Commuting - Signals

Do you signal when you go to change lanes or make a turn? I've tried it and the cars still seem to ignore me, so I just do my own thing and pray I don't get hit. What about you?

Elvish

I signal all of the time and it seems to usually work ok. The only place where I have had problems with signals is in a left-turn only lane at a light where I have to make a right turn about 20 feet after the left. There, I just try to point to the street I'm going to.

Anyone have any advice for how to make a clearer signal in that situation?

Thanks

I wonder if they still teach the turn signals in school. When I did signal, I noticed only cert types recognized them.

1. People that looked to be over the age of 40
2. Fellow cyclist
3. Motorcyclist (especially ratbike guys).

And categories that didn't seem to care/notice/or know
1. Kids (college to 16)
2. Cars that had Mexico plates.

I always signal even when no one is there to see it. It ensures that the habit is automatic and sets a good example. Around here, drivers have been mostly conscientious about my signaling. In fact, just the other day, I had to move over 3 lanes on a busy road to get to my turn and two cars saw my arm out, slowed and let me move.

I just wish there was a universal THANK YOU hand signal.

I just wish there was a universal THANK YOU hand signal.

throw em a shaka http://www.hawaiihighways.com/shaka.jpg

I try to do it all the time, but if I don't feel safe to pull my hard off the hardle bar, I DON'T ANYMORE. If it's too much speed or the road is too ruff.

Good Luck,

GEEK

Ride assertively, find the pocket, point where you are intending to go, and take the lane.

I just wish there was a universal THANK YOU hand signal.


A wave?

if there is traffic behind then almost always
I won't signal if it's clear or if in a filter lane(left/right only) anyway

generally taking the lane while signaling works better than waiting for traffic to let you through, i.e., safe but aggressive cycling.

I find that there is a difference between a weak "I would like to go there, if you don't mind" signal and an assertive "I am going there whether or not you agree with me!" signal. I look them in the eye, if I can, and then I give a very assertive "I AM moving over" type of signal (usually when turning left into their lane) with the palm of my hand first pointing out where I am going and then turned back toward them in a "stay back" manner. This always tends to get respect and they stay off my back. I return the respect by getting out of their lane as soon as possible. Everybody wins.

I don't feel much need to signal right hand turns unless I am moving into someone's lane.

I find that there is a difference between a weak "I would like to go there, if you don't mind" signal and an assertive "I am going there whether or not you agree with me!" signal. I look them in the eye, if I can, and then I give a very assertive "I AM moving over" type of signal (usually when turning left into their lane) with the palm of my hand first pointing out where I am going and then turned back toward them in a "stay back" manner. This always tends to get respect and they stay off my back. I return the respect by getting out of their lane as soon as possible. Everybody wins.

I don't feel much need to signal right hand turns unless I am moving into someone's lane.


When my hands don't work I just signal by starting my move over, more often then not the car will either slow and let me over and speed up so I can get over.

I look back, and if there is a car I will signal. I usally start creeping left to take the lane when I'm getting close to my turn, there's rough road ahead, or I'm coming up on a blind turn, etc where I need to prevent cars from passing me for my safety.

I'm almost always working both brakes and the rear derailleur when approaching an intersection or turn, so until I grow a 3rd arm I almost never do hand signals unless the situation gets totally confused.

I signal when going left, not much knowledge on my side or the drivers, just raise my left arm as a block in the way of traffic. The same thing for the right if cars are coming that way... It seems to work, cars slow down and let me turn left if I show them that.

--- I signal as much as I can. Whatever it takes: hand pointing, eye contact, and turning my head toward the direction I intend to go. My helmet has a visor from an old ball cap. It is longer than most visors so it accentuates my "head point" signal.

I signal when necessary. Generally I don't like to take my hands off the handlebars, but sometimes signalling is worth it for lane changes. I no longer do the "bent arm" signal. Instead, I stick an arm out straight in the direction I want to turn. I've found this is much more widely understood among drivers.

Check your local laws. They may require turn signals, and they may require the ridiculous "bent arm" signal.

I signal when necessary. Generally I don't like to take my hands off the handlebars, but sometimes signalling is worth it for lane changes. I no longer do the "bent arm" signal. Instead, I stick an arm out straight in the direction I want to turn. I've found this is much more widely understood among drivers.

Check your local laws. They may require turn signals, and they may require the ridiculous "bent arm" signal.

I have often wondered where the bent arm right signal has its origin. I am guessing that it has something to do with being more visible from the driver's perspective to the left of the cyclist than the right arm pointing to the right.

Anyone have the facts?

I signal more or less... drivers have no idea what a Right Turn signal is, so I just point where I am going... going left, I put my arm out and point, I also try and make eye contact with the driver behind me.. going right, same deal. I don't bother with the stop sign... that one doesn't make any sense to me. ;)

I find that if I point, look and go, there is really little a driver can say when they don't let me in... the 5 seconds I hold them up, they can make up later in their journey.

