Advocacy & Safety - what tips do you have for changing lanes?

6 lane roads look alot more scarier than 4 lane roads. What tips do you have for changing lanes on a 6 lane road? The part I dont know about is when your gonna make a turn to the left then change lanes. Moving 2 lanes over without a mirror is scary to me. I should be safe if I do an arm signal to what im gonna do?

Whats the proper way to change lanes when you have to move 2 lanes over when your wanting to turn left?

How far away should I be when im gonna change lanes? Should I take the whole lane when im in the left lane?

Moving 2 lanes over without a mirror is scary to me.

Um, then get a mirror? I wouldn't ride on the road without one.

You just need to move one lane at a time and be assertive.

Sometimes I find it quicker to bang a right then make a u-turn. Otherwise, like he said, signal and be assertive. If you can't turn your head without altering your trajectory then yes, get a mirror!

Change lanes one lane at at time... each change involve two moves; moving to the left third of the old lane, scanning behind for overtaking traffic, then signaling and making your move into the new lane once the coast is clear.

Waiting for gaps in the flow of traffic makes this a lot less stressful. Start early, and give yourself both time and space to work your way across.

Do you really have to ride on a 6-lane street? Isn't there a less stressful parallel route?

If you start paying attention early enough, sometimes you will encounter a lull in traffic (often due to a red light upstream) where you will have a very large gap and more than enough time to merge all the way to the inside lane without having to wait on each lane one at a time. On roads where traffic is actually moving at over 45 mph, this can be easier and more pleasant than doing it one lane at a time. It's usually worth doing even if at first you think you've moved over to the left too early. Once in the far left lane, ride on the left side of the lane, and drivers will pass you with at least as much distance as they would in the right most lane, maybe more since the driver has a better view on that side of the car.

In stop-and-go congested traffic, the one-lane-at-a-time method works very, very well; you can look at drivers and signal, and more than half of them will let you over; those that don't can be skipped and you keep trying until you find one that does. Two-way communication is easy in congested traffic.

A mixture of fast and heavy traffic is the most frustrating, since comfortable gaps in even a single lane may not occur frequently, and it's harder to perform useful two-way communication and negotiation with drivers due to the high speed. You often have to wait for a gap, move into that lane, and let the other drivers sort out what they want to do as you start looking at the next lane. Every serious cyclist should develop the skill to do this, but by no means should you feel bad if you prefer to avoid having to do it. Having alternate routes and right-turn/U-turn options are a good way to enjoy cycling without feeling pressured into making maneuvers that you find unpleasant. I sometimes start riding on a busy 6-lane road intending to do a right-turn/U-turn left but end up finding a great gap in traffic, and take advantage of it. Other times I realize that I won't have enough time to make a left turn that I intended to make by merging left, and I start looking for an alternate. The latter doesn't happen often, though, because on a bike riding curbside in a wide outside lane it's usually possible to slow down to a walking pace while waiting for a gap large enough to merge to the leftmost lane, and gaps usually show up eventually, at least on one half of a roadway.

6...Moving 2 lanes over without a mirror is scary to me.

IMO, not only scary, but also moronic and idiotic, as is wearing drab outfits while riding on the road. So, while wearing hi-vis orange or yellow, use your mirror to ensure there there is plenty of room in the lane, signal boldly with an outstretched arm, move into the center of that lane, continue checking traffic in your mirror, and if enough room exists continue signalling and move over in to the next lane. Of course, at times where there is a lot of high speed traffic, you might need to go to plan B or C, which might include dismounting and crossing at the crosswalk as a pedestrian, or taking your car instead.

IMO, not only scary, but also moronic and idiotic, as is wearing drab outfits while riding on the road. So, while wearing hi-vis orange or yellow, use your mirror to ensure there there is plenty of room in the lane, signal boldly with an outstretched arm, move into the center of that lane, continue checking traffic in your mirror, and if enough room exists continue signalling and move over in to the next lane.

