wxmcpo

Just starting to get into road biking and commuting and have a question. I know there is a point on my route to work where I have to cross 3 lanes of traffic to get into the left hand turn lane. What is the easiest way to do this? Do I;

1. Get immediate over to the far left and ride that side of the street until I hit the point where I make my left hand turn? (which I don't think)

2. Ride in the far right until my left hand turn and then move over to the left?

Thanks

Closed Office

I don't have a situation like that on my going to werk (no, that's the way it should be spelled) route but I do on my run for groceries, where time isn't as important. If traffic is heavy I don't bother trying to cross lanes in it, but just use the cross walks and take 2 lights to make a left turn.

Most of the time though traffic isn't a problem and I'm able to slip over to the right hand side of the left turn lane and just go around with the traffic. I did have one close call in that situation though. There was a line of traffic in all the lanes waiting for the light, and I was pedaling up to the front of it (of course) on the right side of the left lane when a driver in the lane to the right me opened his door in front of me. To empty his ash tray, it turned out. I am careful when passing parked cars to notice if there is anyone in the car that might open the door, but this one was a bit of a surprise.

AEO

Hook turn.

If traffic is light enough, I'll try and get over to the far left and just commit the left turn regularly after the squadron of cars pass.


Heavy high speed traffic and the hook turn is better and safer.

envane

That article made no sense until I remembered they drive on the wrong side of the road in Australia.

maddyfish

As you get closer to the left, start changing lanes moving left, signalling the whole time. When you get to the turn, signal your left turn and turn when traffic is clear.

tarwheel 

This is a tough situation for riding in traffic, particularly if there is no turn lane. If there is a turn lane, I would get to the left and into the lane as soon as there is an opening in the traffic. If not, you just have to keep going and wait until there is a good opening. Personally, I don't like riding in the left lane for very long unless the traffic is clear. Drivers just don't expect a bike to be there and get ticked off even if they see you.

I have a situation like that on my way home, and what I have done is change my route. The left turn in question has no turn lane and it is hard finding an opening to merge left. So instead I continue straight on that road another 1/4-mile where there is a turn lane, and make my turn there. I end up taking some different streets that end up in the same place in about the same distance, but I avoid that nasty left turn.

Also, do you have a very bright rear tail light, like a Planet Bike Superflash? That can help a lot. My Superflash is so bright that it is very visible even in broad daylight. If you don't have something like that, you need it.

ItsJustMe

Same as in a car. The heavier traffic is, the sooner you have to start moving over left if you hope to get there before the turn. As far as I know, all states allow/expect/require you to be in the left lane to make a left turn.

If traffic is insanely heavy and there's a light, you may have to stay right and use the pedestrian signal. It's not ideal but it may be the best choice in some situations.

RonH

Go here ---> https://www.bicycledriver.com/ and watch the videos and slide shows about left turns. A few bad examples of what not to do and a few good examples.

lil brown bat

There are other options, but I'd definitely choose 1 over 2. I do that often, depending on the nature of the street and traffic -- it's clear to drivers behind me that I'm turning left, and they can filter by me on the right. OTOH, you don't want to do that if you've got a lot of oncoming traffic on a non-divided road -- it's a little nerve-racking for you and the drivers both.

DataJunkie

I HATE lefts on busy streets. I plan routes to avoid that situation or if I can not avoid it I perform a two step left or turn into a ped. Sorry, not much help.

charly17201

I have one point where I have to cross a 55 mph highway to make a left (at a light).

Unless it is dark when I can see the headlights coming in the mirror, I'll start a 1/4 mile ahead finding a break in traffic (and yeah, I'll slow down too) and just go all the way across to the opposite shoulder. Get to the light and go across like a ped. The safest option for me.

politicalgeek

It all depends on your situation, but I tend to go with 1.

The left I make for work comes pretty quickly after making a right, so I just check traffic behind and ride the left turn lane to the light and wait for cross traffic to break.

I have had occasions where I needed to make a left on a 4-5 lane 1 way street. Since the far left is all parked cars on that road, I just did my best to watch for cars merging out and sailed down the left side until my turn.

sauerwald

Wide/busy streets also tend to have a lot of lights, which means that the traffic tends to get broken into packs. I have a left turn on my commute home where I have to move across 2 lanes, and I move after the last car in the pack that got through the last light passes me, sometimes that is early, sometimes it is late.

Another thing that makes my turn difficult is that it is as the road goes around a right hand curve - so visability is bad if I leave it to the last minute, and it is uphill, so I am not speeding along.

savethekudzu

I do this as well, holding open the option for making a hook turn if traffic is too heavy.
(In my case, a "hook turn" means I continue straight across the intersection, stop at the other side, turn 90 degrees to the left, and prepare to proceed straight when the signal allows.)

When moving into a left turn lane, consider not only openings in traffic but also your visibility - how visible you are to motorists. In some situations you may have plenty of openings but obstructions or ridiculous vehicle sizes may make it difficult for motorists to be aware of your presence. Take care in these situations.

sirlight

I usually just move over as soon as I see a gap in traffic. Do it a lane at a time, signal all the way and do your best to make sure the drivers see you.

One thing you really need to look out for is when you are in a left turn lane. I have seen a stunt pulled many times by drivers that do not want to wait in line to make their left turn. They will stay in the through lane just to the right and scoot over as soon as there is a gap after the light turns green. Since you are usually slower than the driver in front, "you" become the gap. I was clipped in this situation about a year ago. The easiest way to tell if someone might be trying to do this is the distance they leave between them and the car in front.

Of course after dark there is a whole other set of problems...

Buglady

[QUOTE=savethekudzu;6698554]I do this as well, holding open the option for making a hook turn if traffic is too heavy.
(In my case, a "hook turn" means I continue straight across the intersection, stop at the other side, turn 90 degrees to the left, and prepare to proceed straight when the signal allows.)
QUOTE]

I too look at the current traffic conditions when I am deciding how to turn. (I have a left-turn-only lane with an advance green on my last light coming home). Uusally I end up between pulses of traffic fromt he next set of lights down the road, so it is easy to signal, move across the 2 lanes and into the turn lane. Since it is an advance green, I can clear the intersection without worrying about oncoming traffic. If traffic is unusually heavy, however, or the high school right on the corner has just let out and there is a corresponding level of asshattery on the road nearby (cars or peds - I have seen WAY too many of the students just meander casually across the road on a red light), I go straight through, stop at the opposite corner, and position myself in the curb lane to go across at the next light. (At which point I usually have to yell at three or more oblivious kids anyway).

ch9862

It depends mostly on what the traffic is like. But since you're asking, take AEO's suggestion, and cross the intersection before making the turn on the other side. You can modify this approach later, when you gain confidence on the road and learn local traffic. Neither of the first two options is safe unless you know what you're doing.

HTH

wxmcpo

Thanks for the replies all. I can avoid the left turn all together by going a different route, will add about a mile to my commute, but may be worth it.