Commuting - Right turns and U-turns?

Hiya, just wondering, what's the proper way for a cyclist to do a right turn or a U-turn?

Since most laws in most countries say that cyclists have to keep to the extreme left lane of the roads, how does one actually go about making a turn without flouting any laws or anything like that?

Would appreciate all replies but no flames please. Am just a newbie commuter, commuting around my small country. :D

Just to clarify, Singapore is a left-lane driving country (RHD cards).

In the US, this is akin to a left turn. I indicate my intention to move into the lane, and when safe to do so I move across to the left-turn lane (or left hand side of the lane on a single lane road). I'm all about protecting my arse so if I don't see a big enough gap, rather than push the point I'll just stop on the right hand side of the road (after indicating to drivers that this is what I'm doing), and wait for a gap.

The law says to ride to the right (or left) of the lane when possible to do so. You're allowed to take the lane and merge across to make turns.

I have a left hand turn on my commute with a traffic light, 2 lanes for turning, and 2 lanes to go straight. I cross the intersection then turn right onto the side walk then get into the right hand lane of the street I wanted and wait for the light to turn green.

If on a one lane street I look back to make sure its ok then extend my left arm and point left and get into the left hand lane for my turn.

Dunno about other countries, but in the US (to be exact, in each vehicle code in each state in the US), cyclists most specificially do not "have to keep to the extreme (right) lane of the roads". The language in pretty-much every state here is "as far to the right as is practicable." "Practicable" means what is reasonable and safe. If there's a broken bottle in the gutter, move away from it and take the lane. If you're approaching a left turn (right, in UK Aus NZ ZA Singapore etc), move into the lane appropriate to that turn.

S'okay; there are police here who don't understand this. My sister was making a left turn, stopped at an intersection and was hit by a car coming from the right, making a left turn (UK et al, mirror-image this). The guy just clipped the turn too sharply. If it were a car there instead of my sister and her bike, it woulda done him some serious damage. The cop actually tried to lay it on my sister, claiming that she's supposed to "hug the curb". AFAIK, that language never existed in any traffic law here, and that kind of language hasn't been used in any bicycle traffic instruction for decades. That didn't stop the cop from trying to use it. My sister had to, erm, educate him about it.

I just have one comment. I visited Singapore while I was in the US Navy back in 1990, and all I heard from the higher up's was FOLLOW THE RULES, and OBEY ALL LAWS. So although I am no expert in Singaporian law, I do remember there was a hefty fine for spitting gum onto the sidewalk. I would ask local law enforcement for advice on the matter.

I just have one comment. I visited Singapore while I was in the US Navy back in 1990, and all I heard from the higher up's was FOLLOW THE RULES, and OBEY ALL LAWS. So although I am no expert in Singaporian law, I do remember there was a hefty fine for spitting gum onto the sidewalk. I would ask local law enforcement for advice on the matter.
Heya. :)

Yeah in Singapore, they're stepping up checks on "bad motorists" on the road for speeding, doing illegal turns and stuff.

As a Singaporean, I'd just like to say that if you get caught for spitting (be it spitting gum or something else), or even throwing a cig butt (if you smoke), the worst that can possibly happen to you is a fine and you have to do some Corrective Work Order (CWO).
If you're a "repeat offender", of course the penalty goes up.

Hefty fine or not, I don't know. There's always a trash bin around the corner.
But generally, chewing gum is ok, but just don't spit it on the ground. It's unsightly and unhygenic.
And no, you can't find chewing gum anywhere in Singapore (cos in the past, people stuck them in between train doors and the doors got jammed. Heh.)

What people always say -- Do whatever you want, just don't get caught. :D

But as always, don't believe everything you read. Singapore's a FINE city. ;)

Without all this, the people gets lazy and you get a dirty place to live in. Would you want that? :)

Cheers :D

If you're approaching a left turn (right, in UK Aus NZ ZA Singapore etc), move into the lane appropriate to that turn.
I actually find this quite difficult to do, especially if you are being edged to the side of the road and you gotta look back constantly to check if the traffic's clear before you move into the next lane AND doing all that while moving as well.