The alternative to using a mirror is to turn your head and look. Having a mirror is convenient in that one can reduce the number of head turns looking for a gap when traffic is heavy, but a quick head turn usually provides a wider field of view at higher detail. I've tried mirrors and didn't find them to be worth the hassle for the cycling that I do, but I will try them again if my routes change to include more left turns in heavier traffic, if my neck stiffens as I get older, or if I buy a recumbent that makes turning back more awkward.

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I would be scared to hang a left over 6 lanes to


Sometimes I find it quicker to bang a right then make a u-turn. Otherwise, like he said, signal and be assertive.
is what I would do

The alternative to using a mirror is to turn your head and look. Having a mirror is convenient in that one can reduce the number of head turns looking for a gap when traffic is heavy, but a quick head turn usually provides a wider field of view at higher detail.

This depends on the rider. Some people can't turn their head far enough, and some of us can't see well without glasses and unless you're an owl, it's unlikely that you can turn your head far enough to see THROUGH the glasses directly behind you. I can see far better with a mirror than if I turn my head. For me, turning my head is more of a signal to the cars behind me than it is an effective way to see.

This depends on the rider. Some people can't turn their head far enough, and some of us can't see well without glasses and unless you're an owl, it's unlikely that you can turn your head far enough to see THROUGH the glasses directly behind you. I can see far better with a mirror than if I turn my head. For me, turning my head is more of a signal to the cars behind me than it is an effective way to see.

These are all perfectly good reasons why mirror use is a highly personalized, subjective issue. As I said in my post, I can imagine reasons why I would be converted back to mirror use. Giving up contact lenses in favor of normal eyeglasses would be another incentive. I ride with my normal prescription glasses from time to time; they are the trendy small rectangular-lens-frame style, and are indeed lousy for peripheral vision.

Well I always say first and foremost, watch them because they aren't necessarily watching you...

I would just make suggestions here because it's simply technique. But here in Atlanta, I follow a few rules...

1) Be very predictable to cars. Be sure that they can understand your intentions. Signal big and noticeable especially in traffic.
2) Plan your attack. If you need to cross several lanes, give yourself enough room and time to do it where you don't get hurried, and take the lane when the time comes, other vehicles may not like it but it will be safer.
3) Personally, I think a mirror in traffic is wise. A glance in the mirror is better than turning your head and missing a sudden stop or someone cutting you off at the last minute.
4) I usually will let cars have the right of way, especially if they are intent on taking it anyway. I would rather let them win the race of man and machine, than lose the race of bone vs. metal to them.

Unfortunately here in Georgia, in Atlanta in particular, too many people have very little regard for cyclists on the road. The county I live in is trying to create "bikable" infrastructure. But too few of the planners know too little about the needs of cyclists. The DOT seems to be more interested in moving as many single-occupancy vehicles through the county than creating infrastructure where people have an alternative to driving to work. Heck, we don't even have much in the way of sidewalks around the mall at this point. (Of course this is only my opinion based on years of riding here...)

Now we do have the popular rails-to trails Silver Comet Trail. But it's on the other side of town, and even some of my friends who live close to it say it's still not very convenient to commute using it.

If you start paying attention early enough, sometimes you will encounter a lull in traffic (often due to a red light upstream) where you will have a very large gap and more than enough time to merge all the way to the inside lane without having to wait on each lane one at a time. On roads where traffic is actually moving at over 45 mph, this can be easier and more pleasant than doing it one lane at a time. It's usually worth doing even if at first you think you've moved over to the left too early. Once in the far left lane, ride on the left side of the lane, and drivers will pass you with at least as much distance as they would in the right most lane, maybe more since the driver has a better view on that side of the car.

Exactly, that is what usually happens with me when I'm going up the street to PetSmart to get crickets for my T's. If I time it right the light behind me will be red and I'll be able to get over into the left turn lane without a problem. Some days I have to make the right turn/U-turn maneuver to make my left turn. and some days, even if I don't get the red light behind me, but traffic is slow enough that I am able to work my way across the lanes to get to the left turn lane. Usually though as we've said if one times it right and gets a red behind them they can pretty much have the whole road to themselves and they don't really need to do the one lane at a time crossing. One can cross all the lanes at once.


