Helmet Head

I rarely see cyclists look back, much less look back and merge left before they cross an intersection. I'm wondering how often BF members do this.

AndrewP

On my way home I have to cross over 2 lanes of busy traffic to make a L turn. I use the glasses mount mirror to watch for a gap in traffic created by the traffic lights. Then I look over my shoulder and give hand signal before I actually make the move. Other occasions where traffic is light I check that nothing is coming and make the move.

the homealien

I always do it to get out of a right-only lane, but otherwise I only do it if I feel like there are cars right behind me and I need to assert some control.

The Seldom Kill

I do this everyday as part of my commute, which is odd because I live in the UK. This is because I go through a busy one way system with one section that has four lanes. Because of the set up of the road and the volumes of traffic at the time that I use it, I enter this section and immediately pull to the to far right-hand lane, travel the 200-250 meters of the lane and towards the end merge over to the middle right lane to get out of a slip lane to transit interchange. The road then changes into a multi-lane rotary system and further merging left is required to exit the system at my turn.

Merging left in the one-way system is anathema to car drivers and needs to be done with caution. Rather ironically its very much expected on the rotary which adjoins it.

Off topic, but I think in a sense related; what is the VC position on roundabouts/rotary systems that are effectively multi-lane due to their size but lack definitive road markings except a short disctance preceding any light controls that are in place?

Lord Chambers

I might, if I'm coming up on a lot of stopped traffic and don't want to get hooked. But I usually cross intersections in the bike lane because my routes aren't in areas so ladden with traffic that I don't think someone has a very good chance of seeing me on their approach.

Guest

Always. I'm not in the mood to die.

Koffee

Dchiefransom

I only merge left if the lane is too narrow to share. Most of the intersections on main streets in my area have right turn lanes, so I move into the straight through lane, but if it's wide I stay to the right and let cars pass.

scottmorrison99

Ditto.I want to be predictable, not dead.

ItsJustMe

I got trained to merge left because on my route there are several intersections with stoplights where most traffic turns right, but there's no right turn lane. I merge left to avoid getting right hooked, and also because if I'm at the front of the line at a red, cars can squeeze by on the right (it's pretty wide, cars squeeze by even other cars there). Usually 10 cars will go by and turn right on red while I'm at the front.

The thing that bugs me is that people don't use their damn turn signals. If I don't see a turn signal, I'm going to stay centered on the lane, and if they really want to turn right, they won't have room. If I see a right turn indicator, I'll move farther right and there will be a safe amount of room.

But lately I've noticed that even those that use their turn signals for some reason don't turn them on until they're 5 feet from the intersection. Some people don't turn them on until they're already beginning the turn. I'm not sure what the point is by then.

They can't expect courtesy if they won't let me know where they're trying to go.

CommuterRun

I normally ride in the right half of the right lane.

Before intersections, blind curves, and anywhere else it's unsafe to pass it's a simple matter to check to see if I'm about to be passed and if I'm not, move a couple of feet to the left to the center of the lane.

Bekologist

merging left is where every conditioned street cyclist is going to position his bike without even thinking about it.

I will pick a lane depending on how much turning traffic is ahead of me, not just using the right hand lane if the roadway is multilanes.

Sometimes I just point my finger to the left to claim more space in the lane.

genec

Intersections, yeah, I look, signa and move, driveways, perhaps not depending on the traffic around me... if it is busy enough, with lots of potential driveways and lots of potential right hooks, I just stay left... I think too much moving back and forth can be confusing too.

I want to tend to do a straight line and minimize lateral movement, if possible. So in that regard, with short blocks, or near shopping areas, I tend to claim the lane.

mmerner

I voted "Never or rarely". I'm trying to get into the habit of merging left, but right hooks are not much of a problem where I live.

and to answer your question, the time I do look back when merging is only when making a left turn at the intersection. close to never when merging and going straight or right.

mac

I don't get it. Why would you try to merge with traffic that is going much faster than you prior to reaching an intersection only to go back to the side once you clear it? Other than right-turn-only lanes, or if I'm trying to get in the left-turn lane across multiple lanes of traffic (try that at night!), I don't merge left.

chipcom 

If you stay on the right, instead of taking the lane, you really increase your odds of someone who doesn't see you, or is just a moron in a hurry, either turning into you or cutting you off by turning right in front of you.

I also think motorists are less apt to get pissed at you for passing them on the right while they are waiting in a line of cars. They see me sitting in the lane, waiting with them, I am one of them, just another commuter, only on a bike and not in a cage. If I ride up the gutter or the line, I am one of 'those' PIA cyclists or just another moron in a rush with no patience or manners.

All the speed of the traffic means to me is a measurement of how much space I need to merge and take the lane. If traffic is heavy, I will usually slow down before the intersection and let traffic pass until a suitable gap presents itself.

2manybikes

After looking in my mirror, turning around, and either getting approval, to move over into a space, or taking one and letting it be know well in advance. I merge into the lane before turning left. As far ahead of time as is appropriate.

I will use other safe methods if needed.

linds

When making a left turn at a stoplight, I do my damndest to merge into the left turn lane via looking back and merging. If I get really stuck I'll go through the intersection and stop on the far right at the curb, turning my bike so it's now like I'm in the front of the line, ready to go straight when this new light turns green. Though this is not possible if there are cars at that corner wanting to turn right.