I attempted this a few times before and it was OK as it wasn't peak hour yet. But once peak hour struck, I couldn't move into the lane and waited by the side of the road for a couple of minutes. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

andretan--here's what i do sometimes:

I ride straight on through the intersection and pull off out of traffic on the right side of the road (reverse my left/right directions for UK/Australia/etc) and stop. I turn my bike 90 degrees to the left and wait for traffic to clear, and then go across the road as if I had come from the road that's to the right of where I originially came from.

This can work for U-turns and left turns.

Moving towards the middle of the road works best if you are on a road where traffic is timed with traffic signals, as there usually is a gap in traffic at some point. Also, in busy downtown traffic, I often move faster than cars, so I'm the one who decides when I want to move into the traffic jam.

But in fast-moving traffic, especially if there is no dedicated left-turn lane (right-turn in Singapore and UK), moving towards the centre would mean that I would then have to stop on the double line and wait for an opening in opposing traffic before turning. Not exactly the best idea at night...

But the other trick that works fine is the two-step turn, which works in most (if not all) "+"-type intersections:

- Cross the intersection as if you were going straight ahead, but stop just after you cross the street. Stay clear of traffic on the main road (the one you were on) and in front of the traffic of the side road (the one you are turning into), while staying off the track of pedestrians, right turn on red, etc.

- Cross the side street when its light turns green.


It's the technique I use a few times when there is absolutely no opening in traffic, or late at night, or when I feel too tired to push hard on the bike. It's also a technique that works great with kids.

I actually find this quite difficult to do, especially if you are being edged to the side of the road and you gotta look back constantly to check if the traffic's clear before you move into the next lane AND doing all that while moving as well.

I attempted this a few times before and it was OK as it wasn't peak hour yet. But once peak hour struck, I couldn't move into the lane and waited by the side of the road for a couple of minutes. Sheesh. :rolleyes: Get a mirror. Prepare as far in advance as you can for the turn, just as you would with a car. Occasionally, an opportunity just won't present itself, in which case you have to do the "two-step" turn (cross the cross street, then cross the street you're leaving). In other cases, the speed of traffic and number of lanes will requre the "two-step" turn at all times. But in a lot of city driving, heavy traffic usually also means slow traffic, which gives you time to plan to move in.

Again, I can't overstress the usefulness of a mirror for such situations. If you drive a car, that's exactly what you use your mirror for, so using it for this purpose on a bike becomes second nature pretty quickly.

andretan--here's what i do sometimes:

I ride straight on through the intersection and pull off out of traffic on the right side of the road (reverse my left/right directions for UK/Australia/etc) and stop. I turn my bike 90 degrees to the left and wait for traffic to clear, and then go across the road as if I had come from the road that's to the right of where I originially came from.

This can work for U-turns and left turns.

I do this as well on some busier roads, just seems like the safest way to go about it.

Had a bus trying to run my riding buddy and me into the side of the road today. Those friggin' impatient bus drivers! :mad:

And I wonder why on Earth do we have a "World Class Transport System" when the system is being condemned a "failure" by its own citizens.

Sad isn't it? :(

We can't even take our bikes on board the train. I mean. Other countries have that. Geez.

Mirror image for Singapore, UK, HK, etc.

Well in advance of the intersection, I use a hand signal to signal my intention to go left. I then steer my bike toward the appropriate turning lane on multi-lane roads. If itisn't a multi-lane road, I actually get into the center of the lane and stop to wait for the traffic going the opposite direction clears before proceeding to turn. In situations where there is a turning lane, I get to the outer (right side) part of the turning lane. So that cars that are turning left will be to my left. This is so that I can turn outside of their turn.

Does this make sense? Am I doing things correctly? BTW at dusk, always turn on lights.