

spare_wheel

It's absolutely fine to not feel comfortable riding one handed while signalling -- this can take practice. You can always try slowing down and changing or crossing lanes as a pedestrian-cyclist.

FBinNY 

To the OP,

I'm not going to debate whether hand signals are necessary where you are. That's your call as captain of your own ship.

But regardless of that issue, being able to hold your line at all times is possibly the most valuable skill for riding in traffic. That means being to ride straight one handed with either hand, with your head turned, while watching something on or along the road, after recovering from an emergency maneuver, ie around a deep pothole), or at any other time.

Being able to hold your line makes you predictable to passing traffic, and gives you the confidence that your bike will always go where you want it to.

There's no easy answer except to understand why you veer when signaling, and to consciously compensate until you establish the mental/physical disconnect that makes it automatic. That and practice and confidence building over time. If you're having trouble improving, find a quiet place like an empty parking lot with painted lines and practice riding on or close to the lines both normally, then while signaling or turning your head.

badger1

+1 I was going to add: do you have a tendency to 'death grip' your bars? If so, try to relax it a little -- especially when signalling.

kickstart

It could also partly be a fit, or bike issue. Incorrect fit can make a bike handle poorly, and/or the style of bike might not be a good match for the cyclists physical needs.

LoriRose

Thanks for all the advice guys. Seems the best thing to do is keep looking straight ahead while signalling. I am in the service industry and the trick to not having your drinks spill when carrying a tray is to not look at them and just focus on where you are going. If I can do that, which I can, I can probably master this. I'm pretty sure I'm fine with looking over my shoulder and maintaining my line so that is also promising.

I think I'll treat that intersection as a stop sign even if I only slow down and not stop - this will force me to look in every direction to make sure it is safe to go.

A lot of riders here do use their signals but most aren't looking behind themselves.

LoriRose

No, no death grip. I can remove my right hand no problem, haven't tried no hands on the new bike but was able to ride no hands easily, even taking corners, when I was younger. I am very comfortable on a bike. It's just that one skill that's tripping me up. But you are probably right that I need to relax in traffic.

LoriRose

I think you might be onto something. When I gave the bike a test spin I was a little shaky controlling the bike for the first minute or so. I have since made adjustments (did A LOT of research on fitting the bike) and now I feel more comfortable. But there is something still a little precarious going on. It might just be me getting used to the bike, or perhaps I need to adjust the handle bar.

caloso

You need to be comfortable and controlled to ride a straight line, whether you're holding the bars with one hand, two hands, or no hands. Here's something I learned at a clinic when I was a Cat 5: Find a straight flat stretch of road with no traffic. Keep everything loose and look up the road. Now ride on the fog line. Not next to the fog line, ON the fog line. See how far you can go. Keep practicing.

Once you can do that, try it with one hand.
Once you can do that, try it with the other hand.
Once you can do that, try it with no hands.
Once you can do that, try it by looking back, both sides.
Once you can do that, try to do it while taking a drink.
Once you can do that, try to do it while getting something out of your jersey pocket.

It just takes practice.

LoriRose

Yes! This looks like a great way to practice. With my helmet and some knee pads.