Advocacy & Safety - Is there a name for this?

Apologies in advance for my poor MS Paint skills. Thanks to GoogleMaps, yada, yada. I'm not sure if these pictures will show up correctly or not. They didn't show right in the preview so I'm going to test this anyway. I'll include the link in case it fails.

Control case - standard left turn where the LEFT turn light is GREEN, through light is green or red:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/

Whatzit case - "left turn" where the LEFT turn light is RED, THROUGH light is GREEN:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889805/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889805/

Assume the black car waiting to make a right at the light does not exist in this scenario. Is there a name for this? Is it legal in all 50 states? Is it illegal in all 50 states? Just curious. Thanks! I'll hang up the phone and listen to your response over the radio.

Glad you included the links. I don't know of a name for that, and can't think of a situation that I would use it, but it looks to me like it would be legal anywhere it's legal to do a U-turn.

1. On a bike you could get away with it...but why? If you want to turn left take the mark lanes for a left turn and follow the lights?

2. Why would you go thru the intersection then cut left into oncoming traffic you are assuming will pay attention and slow to allow you to cross their right of way?

Option 2 summarized: I'm to lazy to stop at the light and wait my turn.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2923889805_9a0a65475d_o.jpg

Yeah, I've missed a few turns too.

Apologies in advance for my poor MS Paint skills. Thanks to GoogleMaps, yada, yada. I'm not sure if these pictures will show up correctly or not. They didn't show right in the preview so I'm going to test this anyway. I'll include the link in case it fails.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889805/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889805/


Your images are not showing because your [ IMG ] [ /IMG ] tags are around something that doesn't return an image.
[ IMG ]http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/[ /IMG ] returns a flickr page not an image.
When you go to this page, right click on the image and go to Properties. It will show you the Address (URL) to the image itself. Highlight/select the URL and copy it. In your post, paste the URL and put the [ IMG] tags around it. Or you can paste the URL into the LINK tool.
The address to the first image is http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2923889781_9049c8951a.jpg?v=0
Now, put the tags around that(without the spaces) [ IMG ] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2923889781_9049c8951a.jpg?v=0 and you'll see your image in your post.
Like this ...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2923889781_9049c8951a.jpg?v=0

I would call this a fairly dangerous way to make a left turn.

First, you are going to have to slow down or come to a complete stop in the left hand lane, in the middle of the block where there is no expectation of making aleft hand turn, in order to make the left turn, which puts you at risk of getting hit from behind.

The cars you are turning in front of will not expect you to turn and its very easy to get hit, especially by a car in the oncoming lane furthest from you, that may be difficult for you to see and that surely will not be excpecting a cyclist to turn left in front of him.

What is the problem with making a left from the LTL once the arrow is green?

As San points out you have to deal with more potential driver interactions while doing a less predictable maneuver. (Also technically illegal u-turn across double yellow) Making a left with a protected left turn arrow is one of the most comfortable ways to make a left. Just wait in the LTL, that intersection looks like it gets busy enough that there will be plenty of other vehicles to trigger the LT arrow if your bike doesn't.

Al

Your images are not showing because your [ IMG ] [ /IMG ] tags are around something that doesn't return an image.
[ IMG ]http://www.flickr.com/photos/8865527@N06/2923889781/[ /IMG ] returns a flickr page not an image.
When you go to this page, right click on the image and go to Properties. It will show you the Address (URL) to the image itself. Highlight/select the URL and copy it. In your post, paste the URL and put the [ IMG] tags around it. Or you can paste the URL into the LINK tool.
The address to the first image is http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2923889781_9049c8951a.jpg?v=0
Now, put the tags around that(without the spaces) [ IMG ] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2923889781_9049c8951a.jpg?v=0 and you'll see your image in your post.


Got it. Thanks.

Pretty sure its Not legal to make a left from a Through lane when there is already a designated Left turning lane.

I resorted to a similar maneuver on Saturday morning's ride.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Rancho+Santa+Fe&state=CA&address=El+Mirlo+%26+La+Bajada

Coming eastbound on La Bajada, one has to turn left onto Encinitas Bl. immediately following the sweeping rightward curve onto El Mirlo. If traffic is heavy and I cannot conveniently and safely merge into the left turn lane, I stay to the right and proceed up El Mirlo, which becomes a quiet residential street at that point, then wait for a healthy traffic break to make the U-turn.

it the traffic there was so bad that you couldn't use the LH turn lane, then why not just stop at the light at the end of the intersection and then turn when that light turns green - a "two-stage left turn" - like you were a pedestrian (for illumination sake)

I always thought it was odd when cars make a u-turn then right to go left; it's even odder for a bicycle to make the move since it's safer for the bike to simply make the left against the red light (there's no through traffic in the left turn lane and the bike has to cross the same distance and amount of opposing traffic as the u-turn).

I don't know of a name for it, but it's basically a U-turn. But then there's the question of whether it constitutes riding "as far to the right as practicable", which most states legally require of bicyclists. From your description it sounds like your only reason for doing this is because you are making a left turn and you don't want to wait for the left-turn arrow to turn green. But since you are not following the prescribed method of turning left for all vehicular traffic (which you probably legally count as), I don't know if you are then entitled to the "preparing to turn left" defense for not being to the right of faster moving traffic (which some states include and all ideally should). I'm using some wiggle language here because the legal details vary by state.

That's the amateur legal analysis. From a safety perspective, however, I think you are better off waiting in the appropriate lane to turn left when that lane's light is green. By staying in the center of the road well past the intersection, all the drivers around you are asking themselves what the hell you're doing. Unpredictable = unsafe, IMO. If you follow the same rules as everyone else, then everyone else can understand what you're doing and will know how to respond.

In Utah, u-turns are not legal between intersections. Often done, but not legal. Intersections only.

second picture illegal. the fat white line is there for a reason. either continue through to the next intersection and turn around like a car
or wait your turn at the left red, and wait till it goes green for left turn like you should

pretty simple

you know... people are basically good and everyone who sees you out there is counting
on everyone else including you to follow the traffic rules. you goof them up, people get sour

That (the second) is a common maneuver in Louisiana. Where main streets meet, left turn are often not allowed, and you're required to go partway down the next block and do a u-turn--but only (I think) when the street is divided by a median.

And then there's New Jersey, where all logic goes out the window...

I do that maneuver quite often. I also do a similar one of turning right, then make the u-turn.