Advocacy & Safety - Poll: Bicycle hand signals

Here is something to try. Ask a random number of your cager friends if they know what the classic "turn right" hand signal means. Then do my poll!

PS, if you don't know, the classic right turn hand signal is to hold your left arm out, bent upwards at the elbow, like a capital 'L'. Personally, I extend my right arm out, with index finger pointing, to show a right turn. I don't think that most drivers know the "proper" signal. But, let's do this poll and find out!

Just asked a bunchof people: even my wife didn't know what it meant. She thought it meant "stop".

where i live no one knows what any of the hand signals mean, and they have no idea how to act around bikes =/

This would be why I just point in the direction I'm turning. Hand signals don't seem to be taught properly anymore.

Wait - You expect cagers, who have a hard time extending a hand down to activate a turn signal indicator, to know what a hand signal means?

I'm pretty sure most of them understand one hand signal in particular. You can guess what signal that might be. :D

Sorry, I'm just feeling cynical today.

Wait - You expect cagers, who have a hard time extending a hand down to activate a turn signal indicator, to know what a hand signal means?

I'm pretty sure most of them understand one hand signal in particular. You can guess what signal that might be. :D

Sorry, I'm just feeling cynical today.You wouldn't mean this one?
http://img1.exs.cx/img1/8086/flipdabird0nv.gif

Haha, people here don't know what it means, either. What's more scary is that we have to know these to pass a driving test. o_o;

This would be why I just point in the direction I'm turning. Hand signals don't seem to be taught properly anymore.

That's what I do. KISS.

I signal with the classic L shaped left arm out of habit.. nobody seems to have a clue what it means. maybe they think i'm waving or something. Pointing is the best way to go now days.

I just point with whatever hand corresponds with the direction I'm going...hand up to stop, wave thru for anyone behind at clear intersections, wave for acknowledgment of courteous drivers, middle finger applied to the jerks of the road

The left-hand arm up bent at the elbow signal was mainly invented for cars and carraiges because no one would see your right hand/arm if you were driving from the left seat and trying to signal a right turn otherwise. It makes much more sense to point using your right arm when on a bicycle. Unfortunately, as others have pointed out knowledge of any hand signals by many motorists is lacking in general.

I just point with whatever hand corresponds with the direction I'm going...hand up to stop,

Maybe I'm confused, I thought the stopping hand signal was left arm down, not up.

Whenever I signal a right turn, drivers wave back to me.

I just point my hand, kind of wave with my wrist pointing in the direction of turn... Works on the streets of NYC...

I'm about to skew this poll, should I kill my 'cager' friends?

Maybe I'm confused, I thought the stopping hand signal was left arm down, not up.

nah, I'm always confused. But A lot of people tend to see the signal as "stop"

I point right with my right arm for right turns. This isn't legally recognized in my state of NC, but nobody here understands the left arm version.

There are two situations where a right turn signal is really useful. One is when signaling a lateral movement to the right; in most situations the only road users I need to communicate with to my right are cyclists, especially those who might try to overtake me on the right, and the right hand is much more effective for them because my hand juts out into their path. The other situation is a courtesy to tell drivers at cross-streets and driveways that I am turning, so they don't wait for me and then get mad when I don't cross their path. In the latter case, if they misinterpret my signal, no harm done.

Steve Goodridge

In the UK one points ones arm in the direction of the turn.

I think this dates from when car drivers did the same - i.e. before flashing indicators.

I can't say what people actually understand, but out here they are part of the driver's handbook (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs31thru32.htm#signalsdriversbic) and are presumably something that could be on the exam.

I thought everyone was taught these; I remember learning them even before I started driving. But I suspect nowadays many people don't get "stop" or "right" when made with the left hand. I use them anyway. Here it is allowable/legal for cyclists to signal a right turn by extending the right arm outwards (mirror of left turn signal).

Do not shoot firearms on a highway or at traffic signs.




Dammit! What the hell happened to my America??? :mad:

I point right with my right arm for right turns. This isn't legally recognized in my state of NC, but nobody here understands the left arm version. ...

An outstretched right arm IS recognized by the California Vehicle Code for right-turning bicyclists and motorcyclists. This signal is clear, unambiguous, and easy to execute.

It's also legal here in Washington.



Hand signals.

All hand signals required of persons operating bicycles shall be given in the following manner:

(1) Left turn. Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle;

(2) Right turn. Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle;

(3) Stop or decrease speed. Left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle.

The hand signals required by this section shall be given before initiation of a turn.

[1982 c 55 § 8.]

In the UK one points ones arm in the direction of the turn.