In stop-and-go congested traffic, the one-lane-at-a-time method works very, very well; you can look at drivers and signal, and more than half of them will let you over; those that don't can be skipped and you keep trying until you find one that does. Two-way communication is easy in congested traffic.

Exactly, and more or just importantly they can see you and know that you didn't just "swerve" into their path. They know what you are trying to do and are usually willing to give you more leeway than surprisingly some of them will do when they encounter you on a substandard width lane.


A mixture of fast and heavy traffic is the most frustrating, since comfortable gaps in even a single lane may not occur frequently, and it's harder to perform useful two-way communication and negotiation with drivers due to the high speed. You often have to wait for a gap, move into that lane, and let the other drivers sort out what they want to do as you start looking at the next lane. Every serious cyclist should develop the skill to do this, but by no means should you feel bad if you prefer to avoid having to do it. Having alternate routes and right-turn/U-turn options are a good way to enjoy cycling without feeling pressured into making maneuvers that you find unpleasant. I sometimes start riding on a busy 6-lane road intending to do a right-turn/U-turn left but end up finding a great gap in traffic, and take advantage of it. Other times I realize that I won't have enough time to make a left turn that I intended to make by merging left, and I start looking for an alternate. The latter doesn't happen often, though, because on a bike riding curbside in a wide outside lane it's usually possible to slow down to a walking pace while waiting for a gap large enough to merge to the leftmost lane, and gaps usually show up eventually, at least on one half of a roadway.

Exactly, we as cyclists really need to be aware of what is going on around us and have an escape route. As even though most motorists don't want to hit for us if for no other reason than they don't want to damage their "precious" car. on a road with a mixture of cars traveling at different speeds can be tricky to safely transverse.

IMO, not only scary, but also moronic and idiotic, as is wearing drab outfits while riding on the road. So, while wearing hi-vis orange or yellow, use your mirror to ensure there there is plenty of room in the lane, signal boldly with an outstretched arm, move into the center of that lane, continue checking traffic in your mirror, and if enough room exists continue signalling and move over in to the next lane. Of course, at times where there is a lot of high speed traffic, you might need to go to plan B or C, which might include dismounting and crossing at the crosswalk as a pedestrian, or taking your car instead.

Exactly, the whole time that I am moving to the left turn lane I keep my left arm extended so that the motorists coming up behind me know that I am attempting and wanting to make a left hand turn. Once I get into the left turn lane and/or at the intersection than I return my hand to my handlebars. I figure that it would take a very, very braindead motorist not to realize that someone sitting in the left hand turn lane is preparing to make a left hand turn.

I make this decision every day on my commute along a 6 lane highway (3 in each direction). The level of traffic is the deciding factor. As I approach the light, I check behind me for a huge gap where I know I can safely jump from the shoulder, across 3 lanes, and into the turn lane. If I see any cars even remotely close I will turn right, make a U-turn, and wait for the green light to go straight across. The speed limit is 65, so throwing a hand signal and trying to peacefully merge into traffic here is out of the question.

I would say about 80% of the time I end up taking a right instead.

CommuteOrlando has a pretty good writeup on maneuvering in traffic, including alternative methods for left hand turns (http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/08/22/smart-moves-left-turns-on-big-roads/). Keri is a true goddess of traffic management.

I don't know where you live, but to me, 6 lanes means a freeway travelling at 100 kmph, and I usually try not to bike on the freeway.

Use a mirror, signal, then move slowly yet decisively with purpose

CommuteOrlando has a pretty good writeup on maneuvering in traffic, including alternative methods for left hand turns (http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/08/22/smart-moves-left-turns-on-big-roads/). Keri is a true goddess of traffic management.thanks that helped me out alot.