Camilo

Your survey is faulty.

I use the "point the way I'm turning" but this is in fact a standard way of doing it, yes, even in the US. My state's driver's manual specifically states that the right turn may be indicated by a right arm out straight.

tergal

Another standard method

[h=3]Signalling (s48, s49, s50)[/h]Hand signals must be given when turning right.
To give a hand signal for changing direction to the right, you must extend your right arm and hand horizontally and at right angles from the right side of the bicycle, with your hand open and your palm facing the direction of travel.

LesterOfPuppets

one should always have another primate as co-pilot to signal right hand turns when driving an automobile.

Myosmith

Both of the clubs I ride with use it and I have seen it on several organized group rides and charity centuries. I don't know how wide spread its use is but it seems common in MN and ND. Usually the left fist is clenched in the small of the back but I have seen a variation with the hand open, palm out. I'll use it on club rides or organized cycling events to signal following riders but use the more traditional downward wave in traffic when riding solo. It really has very little to do with being "educated" but rather using the most recognized and accepted signalling method for the circumstances, which is why I mentioned this gesture as being ineffective in mixed traffic. Non-"roadies" are unlikely to be familiar with it. Perhaps I could have used roadies instead of cyclists in my original statement but I'm not overly fond of the label as it is often used negatively to denote snobby, hyper-competitive, elitists which does not at all describe the cyclists that I ride with.

genec

I'm with ILTB on this... never seen it used... but then I have not been on a "club ride" in probably 12 years.

The only group rides I do are with 4-5 friends... and we tend to not signal much at all.

I-Like-To-Bike

Understandable. I personally am not fond of the use of the term "experienced (or educated) cyclists" as a substitute for "roadies" or pacelining club cyclists.

turbo1889

I use a modified form of the "American Left Hand Method (ALHM)" which I learned at a very young age (that was the method the boy scouts taught back then). I added two signals to the method:

#1 ~ When I am riding FRAP and intend to continue straight through an intersection, especially if it has a right hand turn lane and I am threading a line between the straight through lane and the right hand turn lane I extend my left arm out straight in a 45-degree down angle with palm flat and outstreatched a signal that is half way inbetween the left turn signal and the stopping/brakes signal in the ALHM. This is my "I'm going straight through, don't right hook me." signal and most drivers seem to understand what it means when combined with the line I'm taking through the intersection.

#2 ~ When I'm riding FRAP on a 2-lane road that is wide enough for a full size vehicle to safely pass me without going into the oncoming lane and I'm over to the right wanting them to pass and I get someone who is being too nice and stubbornly not passing and instead creeping along behind me, or on a 2-lane road that is not wide enough for safe passing without going into the oncoming lane and I'm taking the lane and I see an opening in oncoming traffic that will allow the full size vehicles behind me to safely pass and I want to indicate to them to please do so. I will signal that I want them to pass by left arm to make a circular motion up over my head like I'm spinning a lasso ending with my arm pointing forward like a mounted calvary officer giving the order to charge. They usually understand what I mean by that one as well.

I do think not a whole lot of people understand what I mean with the right hand turn signal in the ALHM until they see me actually make the right hand turn. Sometimes they have to see me do it several times while they are following behind me before they get it. But of all the signals the right hand turn one is usually the one that is the least critical if it is not understood and I don't like taking my right hand off of the bars because I always like to be ready to quickly brake if needed and a quick braking action on the rear brake is fine but a quick sudden braking action on the front brake only could get interesting to say the least plus the right side rear gear spool shifter is also better for quickly cropping a gear or two if needed to be able to get quick acceleration or gearing up if you need to gear up and pump hard to match speed with traffic and maintain your position. Especially since I like to "formation fly" through intersections to help protect myself from right hooks by keeping a car ahead of me and behind me to my left and the open space in-between them directly next to me rather then a car that could turn into me.

alaskanb3arcub

Due to balance issues related to my vision, I use Bicygnals indicators(https://www.bicygnals.com). They have a couple issues, but are a good replacement for the arm signals. Part 1 of my review is on my blog, with a follow up coming shortly: https://akbearcub.com/blog/?p=21

zirger726

I point in the direction I am going, but ot be honest I rarely signal. I find that I am usually braking and need both hands to control the bike. Most of the roads I ride have turn lanes my intentions are pretty obvious.

Myosmith

Ahh, now I understand where you took offense. I did not intend to imply that "roadies" are the only experienced cyclists (not that all roadies are that experienced) and when I said "those with no education in cycling" I was referring to non-cycling drivers, not non-roadie cyclists. One of the reasons I used the term "cyclists" instead of "roadies" was that I wanted to be inclusive of all riders, not just the kit and carbon fiber crowd, but that seems to have caused a problem as well. While I participate in some club and group rides, I don't consider myself a "roadie" as I'm in it for fun and fitness, not competition. I am happy in the middle of the pack, riding a 20-year-old bike, on laid back B rides where the only time we form a pace line is when we share the load into a headwind. The majority of my riding is solo recreational on rural highways and through small towns and I am more likely to be seen in a t-shirt and MTB shorts than kit.

