Advocacy & Safety - Question About Traffic Situation

Hi, I plan to begin commuting some time in the future after some practice with my new hybrid bicycle. I've read up on what seems to be most of the local traffic laws regarding bicycles and various articles on safely riding a bicycle on the road. There's one very common traffic situation that's been nagging at me though:

Say I'm riding my bicycle on the road. As expected, I'm riding on the very right edge of the road, near the curb, because the usual local roads' speed limit is 40 MPH, and automobile traffic is much faster than I am. I approach an intersection that I want to pass through, continuing straight along my current street. However, the rightmost part of the road will become a right-turn-only lane. What should I do? Here are some options that come to mind:

1. If I notice the right-turn-only lane soon enough, I use a left-turn hand signal to try to merge into the next lane to my left to take the lane and pass by the right-turn-only lane and make it through the intersection.

2. I slow down, stop, and walk over (or don't stop but ride over, if a driveway's available) the right edge of the road onto a sidewalk (assuming one's available). I ride to the intersection on the sidewalk then walk my bike across as a pedestrian on the crosswalk. I reenter the street when I can afterwards.

3. I enter the right-turn-only lane as it approaches, then make a sharp turn almost in reverse direction as I ride from the road onto the sidewalk to wait at the pedestrian crosswalk. I walk my bicycle across as a pedestrian and reenter the street when I can afterwards.

I'm thinking that since bicycles have just about the same rights to the road as automobiles do and are expected to behave likewise when feasible, #1 is definitely legal. It's what any car would do to avoid the right-turn-only lane, so I can do it on a bicycle too. However, as I mentioned, it might not be safe or practical, especially if I don't notice that the right-turn-only lane's coming up. I'm thinking that in such a situation, #2 is the way to go. #3 seems too awkward.

What should I do? What do you guys do?

Each and every time you approach any intersection it is different according to the traffic and position of the vehicles.

Ride to be safe not to be legal.

Ride 5 feet from the curb. Never next to the curb.
Move to white line dividing the right turn lane and the go straight lane.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/DaveFredChris005.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/3RDDQR002.jpg

Each and every time you approach any intersection it is different according to the traffic and position of the vehicles.

Ride to be safe not to be legal.

Ride 5 feet from the curb. Never next to the curb.
Move to white line dividing the right turn lane and the go straight lane.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/DaveFredChris005.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/3RDDQR002.jpg

Yep, that's how I do it usually. As a general rule I practice vehicular cycling. It's not my fault, That is how I was taught to ride as a child.

^^^

What they said and I will also say don't hug the curb. You need to ride as far left of the curb as you can to be safe and sure you won't hit crap in the gutter or hit the curb.

The only thing I will add is be visible as you can. A hi vis jersey/jacket is absolutely necessary imo. Then get a decent tail light that can actually be seen like a PB Superflash. Better yet, save up for a Dinotte, that way you cannot be missed.

I stay away from right turn lanes. I will ride to the left of the left white line on the right hand turn lane. If I get into the right hand turn lane, I believe that is implying that I intend to turn right.

I do not ride on sidewalks. I stay in the road. But I am more performance in orientation than you are. Your approach to getting on the sidewalk and crossing at the cross walk looks legal and sane. I don't know if it is safer. Here in Central FL, there seems to be open season on pedestrians. They kill pedestrians like there is no tommorrow. Heck even driving up into the sidewalk and taking out pedestrians is excused. It is amazing. Drivers will nearly run them over even when they are in cross walks with the green walk signal. I feel safer out in the road where I am faster and more evasive.

Traffic that is moving is a harder to manage than traffic that is stopped. Generally speaking, motorists really don't want to run into you but things are more risky when they are moving.

Keep in mind that motorists have to know you are there to avoid hitting you. Motorists also don't always expect bicyclists.

The other thing to keep in mind that riding in traffic is a skill that takes time and practice to do and be comfortable doing. If you feel overwhelmed by a situation, it's OK to get off and walk.

Note that drivers using the right-turn lane will likely slow down to use it. Ideally, you should move across the right-turn lane and be riding like the people in the second photo (your option number 1). To do this cleanly, does take a bit of preparation (you have to be aware of the traffic around you). You should only move to the left (with a signal) if it's clear to do so. Often, when you signal, the following car will let you in.

