Dunbar

I'm wondering how others would deal with this intersection which I encounter every time I ride (normally I'm going straight):

1) Move up to the front of the bike lane. Problem is cars won't turn right when I do this (even though I give them plenty of space) and I get a bunch of impatient cars gunning it when the light turns green.

2) Hang back in the bike lane, sometimes cars block the bike lane and I have no choice like the picture. Cars will turn right on red but I run the risk of getting hooked when the light turns green.

3) Move over into the right driving lane. This feels the safest, cars can get past me to turn right if they want but I don't know if it's legal.

CommuterRun

I would use option 3). I could quote why that would be perfectly legal in FL, but that doesn't help you. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to quote the pertinent law for CA.

mikeybikes

In many municipalities, you're actually supposed to merge into the bike lane when making a right turn. I would actually rather have them do this to discourage cyclists from trying to pass the car on the right while in the middle of a turning maneuver.

In a situation like that, I usually merge into the straight through normal traffic lane if I'm continuing straight. Perfectly legal just about everywhere.

dahut

Id agree with taking the right traffic lane. That is generally accepted everywhere as good practice.
Or, take the front of the bike lane as intended and let the impatient drivers scowl. If they're glaring at you, that means they see you - and so are unlikely to right hook you.

Seattle Forrest

Another vote for the straight lane, the one you think of as the car lane. When I lived in California, that was perfectly legal. I doubt it's changed since then. And in any case, a cyclist can get away with things that are patently illegal, like going "straight on red," so if we internet people happen to be wrong on this, it's not like you're going to be ticketed. But I'm pretty sure it's ok in the eyes of the law, who encourage motorists to use the bike lane for right turns.

annc

Here you go:


21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

sudo bike

In California, you are supposed to merge into the bike lane (first making sure it's clear, of course) before making a right turn, and this is why. (I suspect they are supposed to here due to the dashed line, as well). This way you can safely merge and pass them on left if there is room, or otherwise hang back like a car would.

In lieu of that, you should simply line up behind them in the traffic lane. Passing on the right in this situation is pretty dangerous, IMO. I have some situations where I'll go past cars waiting at a light via the bike lane, but in those cases the bike lane is spaced from the curb with a parking lane, so it's always pretty obvious no one is turning right (plus, they should and usually do merge right anyway). There is still some danger of a right hook.

Basically, you shouldn't be passing cars on the right very often if you can avoid it, and be extremely cautious whenever you do. $.02.

chrisb71

edit: sorry didn't realize what i wrote is the same as your #1. you meant when stopped at a red.

Basically I'd stay and not weave up to the front, just keep my place in line of the right turn lane and when I get to the front go straight.

I don't like being up front when it first turns green anyway, since cars are flooring it trying to get across, and in my area the car in the right turn lane might decide to go straight and beat the car on his left, which if I were in the straight lane would be me. I've had too many close calls like that.

gcottay

Assuming the intersection does not include a dedicated right turn lane, I would try slowing down and using the bike lane all the way to the intersection at which point I would move left and forward to give right turners plenty of room. If traffic began to move before I made it through on the bike lane I would pace with the traffic so I'd only have to watch for one or two left hooks.

I'd also be happy at riding on what seems to be nice smooth pavement. <G>

ianbrettcooper

Technically, I think cars are supposed to merge into the bike lane to turn right. Since this is the case, the bike lane effectively disappears whenever anyone wants to turn right. Thus you're probably best moving into the right driving lane if you're going straight. In Maryland this is legal and it's what the law expects - other states may differ. If I were you, I'd probably not be in that tiny excuse for a bike lane anyway - it looks way too dangerous to me, as it's barely out of the gutter (is that even really a bike lane?). Even if I did use it, I'd move into, and take, the right driving lane if I was going straight. This allows cars to turn right and gets you out of their way.

So your option 3 is correct.

Option 1 is causing you problems because you're basically blocking the right turn lane.

noisebeam

Yes in CA vehicles must merge into BL (maybe up to 200ft before, this someone should check) if making a right turn. As a cyclist I would line up behind vehicles in shared thru lane, left biased in lane. In CA you may be able to legally filter between the motor vehicles, which I would do if I suspected I would not make it thru the next green cycle.

San Rensho 

Option 3. In fact, its a good idea to ALWAYS take the lane when going through an intersection. Much less risk of getting right hooked or someone trying to make an unsafe pass while you are in the middle of the intersection.

lechatmort

What I do sometimes here in the city is split the lane (meaning that I pass on the left) instead of using the bike lane, and then merge in when the light skips to green. Prevents right hooks, but drivers might not expect anyone merging in while waiting for the green.
Drivers are okay with this here though.

TheGefish

I'll usually stay in line in the right turn lane. And when I reach the front I'll move into the pedestrian crosswalk and a bit to the left. If you're a bit to the side and kind of in the crossing drivers will usually get the hint and go on. Plus it gives you the optimal position to move over into the bike lane when you cross.

randya

take the right traffic lane and pass the right turners on the left

John E

Notice the bike lane stripe, which changes from solid to dashed at the point at which cyclists are supposed to merge left and right-turning motorists are supposed to move toward the curb.

ItsJustMe

In a perfect world it wouldn't matter since drivers should merge behind you into the bike lane and wait for you when turning right. I know that's not the case.

In the last week, after 5 years of no incidents at all, not even any close calls, for some reason I've nearly been right hooked 3 times (would have been in each case without me hitting the brakes. As a result, I've decided that for my own safety when approaching an intersection, I need to move far left enough to fully discourage right-hookers. This will inconvenience straight-through drivers, but my own safety is my #1 concern. So that's my advice; move into the traffic lane. If you move far left in the lane, it'll allow right turners to get past you on the red, and you can go through the intersection taking the lane and then move back into the bike lane.

sdold

Agree in principal, but sometimes a driver might pass a cyclist in the middle of the block, still quite a ways from the intersection, and reach the intersection well before the cyclist and have to wait a while for other traffic before turning right, giving the cyclist time to catch up. I agree that #3 is the best option. And when a big truck or bus is in the right lane but NOT in the bike lane, I'll still wait behind him because he might be turning right anyway (big vehicles need a larger turning radius so don't always move into the bike lane first).