I think this dates from when car drivers did the same - i.e. before flashing indicators.

UH? how did a person in a car in the UK indicate a left turn with the hand, the hand is in the car ?

Or did they put the right hand out and up? The USA a right turn is left hand out and up because the other hand is in the car.

But I suspect nowadays many people don't get "stop" or "right" when made with the left hand. I use them anyway. Here it is allowable/legal for cyclists to signal a right turn by extending the right arm outwards (mirror of left turn signal).

Nowadays some people around here believe bikes belong on the sidewalk. I would like to be able to use the correct hand signal and be understood, that that's asking way too much of the general populace. I point in the direction of the turn. Sounds like the U.K. law makes more sense, anyway.

Can you buy anything for a bike to go on the back of it so you have turning lights ? How long is the battery life?

Can you buy anything for a bike to go on the back of it so you have turning lights ? How long is the battery life?

I've seen a couple of different ones. Here's one (http://www.global-merchants.com/home/bike.htm).

http://www.global-merchants.com/home/bikeleds.jpg

I've even seen brakepads with built-in braking lights (http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/led_brake_blocks.shtml) that activate when the pad makes contact with the rim.

http://www.kinetics.org.uk/assets/images/ledbb1.jpghttp://www.kinetics.org.uk/assets/images/ledbb2.jpg

I have yet to be convinced that any of these devices will be any more effective at signalling to motorists than hand signals.

A couple more idea for signals:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/arc/199/

http://brakelite.fws1.com/page3.html

But I also prefer hand signals. Need to modify reflective leg bands to fit my wrists.

Most motorists have no idea that the left arm, bent at the elbow with the hand up, means a right turn.

Massachusetts General Laws, ch. 85. section 11B, permits bicyclists to signal a right turn, with either hand. (sorry, but it's a fact.) I use my right hand, pointed straight out. Motorists waiting on the cross street all seem to understand this. If I did the left arm, bent up, they would probably think I was waving hello.

today i was riding my mountain bike on the bike lane and im slower than the road bikes so all of a sudden i hear "ON YOUR LEFT" and i almost steered into the guy because it startled me so much. :eek:

Virginia also alows both signalling methods:
http://www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/bk-laws.asp#Changing

I like using the left-hand method myself, as I can keep my dominant hand on the
handle bar - of course I'd rather use what the drivers will recognize.

Tried to take the poll,but the poll was closed. So here's my input. I know how to use the signals, if you mean the same hand signals that you are supposed to know when you take your driving test. However, to be honest, I rarely use handsignals when I ride. Maybe I should, however it is hard to when your riding in traffic to take your hands off the handlbars and make a left turn.

I know the traditional automobile hand signals but have never had cause to use them since my blinkers work. On a bike, I point in the appropriate direction with the appropriate arm: i.e., right arm extended out to the right, fingers pointing, to signal a right turn. It's logical and should be self-explanatory to drivers.

I use the arm out left turn signal before I move across the lanes to mak a left turn. This is more noticable to cars than a little light on the back of your luggage rack. Lights can be kept on for an extended period, which would be a useful addition to the hand signal.

I use the pointing method before turning. It makes it about as clear as can be. Anyway, I always felt a little silly doing the right turn signal with the left arm.

For the record, I signal for a right hand turn with my left hand. I figure that's the side the cars can see eaisier. My right hand would get lost in the visual noise of parked cars and buildings.

For the record, I signal for a right hand turn with my left hand. I figure that's the side the cars can see eaisier. My right hand would get lost in the visual noise of parked cars and buildings.

It depends. If you're still 200 feet from the intersection where you'll be turning right, and riding in the center of the lane, signaling your intent with your right hand might be more visible to the person behind you.


Serge

With a car directly behind me in the RH turn lane, RH signal would be better seen with RH. Good point. No pun intended.

I'm riding in the RH turn lane, so it should be understood that I'm turning right, but not all bicycle riders ride the correct way.

When I ride, I rarely, if ever have problems with cars. Its the clueless wrong-way bicycle riders that will do me in!

Usually i do the nad signals and the damn soccer moms with there huge ass suvs and 1 kid dont know what im doing, so when i go they get pissed and if im really ticked off maybe one of these http://img1.exs.cx/img1/8086/flipdabird0nv.gif are kicked into action! :D

*hand

I prefer to point my arm in the direction i intent to turn as it is the most obvious signal. That said, it would be wise to put reflective tape around your wrist/bottom of your glove so that when you do use this method (particularly at night) it will be much more visible.
I like the brake pad with the sensor and red LED, but then I am a sucker for gadgets :D ).