To each his/her own; roadie, commuter, tourist, MTBer, townie. All cyclists share a common bond.

K'Tesh

I find that when I'm wishing (or needing as the case may be) to merge left with oncoming traffic (say at the end of a bike lane), if I point in a clear manner (arm fully outstretched) motorists will allow me to merge. If I hesitate or appear to be reluctant to indicate my turn, they often will be more than happy to rush past me. I suspect that the full arm extension makes it kind of hard for them to deny (should they hit me) that I wasn't indicating my turn if they were to hit me.

John Forester

If these movements resulted in a car-bike collision, the law would find the cyclist negligent and liable, for turning or moving laterally without first determining that the movement can be made in safety. The signal indicates only a desire or intent and does not claim the right-of-way. That's the law everywhere that I know of.

jon c. 

I use the left hand method I learned as a child, but only when it serves a purpose. I don't know that I've ever signaled a stop. But I don't ride in groups so that isn't an issue.

turbo1889

Yes, and No, depending on the exact circumstances.

You are indeed correct that simply signalling for a lane-change/merging manuver and not checking by either mirror and/or turning the head to look prefferable not just with a mirror alone because mirror visibility is significantly reduced compared to actually turning the head to look over (or under if tucked on a drop bar bike) the shoulder is not sufficient. And you are correct to point this out.

It is also true, however, that motorists don't get to just run down a slower moving cyclist in the lane infront of them from behind with reckless abandon because they are slower moving. If the cyclist has enough room to merge in and does so safely only to be hit from behind because the motorist failed to respect the vehicle in front of them in the lane and slow to prevent running into them from behind once they are indeed a vehicle in the lane infront of them and have completed the merging manuver then the motorist would be at fault for a rear end collision accident.

Long story short ~ signal (while looking in the mirror if you use one), then check over (or under) the shoulder with an actual eyeball check to confirm there is enough room to safely lane-change/merge taking into account any speed difference, and then only if it is safe to do so make your move. You could still get potentially hit from behind but at the very least you have done everything on your end correctly.

hagen2456

No, that's one of the, er, cultural differences from, say, the Netherlands. There, you're almost constantly riding in a group

Essex

In Manhattan + this is a vignette for the thread "taking the lane" - signaling doesn't matter most of the time. This morning I signal, get cut off at turns, jumped when taking lane, spouted expletives at and get treated pretty much as a roadway bottom feeder. What I would do sometime to have a lit metal-piercing bottle rocket!

Sadly, Central, Prospect Park and the Westside MUP are the most viable roadways available without cars. Getting there is 3/4's the battle. NYC sucks because most drivers here could give a toss about what is right. In short -without moral, or ethics while on the road.

Captain Blight

I signal a stop if it's unexpected and if it's safe for me to take a hand off the bars. When signalling a turn, I point with either my right or left hand directly toward where I'm going... but I throw the Shocker when I do it.

chipcom 

I do what is appropriate for the situation. Riding with a rigid set of rules increases your odds of going rigid yourself, before your time. Flexibility is your friend.

Squares17

I use the point method in my area because that is what most other cyclists around here do. I figure that local drivers are more used to this and will understand it a little better. I am not sure if I have ever seen anyone, including motorist, use the standard left arm signals. That could just be a KY thing tho...

contango 

I extend my left hand to indicate a left turn, and extend my right hand to indicate a right turn. That was the standard (in the UK) when I was taught hand signals when I first had a bike and as far as I can tell still is.

If I'm in a position where taking hands off the bars is impractical or dangerous I make as clear a head signal as I can to indicate my intentions, in the form of making a pronounced turn to look in the direction I'm planning on heading. Not ideal but better than nothing - I usually only need to do that if I'm approaching a junction that's riddled with potholes or similar.

rliu

I use a turn signal light that I installed to my seat post for rear coming traffic and it's been working very well and it make me feel safer to be visible to rear traffic especially when I ride in the dark.

Even with the signaling light of course I would still check for rear coming cars before I proceed to make any turns just to make sure I am in the clear. Too many drivers now a days keeps themselves way too busy while they drive so regardless what method of signaling looking back is always recommended.

I have always been fearful to use hand signaling because I am afraid if I stuck my arm out if a car just happens to pass me they might just take my arm with them...So I voted for indicator signals.

If anyone is interested
https://www.ebay.com/itm/170961825553...84.m1586.l2649

wphamilton

Aside from pointing at where I intend to go, I make them up as I go along. It seems to work.

BikerBBC

I always point - just makes sense. But the Michigan Vehicle code (which covers bicyclists) requires you to single with your left "...hand and arm extended upward". Violators can be cited for a civil infraction. That's one law that I wish were changed.