Signaling a Right Turn
05-17-15, 10:42 AM
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Signaling a Right Turn
Does anyone signal a right turn by lifting a bent left arm? You know what I mean. Putting up your left arm and bending 90° upward at the elbow. I always just stick out a right arm with two fingers to indicate a right turn. Or the same with my left arm to indicate a left turn. I don't think anyone knows what a bent left arm means anymore.
05-17-15, 11:12 AM
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Same here, although I used to use the bent left arm exclusively I now just point with the arm on the side I am turning.
And apparently there are quite a few people out there that don't know what pointing means either, I've been passed on the left when indicating a left turn and nearly been clipped more than a few times. Many people just don't pay attention. MOST do, but it's the few goofs that DON'T that are running the risk of killing someone.
And apparently there are quite a few people out there that don't know what pointing means either, I've been passed on the left when indicating a left turn and nearly been clipped more than a few times. Many people just don't pay attention. MOST do, but it's the few goofs that DON'T that are running the risk of killing someone.
05-17-15, 12:24 PM
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I always point with the right arm. I don't think people understand the "square left" and because the "square left" is really meant for car drivers who can't reach their right arm out the right window.
On the other hand, I watched a few dozen riders make a right turn yesterday, everyone signaled with "square left".
On the other hand, I watched a few dozen riders make a right turn yesterday, everyone signaled with "square left".
05-17-15, 12:28 PM
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I don't think I could get the idea of riding with my back near horizontal and my left forearm pointing up past my PT. I already have enough physical issues. But just extending my other arm horizontally is pretty close to the exercises she already has me on.
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05-17-15, 12:58 PM
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Left arm left turn.
Right arm right turn.
No confusion.
I was on a ride once and the lead guy did the left arm up signaling right. But he did a bad job of it so it looked more like a left turn signal. A guy moved to his right, thinking he was giving room for the left turn, and instead got taken out by the right turning leader.
Right arm right turn.
No confusion.
I was on a ride once and the lead guy did the left arm up signaling right. But he did a bad job of it so it looked more like a left turn signal. A guy moved to his right, thinking he was giving room for the left turn, and instead got taken out by the right turning leader.
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05-17-15, 04:29 PM
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Does anyone signal a right turn by lifting a bent left arm? You know what I mean. Putting up your left arm and bending 90° upward at the elbow. I always just stick out a right arm with two fingers to indicate a right turn. Or the same with my left arm to indicate a left turn. I don't think anyone knows what a bent left arm means anymore.
05-17-15, 04:39 PM
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left arm left turn.
Right arm right turn.
No confusion.
I was on a ride once and the lead guy did the left arm up signaling right. But he did a bad job of it so it looked more like a left turn signal. A guy moved to his right, thinking he was giving room for the left turn, and instead got taken out by the right turning leader.
Right arm right turn.
No confusion.
I was on a ride once and the lead guy did the left arm up signaling right. But he did a bad job of it so it looked more like a left turn signal. A guy moved to his right, thinking he was giving room for the left turn, and instead got taken out by the right turning leader.
05-17-15, 05:36 PM
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Left arm straight down, angled out a tad so people see it, palm facing back.
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05-17-15, 05:46 PM
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The left turn signal - left arm up at 90 degrees, is usually unrecognizable to a motorist behind the bike. The rider is usually hunched over the bars and the left arm ends up pointing mostly forward, which the driver can't even see. I usually use my right arm and point right. Everyone knows what it means, and it's even legal in Michigan now.
05-17-15, 05:52 PM
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I signal by pointing right with my right arm. I assume anyone under 50 doesn't know the "automotive right turn" arm signal, but they sure know when you point right you're going right.
Some "old guys", i'm 59, still use the "automotive" signal.
Some "old guys", i'm 59, still use the "automotive" signal.
05-17-15, 06:06 PM
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I saw someone using the left arm signal, I knew what he was doing but it didn't convey the information it is supposed to convey. It came from cars, the right arm just isn't visible. Soon after that, I saw someone driving that had no turn signals and was using hand signals -- same deal, I think I was the only one that knew he was making turn signals. I'm really surprised that hand signals are still legal in a car, but apparently they are.
05-17-15, 06:57 PM
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I use the left arm bent for right turn and I get a laugh when people wave at you.
05-17-15, 07:37 PM
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I do a Right Shark.
05-17-15, 08:15 PM
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Left arm right turn signal makes no sense to me for cyclists. I can't find that Indiana law specifies it's use - pretty sure it was in the past.
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05-17-15, 08:16 PM
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05-17-15, 09:55 PM
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I think they're still legal in cars that either 1.) don't have turn signals, like vintage cars, or 2.) cars where the signals simply aren't working, due to a mechanical issue. I seem to recall using them a few times when I had an old car that was always malfunctioning (I may be misremembering it!). Anyway, I used the automotive signals for a while but I've since gone over to pointing in the direction I'm turning, as it's easier to understand, I think.
05-18-15, 06:41 AM
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Law specifics will vary by state, but in Georgia left-arm signals are defined in O.C.G.A. 40-6-125 as applying to "vehicles" (inclusive of bicycles) and not just to "motor vehicles" (cars, motorcycles, mopeds, etc).
05-18-15, 06:47 AM
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Wow. I'm 55 and signal a right turn in the same way that I was taught when I was a child. It's still a lawful signal in my state.
After reading this discussion, though, I'm considering striking a road flare and holding it outward in my right hand to signal a turn.
As long as I don't get hit, I'm happy...
After reading this discussion, though, I'm considering striking a road flare and holding it outward in my right hand to signal a turn.
As long as I don't get hit, I'm happy...
05-18-15, 07:09 AM
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When I'm riding out by myself, I ALWAYS just point where I"m going...I don't expect any motorist to know old hand signals....AND I don't signal that I'm stopping, I just assume if I'm approaching a stop sign and slowing down, people can figure it out.
HOWEVER, on group rides, I ride with some older guys who are "into" cycling, and usually whoever is in front will signal old-style...hand down to indicate the group is stopping, hand up to indicate left turn...Since I am never in the front, I don't have to decide what to do...just interpret.
HOWEVER, on group rides, I ride with some older guys who are "into" cycling, and usually whoever is in front will signal old-style...hand down to indicate the group is stopping, hand up to indicate left turn...Since I am never in the front, I don't have to decide what to do...just interpret.
05-18-15, 07:11 AM
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Since we are cyclist out in the open, IMO we should extent the left arm and point for a left turn, and extend the right arm and point to signal a right turn. I always have, and I have never found any car drivers didnt understand what I was signaling.
05-18-15, 07:14 AM
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Additionally since turn signals in cars have been around since the early 50s, young drivers have no idea what a left arm raised up to signal a right turn means.
05-18-15, 09:00 AM
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I have traditionally used the "old-style" right turn signal (left hand up bent at the elbow). I find that if cars are following me (even if I'm on the shoulder or bike lane to the right of traffic) cars will simply slow down because they don't know what it means. It doesn't matter to me, as long as I don't get hit.
The other disadvantage of using your right arm is that if a car is at the right angle behind or beside you, they won't see your signal. Your left arm is always in front of traffic (assuming your country drives on the right side of the road), so it is always the most visible "device" for signaling.
The other disadvantage of using your right arm is that if a car is at the right angle behind or beside you, they won't see your signal. Your left arm is always in front of traffic (assuming your country drives on the right side of the road), so it is always the most visible "device" for signaling.