Originally Posted by
CliffordK
Originally Posted by
baron von trail
About a year ago, while watching cross traffic fly by at 50 miles an hour as I sat at the front of the line in the left turn lane of a busy intersection during a red light, my brain, always one to jump ahead and go, "What if..." suddenly seized on a horrific scenario.
What if this moron turning left on the green cuts it too close and gets whacked by one of those fast-moving cars in the oncoming traffic? Well...it was pretty easy to predict what would happen to me. The car turning left would get hit and helicopter right through where I stood.
That was the last time I sat in a left turn lane.
Since then, I have developed multiple strategies. But, the one I like best is cutting over, across the opposite lane, where from I then cross the road counter-flow to traffic. This works really well when there is a sidewalk. It even comes with some added advantages like being able to go on the red when cross traffic clears a bit and the line of cars waiting to turn left on the green make their turns.
It's a bit unorthodox, in that I have to zig and zag a bit. But, I see it as infinitely safer than standing exposed in that left turn lane like a sitting duck.
I think you're worried too much.
Anywhere you are on the roadway, a car could veer off course and smash a bicycle.
If you are
#1 in a line of cars, then you're a bit exposed. Further back in the line, and you aren't.
But, use your judgement for safety. There is one left turn lane that I hang left on aiming at a median strip bike path. A couple of days ago the light changed red at a bad time and left me very exposed, so I headed for an island on the left side of the road across the road for a crosswalk. So, unintentionally similar to your zig-zag.
OP, Cliffordk is right. That you are worried too much. I don't agree with his zig-zag method. But that is me. Like he said, "use your judgment for safety".
My approach to a scenario of that nature(waiting for green in left-turn lane). Is to pay attention to the traffic in the oncoming outside lane, while the traffic in the oncoming inside lane(and oncoming middle lane if it exists) is easy to see. It is easy to focus on the vehicles in the lane(s) you can see. Instead of focusing on the outside lane with traffic you can't see. Just be more vigilant about paying attention.