Originally Posted by
graciela
I just want to add a question. How do people handle left turns? Right now I dismount at the intersection and walk my bike across. What's the safest way to take a left turn lane? Do you take the entire lane?
Good instruction here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CyclistLorax http://www.youtube.com/user/CyclistL...14/rU4nKKq02BU
Take the lanes. Signal to the traffic behind you and make sure you have plenty of space to get up to speed to commit. Worst thing you can allow to happen is make your merge too short. Just be predictable and consistent. Might be a little intimidating at first, but once you've done it a couple of times, you'll see why this is better than crosswalks. Some left turns are a given from the other side of the intersection, but I've got a few that drivers hesitate at unless I signal to them. From their vantage point, they can't tell if I'm turning left. Not to mention, most cyclists are NOT predictable (at least around here), so I can understand the hesitation. Besides, hand signals are proper and friendly riding IMO.