Reasons why I like riding in Boston later at night than during the day/rush hour.

genec

Well you have a good point, in the case of much faster traffic (on one route I ride the speed limit is 55MPH) it is difficult to arbitrarily merge left when that faster traffic is approaching... However, at 55MPH they do have to slow down to make a turn, so if I am approaching a business drive where I could be cut off, AND I am aware of autos closing on me and slowing, I signal for a slow down and move left out of the way of anyone that might be right turning.

Along these lines, I saw an interesting issue last week. There was a maintenance truck in the BL doing some work on trees half way up this hill that I ride at about 10MPH, while that 55MPH traffic zips along on their three lanes. Well I had to move left to avoid the truck... so I looked back and the nearest traffic was perhaps a 1/2 mile back, but approaching quickly... But there was no way I could "see their eyes" nor could I be sure they were even looking that far up the road. Well I signaled and moved out... (after all there was nobody right there where I was then) and continued along... I did glance back to see what was happening and what I saw had the potential for problems: As the forward vehicle saw me and realized I was using "their lane" they would peel left into another lane... the following driver would then speed up... then suddenly realize why the first driver peeled off, then they would peeled off left, then the next driver came up and so on. Fortunately all the drivers had peeled off or pulled over enough to the left to avoid me.

But with this action, I could see how at that speed, if they had been closer initially, how as the first driver peels off and the road is "revealed" to the next driver, they have to realize that there is an "obstruction" ahead. If the second or third driver didn't see me in time to react (remember I am only "revealed" to them as the forward car finally moves to the left lane) they could easily have plowed into me. It would have required a more evasive move on their part to avoid me... Motorists don't react together like cyclists in a pace line... each driver instead sees that the motorist in front of them is moving, therefore they now have "the lead" and often rush to fill any opening void.

In reality, the last auto that sped past me had only moved partially over... either didn't have time or space to fully change lanes or chose not to.

This is the biggest reason that I don't like surface streets with speeds approaching freeway speeds. And in this case like many other examples I can give, this road parallels and is in sight of a freeway.

Surface streets in cities should not exceed 45MPH. I strongly believe a campaign should be started to reduce surface street speeds in cities.

I can cite examples of 50, 55 and even 65MPH roads in this city that parallel freeways (which offer a fine viable alternative for fast traffic)... the surface roads provide the only path for cyclists... and in my mind, there is no reason for the high speeds on those roads. Period.

noisebeam

Wow, you describe exactly what I see happening behind me while riding in a NOL on arterials here. Then I read more of you post and yep, you go there.

Other things I don't like... Stopping in center or left side of a right most thru lane on a 7 lane road while first in line at stop light. Cars see you and go into the center or left lane so as not be be stuck behind you. Then some agressive driver comes speeding along in left most lane, sees two lines of cars in left and center lane, no one they can see in right lane, they see light just turned green and fast merge right at 50mph to pass all the cars on their right, then suddenly see you sitting there, just getting going on the green and slam on the brakes and screech you wonder if they will stop in time while a cloud of burning rubber blows over you. (yep has happened to me)

Al

mac

I've noticed that the new housing communities with the cookie-cutter houses on postage-stamp-sized lots have "highways" connecting each development. Those streets have 4 to 6 lanes with speeds up to 50 MPH. And there are no side-streets. In order to get from A to B on those communities, you must use those streets. And they aren't wide enough for a nice comfort zone, nor did the community try to squeeze in Bike Lanes as a nod to cyclists. (This is not a discussion on whether or not BLs are good in this case, but merely that the city gave no thought to cyclists when designing the community.)

landstander

I generally ride 3-4 feet from the curb (assuming a road without parked cars, or other obstructions), but always take the lane when approaching an intersection. If it's wide enough, I'll accomodate people making right turns by going as far to the left as is practical... otherwise I position myself roughly at the center.

genec

Yeah, I thought exactly of your situation as I was thinking about it... A lot more traffic and those autos would not have been able to "peel off" and things could have gotten ugly.

I think the thing that really irratates me is the "race car mentality" of so many of these drivers... that they have to "beat" the vehicle next to them or push to meet and hold that MAXIUM speed. Increasing the speed limit only encourages this behaviour.

Had a guy last night pulling a bone head move... right on my tail as I was driving (wet streets here last night too... ) just under the speed limit in my neighborhood... if I had to suddenly stop for anything, that idiot would have been right next to me in the passenger seat. As I made a left turn, he then sped up... obviously then speeding... Where was the fire?

I-Like-To-Bike

That's what I see every day in my mirror as I commute on a 55mph road; and is the reason I scoff at the spacey all purpose advice and dogma emanating from "experts" who preach that that they (and all other suitably trained cyclists) can control high speed traffic under all conditions with cryptic stares and body language, AS IF motorists and cyclists ARE in an orderly pace line and drive accordingly.

genec

However I would be willing to bet that your 55MPH road is rural in nature and does not carry the traffic load of the multilaned roads I use or especially that noisebeam uses...

So not the same at all.

But scoff on... as I think speed differential is a problem... so in a manner, I agree with you.

chipcom 

I scoff at the notion of a 55mph road around here...if that's the posted limit, the average cage is moving at 70 at least (you gotta be more than like 15 over around here to even get the attention of a cop). I don't mind it on the rural roads...but in the city I feel like I'm playing Mouse Hunt...and I am the mouse.