So., yes, I use signals, and I think they are important.. I have to be agressive on the road, but at the same time I have my own personal safety to worry about.. so I don't take risks I don't have to. Signaling is smart.

I commute in a town that is know for nasty driving. Cagers are know to go out of their way to stop another from making a move. Turning, passing etc.
However whenever I am biking and occasionally get into a possible bad situation, mostly making a left turn on faster roads, people always have given me the road when I signal my intention. I know if I was in a car they would speed up to block me.
It never ceased to pleasantly amaze me.

depends on the situation, traffic etc. In my PM rush hour I do a lot of Lefts. I look back, make eye contact, and give a fully extended arm and point where I'm going while starting to move over. It's a carry over from my old british motorcycle days with no turn signals. I rarely signal right turns as it usually won't make any difference.

I have often wondered where the bent arm right signal has its origin...

Me too. Maybe it was intended for use by motorists, who can only signal with a left arm out the driver side window. I can imagine someone trying to signal a right turn by holding out a left arm and pointing to the right (over their head). That might have evolved into the bent arm right turn signal. This is just my speculation, though.

been doing some of that. It would just be nice to have something as universally positive and unambiguous (at least in the U.S.) as "the bird" is negative. I like the 'shaka' thing, that seems on the right track.

I think for the most part they don't know what the left turn signal is either. Must think
I'm just airing out my arm pit. So if I'm going near the speed of traffic, I'll put out my arm and just go inbetween cars. If I'm going slower than traffic, I'll wait for a gap and put out my arm a go

Me too. Maybe it was intended for use by motorists, who can only signal with a left arm out the driver side window. I can imagine someone trying to signal a right turn by holding out a left arm and pointing to the right (over their head). That might have evolved into the bent arm right turn signal. This is just my speculation, though.


That is a good thought. I had not thought of that.

...I just wish there was a universal THANK YOU hand signal.

Thumbs up! I use it all the time and say "thank you" while giving the sign. It usually puts a smile on the driver's face.

Around here, "thumbs up" means "Gig 'em, Aggies," which no self-respecting Longhorn is going to do! ;)

I signal more or less... drivers have no idea what a Right Turn signal is, so I just point where I am going... going left, I put my arm out and point, I also try and make eye contact with the driver behind me.. going right, same deal. I don't bother with the stop sign... that one doesn't make any sense to me. ;)...


I do the same thing. The only time I really use the correct signals is with other cyclists -- sometimes I wonder of some cyclists know what I am signalling!!

Around here, "thumbs up" means "Gig 'em, Aggies," which no self-respecting Longhorn is going to do! ;)

LOL. Illini fans don't have a sign during the football season (most years). But we usually give each other the "We're number ONE" sign during basketball season!

I find it difficult to signal to the left since I like to keep my hands on the front brake which is on the left side, but generally I point left with my left hand when I want to go left and and right with my right hand when I want to go right. The only time I do the slow down or stop signal is when I have another cyclist following me. I do not have to do teh silly "bent arm" signal since MA law allows you to use either hand to signal.

I have often wondered where the bent arm right signal has its origin. I am guessing that it has something to do with being more visible from the driver's perspective to the left of the cyclist than the right arm pointing to the right.

Anyone have the facts?Signaling laws started when cars were primitive and had no electronic signals. The driver had to use his/her left arm. The bent up arm implies that the driver is pointing out the window and up over the roof. If you are driving in a car and want to have your arm outside while pointing to the right, that's how you would do it. As time went on, the signals were kept that way for continuity and also because the left arm is more in the middle of the road and more visible.

Signaling laws started when cars were primitive and had no electronic signals. The driver had to use his/her left arm. The bent up arm implies that the driver is pointing out the window and up over the roof. If you are driving in a car and want to have your arm outside while pointing to the right, that's how you would do it. As time went on, the signals were kept that way for continuity and also because the left arm is more in the middle of the road and more visible.

Thanks Mike.

I signal when I can regardless of whether anybody understands it. It's one more tool in my box, like the high-vis jacket and flag, that says to some of these jokers out there, "hey, I am visible, I'm signalling, no cop is going to believe you were in the right if you purposefully try to take my right of way from me and plead 'officer, I just didn't see her'."

I like to think that if I get shmucked that I did everything possible to avoid it. So yes, I signal and yes I use the bent arm right turn signal. This allows me to shift gears, signal and brake all at the same time. Eventhough some cagers may not know what I am signalling, at least they know I am about to do something (maybe stand on my head while cycling) and they will give me the space to see what happens next. If I didn't signal, I think cagers would just be even more pissy with cyclists than they already are.

I look back, or otherwise make eye contact, and then simply point with my arm outstretched... Works for me.




Illini fans <snip> give each other the "We're number ONE" sign during basketball season!
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: