Eriol

I have a question I experience quite frequently.
I'm going down a major road or sometimes not so major, anyways the shoulder is huge with plenty of room so naturally I ride there. However a lot of times the right lane turns into a turn only, if Im going straight should I pull out into the second lane. Now the shoulder is still huge and theres a fair amount of traffic in the travel lanes.
this has been one of my more puzzling situations
thanks

Helmet Head

First, there is almost never one "correct position". There are usually several different positions to take, all of which are legal and safe. However, there are always positions that are either illegal, unsafe, or both (illegal and unsafe often go hand in hand).

Having said that, there are two basic approaches here. When the right lane becomes a right turn only lane, you are approaching an intersection. One way to negotiate it is as a pedestrian: slow down, keep to the right, stop at the intersection, look back and make sure no right turning traffic going to cut you off, then proceed across the intersection, slowly, and ever-vigilant. If the intersection has traffic lights, then treat them per the pedestrian rules (wait for the walk signal, etc.).

The other way is to treat it vehicularly. How would a driver of some other slow moving vehicle go through this section? Say a fully loaded cement truck, a loaded moving van, a farm tractor, an aged Vespa, or a bull dozer? Where would they position themselves? The answer to that question is where the vehicular cyclist would ride. Note that this might mean staying in the right turn only lane for a while (if it's a long turn lane, there is lots of through traffic, and no turning traffic), before merging left into the through vehicular lane. It depends on the presence of other traffic.

The key principle here is: "use the rightmost lane that serves your destination". Another key factor to consider is whether that lane is wide enough to be safely shared side by side by bike and car. Usually that means 14 feet or wider. Anything much narrower than 14 feet, and you should be "centerish" - somewhere between the left and right tire track of the lane, exactly where depending on various factors and conditions.

If you're not comfortable riding it vehicularly, then take the pedestrian route I described first, at least for now. In the mean time, take some classes (see bikeleague.org) or do some more research on the topic. You might want to start with the "every lane is a bike lane" link in my signature. Good luck!

eubi

Simply:

As a motorist, it's frustrating when a cyclist who wants to go straight blocks the RH turn only lane because they think they have to stay "as far to the right as possible". For example, they have a red light to go straight, but the RH lane has a green arrow.

Otherwise, I agree with Helmet Head's more detailed description.

EnigManiac

Very well put, Helmet Head. Couldn't agree more.

Pat

That is a nasty situation is it not? You have the choice of stay in the nice wide shoulder but if you do so, you suffer the risk of becoming another victim of the "right hook". That is a driver in the right turn only lane will turn right over top of you or turn right just in front of you whilst simultaneously slowing down so you can plow into the door on the right side of the vehicle.

The other thing to do is to get over and ride on the right side of the right most through lane. Of course, if you do this, drivers often become quite irate. This is my choice. When it is the choice between being run over and making someone irritated, I will go with irritation every time.

Pat

Bruce Rosar

That's generally good advice if you're comfortable sharing the marked lane with the overtaking traffic at that time and place. If you're not, then you might not want to signal that you are by staying to the right within the lane.

genec

This is the prescribed method, and consistent with what Helmet Head said. This is in reality probabaly the best way... however, be forewarned that this method also seems to confuse some motorists the most as those few seem to feel that we belong anywhere but on the road. So be prepared for this confusion by riding as predictible as possible and using a mirror to watch for motorists that cannot seem to decide whether to share the lane, or drive around to the right of you or just get panicy silly.

When you ride in that right most straight thru lane, you are way out in a bunch of wide asphalt... and some motorists just don't understand why you are there... so you may have to help them along with some hand signals... The easiest thing to do is point at the motorist and then point the way.

sbhikes

The situation you describe is especially puzzling to me when the right turn only lane is really really long. So long that you don't want to get over way at the beginning.

I just let the situation unfold as it will. Get over to the other lane when the time seems right. Could be early on, could be at the last minute. Sort of depends on the amount of traffic, when there's an opening, how wide the other lanes are etc.

To me it makes way more sense to go straight from a place where everybody else is going straight. I makes no sense to go straight where everybody is going to cross my path. So if anybody has a problem with that, I figure it's a lack of imagination on their part. Would THEY ride in the right turn only lane and go straight? Probably not.

Eriol

[QUOTE=sbhikes]The situation you describe is especially puzzling to me when the right turn only lane is really really long. So long that you don't want to get over way at the beginning.
QUOTE]
That is another problem that the right turn lanes seem like 1/8 of a mile long.

thanks for everyones respones, its now clear to me what the proper thing to do at the intersections. However another thing I experience is very similiar however instead of an intersection its an off ramp to another road. Is the procedure the same, b/c I tried moving over into the tru lane but people seem to fly right across my path to get the off ramp, very unnerving. The bigger problem is if I try to stay in the shoulder then people either think im going on the offramp or try to speed up to get to the exit quicker.

Maybe I should just find another road

BTW I think I'm going to take helmet heads suggestion, the police along with a local club are giving an all day class on cycling next saturday

LittleBigMan

You want to go through the intersection in a through-lane, not the right-turn lane, just like you would as a car driver. If you don't feel comfortable, use the pedestrian method: pull over, stop, and walk your bike through the crosswalk when it's safe.

Moving from the shoulder across the right-turn-only lane into the through-lane requires the skill of merging with traffic, which can be a bit tricky if you've never done it. Unless you feel comfortable merging, just use the pedestrian method.

If you are already comfortable with merging, it's fairly simple, just be sure that motorists are slowing to let you merge in--don't force your way in on a bicycle, wait until you have plenty of room between passing motorists.

Many times, motorists will understand your signals and cooperate to let you execute your merging and your safe travel through the intersection. Motorist cooperation is a very important ingredient. When driving, we often simply take our turn when we are ready. Not so on a bicycle, we are much more dependent on cooperation from car drivers since we are so much slower.