hester

if anyone knows the best way to pass buses and other cars lined up in the right lane at a red, do tell. splitting lanes like a motorcycle seems safer than sticking to the right because of right turns, but is this the correct procedure on a bike?
and what of left turns? is it best to bide your time behind the other cars, or should you take the right side up to the front?

highspeedcycle

i would not split(as fun as it would be) but i'm not from a huge town where i would need to split.

Nick
https://www.NickReynolds.net

skookum

on right turning traffic ,depending on the circumstances I would either pass on the left, taking the lane, or split the lane if it s wide enough, or wait well behind the vehicle to finish its right turn. It can be very dangerous to pass on the right, or creepupon the right side of the vehicle.

On left turns the safest way is to take the whole lane like a car, but depending on taffic, I sometimes use the right edge of the left turn lane. Depends on traffic volume and the particular intersection.

There are a number of online guides to urban cycling. They are not all identical, but there is agreement on the major points of safe travel in traffic.

Here is one example
https://bicyclesafe.com/

noisebeam

Good advice.

I always wait behind a line of cars if I know that I will make the light when it turns green. But if you know you will miss the green light cycle, then either split lane on left or ride to the right of cars, but not all the way to the front of line, just far enough so you make the light at the next green and where there is a gap between two cars to get in between. If spliting or riding to right, remember to go slow and be ultra alert to doors, etc. and especially if there are driveways before intersection that a car may right turn into.

Al

wsexson

I usually pass a line of stopped cars on the right. I will "split the lanes" if I think that is safer, mainly when there is a right turn only lane. I do not split between traffic and parked cars unless there is a bike lane in between them. I always pass stopped cars slowly because motorists DO NOT use their turn signals! I will usually "take the lane" when making a left turn, unless I am at the intersection and there is a sensor to activate the left turn arrow. Then I position myself at the right edge of the left turn lane so that a car can get to the sensor.

HiYoSilver

Good questions. Here's what I do:

A- Lane: straight or right. Could be second lane from right with only right turn on far right.
Here I watch the signal. Do NOT want to get at front when light turns green. As long as one car length behind lead ok to split, but split on the right. Don't split on a left, traffic starts up you can't start up and go fast like a cycle, so stay to the slow side where you are expected to be.

On lead car, carefully check driver before pulling up. If advancing on lead car, get slightly in front of them so they can't miss seeing you before they think of turning right into you. If car windows are too dark to see thru, stay back with 2nd car. Ideally you'ld want to be there much before the light turns green.

If not sure it's safe, use ped button.

B- lane: straight or left. Could be second lane from left with only left turn on far left
You must be in the right side of the left turning lanes. Here you don't have to worry about car turning into you, but if is choice of car going left or straight, you have to watch for yourself turning into a car going straight.

Key is to be where expected: in the slowest part of slow lane and expect turning drivers NOT to see you at the last minute. Safety is more important than saving 30 seconds of ride time. At best an emergency room visit is 6 hours minimum.

Keith99

If you find a way let me know. I can't find a way that is safe in a car with good acceleration. Busses seem to simply go where they want, no matter what they might hit.

stonooka

Hi,

Here is a situation I had on my ride on the streets today somewhat related to this thread:

I'm stopped at the light waiting at the right curb for the light to change. Cars are coming up behind me wanting to make a right turn on red which is legal unless there is sign stating otherwise. (on some intersections, there is a straight thru bike lane where bikers can wait for the light to change and marked lanes for the right turners; not the case here). The thru lane was not wide enough for me to be safely waiting a car width to the left of the curb and on the right side of the thru cars, so I preferred to stop at the curb. The right turning cars would pause behind me so I waved my left arm right-wardly and they made their right turns. Then when the light changed, I held my left hand out so I could go straight through w/o being sideswiped by more right turners.

I hope the car drivers appreciated the gesture.

Sinchi

noisebeam

If it wasn't wide enough to wait on the left side of lane to allow cars to pass and right turn on your right, then how could it be wide enough to wait on right side and have cars pass on your left and right turn.

I always wait on left side of lane and let right turners pass on my right to turn right, they have to squeeze close to curb to do so.

But if the lane is narrow I wait in middle so no one unsafely passes me on right or left. If I/you were driving a car, no other vehicle could pass you either, so you are not doing anything unusual by stopping in middle of lane.

Al

crazybikerchick

Line up at red - if there's only a few cars, wait in line. If there's a lot of cars, judge where there is the most room. Cars make this difficult by haphazardly stopping at the light to the right or to the left, which in some cases you will need to change the side you are passing on. If there's a few feet on the right, the right. If its too narrow the left (if there's enough room) Never pass anyone on the right signalling right (well if they are well back of the intersection, light is red and you can then cut left in front of them fine) If you are passing on the left (usually the most correct procedure since all traffic should overtake other traffic to the left) - and the light turns green and some cars are not turning right - shoulder check and try to negotiate your way back in line as splitting the lanes through moving-faster-than-you traffic is rather scary.

For left turns, if its a left turn only lane and there is enough room for car+bike, I will take the right side up to the front. If the lane can be either left turn or straight, usually wait behind. If its left turn or straight but the top cars are waiting to turn left and traffic is heavy so they'll likely be stuck until the amber, go up front and wait to turn with the car on the amber.

Of course these are just my opinions of what I would do.