If you aren't quite confident to do that, it's OK to be in the middle-ish of the right-turn lane. Since people using that lane are (should be), you aren't really inconveniencing them (much). Keep in mind that opposing traffic might think you are going to turn right. So, be very wary of traffic turning across your path.

If traffic is stopped, things are easier (the people in the first photo are positioned reasonably).


http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm

Do #1. If you can't merge I'd say to pull over and stop on the far side of the intersection (by the sidewalk out of traffic) and merge back in when traffic clears.

The turn signal indicates you will turn or change lanes. It's not for asking permission.

When merging left to get out of the right turn only lane, it is often helpful to do it in two steps.

(1) Look back and merge to the left side of the lane that becomes a RTOL. Your focus here is negotiationg with traffic in the RTOL.

(2) Look back for traffic in the through lane and merge into it. During this step, traffic in the RTOL is either waiting behind you or passing to your right, so your focus is now on traffic on the through lane. Depending on the width of the through lane or proximity to a traffic queue where you'll want to stop in line with other traffic, you may want to merge into the center of the through lane, or just the right side of it.

It's easy when theres only 1 lane to merge across.

part of one of my rides has a 3 lane "freeway only" with 55mph limit. can be difficult to negotiate across those 3 lanes with heavy traffic.

Thank you very much for your replies. :) Here's the plan I've sketched out for the situation in question:

1. If I notice the right-turn-only lane soon enough, and it's safe to merge, I'll signal left and ride along the white line that marks the left edge of the right-turn-only lane. If it's still safe, I'll continue merging into the center of the first through-traffic lane on my left, taking up the whole lane.

2. If I can't merge out of the right-turn-only lane in time, I'll pull over and finish getting to the intersection on the sidewalk (probably only a short distance) and walk my bike across, or pull over and wait on the side of the road until it's safe for me to reenter traffic so that I'll pass the right-turn-only lane.

You might want to get a mirror.
I use one that clips on my glasses.
I won't ride without it.

I've taken a look at mirrors and plan to get one if my commuting conditions seem like it'd be of great benefit. Thanks. ;)

Thank you very much for your replies. :) Here's the plan I've sketched out for the situation in question:

1. If I notice the right-turn-only lane soon enough, and it's safe to merge, I'll signal left and ride along the white line that marks the left edge of the right-turn-only lane. If it's still safe, I'll continue merging into the center of the first through-traffic lane on my left, taking up the whole lane.

2. If I can't merge out of the right-turn-only lane in time, I'll pull over and finish getting to the intersection on the sidewalk (probably only a short distance) and walk my bike across, or pull over and wait on the side of the road until it's safe for me to reenter traffic so that I'll pass the right-turn-only lane.

This is a reasonable plan. You'll get better at it and you'll do two less and less.


I've taken a look at mirrors and plan to get one if my commuting conditions seem like it'd be of great benefit. Thanks. ;)

Keep in mind that looking back is a better indication to the following traffic about what your intents are than looking in a mirror is. One problem with just signaling is that drivers don't think you are paying attention!

Keep in mind that looking back is a better indication to the following traffic about what your intents are than looking in a mirror is. One problem with just signaling is that drivers don't think you are paying attention!
Yeah, thanks. Even if I get a mirror in the future, I plan to follow up a look into the mirror with a full look over my shoulder. It's a bit of that habit of checking your blind spot after the mirrors from driving a car that I think will transfer over to bicycling well, with the added function that you mentioned, as well.

Thank you very much for your replies. :) Here's the plan I've sketched out for the situation in question:

1. If I notice the right-turn-only lane soon enough, and it's safe to merge, I'll signal left and ride along the white line that marks the left edge of the right-turn-only lane. If it's still safe, I'll continue merging into the center of the first through-traffic lane on my left, taking up the whole lane.

2. If I can't merge out of the right-turn-only lane in time, I'll pull over and finish getting to the intersection on the sidewalk (probably only a short distance) and walk my bike across, or pull over and wait on the side of the road until it's safe for me to reenter traffic so that I'll pass the right-turn-only lane.

I'll ditto the "good plan" and "look over your shoulder" comments. A mirror is useful for you as a rider but does nothing like a good look over the shoulder does to help show drivers your intent to move.