I've done a couple of test runs for my new commute and I have a question about left turn safety on a busy, four lane roadway.

The issue arises on my ride home. After moving through a major intersection on the green light, I need to make a left turn onto a residential street about 200 yards past the intersection. The only way for me to safely approach this left turn is, it seems, to make sure I'm in the left lane while waiting at the light at the intersection.

The safety concern arises when I need to come to a full stop before making the left due to oncoming traffic. In this case, I've got left lane drivers coming up fast behind me after they've shot through the intersection.

Any tips on how to execute this safely? The reason I'm making the left is to access the bike path, which enables me to avoid the treacherous hill on the four-lane roadway in question.

A safer option for me would be to use the crosswalk at the aforementioned intersection. I could ride across on the "Walk" signal and then ride the sidewalk until I hit the bike path. I guess the only reason I haven't tried this option is because it takes more time to wait on the crossing signals. However, if the left turn from the roadway is inherently unsafe, I'll use the crosswalk.

The main reason I ask this question is that it would seem to apply to many left turn-from-roadway situations that I might encounter during other, non-commuting rides.

Thanks,

------> SliverStreak

Although hard-core vehicular cyclists will disagree with me, my behaviour in your situation would depend on traffic flow, visibility, road and weather conditions (e.g. rising or setting sun in one's eyes), etc. If the road configuration would indeed require me to hold up fast traffic in the inside through lane, i.e., there is no left-turn-only, center turns lane, or center divider in which I can take refuge, I will generally avoid this dangerous scenario by crossing at the preceding intersection and riding the sidewalk on the wrong side of the street, giving way to any pedestrians who may be present, and being doubly-paranoid at all driveway crossings. (A morally and legally superior solution is to walk the bike on this stretch of sidewalk.) If there is a signallized intersection farther down the road, you might consider overshooting your turn, making a u-turn (or using the crosswalk) at that intersection, then doubling back on the correct side of the street, to turn left onto your bikepath.

Sounds like a dangerous situation. You may be legally correct to be in traffic as a vehicle, but it only takes one inattentive driver to change your life.

I would cross at the cross walk as a pedestrian in this particular case.

Yesterday I saw a lady smoking, puting on make-up, and careening through a turn at an intersection - all at the same time. IF she was looking at the road, she would have had to be able to see through her rear-view mirrow which she was looking at as she put on her mascara. I wouldn't have wanted to be in that mix no matter what the law says I am entitled to do.

Sounds like the crosswalk for me! Sidewalk riding is legal in my county, so I'm good to go. Thanks for the analysis.

----> SliverStreak

The fact that you have an upcoming left turn is less significant, IMO, than the fact that as slow traffic you're required (and more importantly, expected) to keep to the right. Taking the left lane at an intersection is not expected behavior for cyclists, and the key to safety is to never take drivers by surprise.

It may not even be legal, depending (probably) on exactly how far down your left turn is.

I would stay right, and do whatever seems safe. If the pack passees me between the time we all start from the green and the time I approached the turn, I'd then simply merge left and make my turn. Otherwise, I'd stop at my turn and wait for the light to change.

RichC

My rule of thumb is this: Behave like a vehicle in traffic. If you cannot safely behave like a vehicle, then get out of traffic and behave like a pedestrian.

In the situation you describe, I think I'd be inclined to get off the road and cross the road at 90 degree angle.

I think the concept of exposure is useful to cyclists.
It sounds too exposed to try this turn every day. Exposing yourself to a dangerous situation once may be OK, but to do it every day, I can pretty much guarentee that one day, someone wont see you.
I would cross over, and ride the sidewalk, bearing in mind that cars cross the sidewalk in and out of driveways, and wont stop for you.

There are a number of dangerous junctions I ride every day, and rather than expose myself as a big caged vehicle would, I negotiate them using common sense and local knowledge. It may not be legal, but but it is safe. Generally I try to behave like any other vehicle, but there are limits.

MichaelW,

Your comments re: exposure hit home, especially since this is exactly how I felt when trying this turn a couple of times. Being out there in the left lane and knowing that cars were charging hard was not a great feeling. The crosswalk is easy to maneuver and the stretch of sidewalk is more of a bike path extension than a sidewalk so I'm good to go.

----> SilverStreak

Is there another way to avoid this intersection? Even if it means adding extra miles on to your commute. If ther is not then I suggest you walk as a pedestrian across the intersection and maybe even as far as the bike trail. In most communities riding on the sidewalk is againts the law. If it is only 100 feet or so to the bike trail after you walk across the intersection then riding would probably be ok. But as dangerous as this intersection sounds I would not chance it by riding down the left lane on a bike to make a turn.

i agree with most said here...

if it were me and i KNEW i could make the turn without stopping (or maybe by going a little past and making a u-turn)... then i would i take the left lane at the intersection and sprint really fast to keep up with traffic (assuming it's not a 50mph zone or something where it's unsafe to go 25mph in the left lane)

but if any of these is not true, which is likely, i'd either cross before or after at the intersection as others have suggested --- or if at all possible turn earlier and take a side street (is that possible, or are there no side-streets or they are the -wonderful- subdivision 'no-thru street' variety?)

if there is no other way and i had to take the crosswalk/sidewalk route i would ride even though you probably technically/legally should walk the bike -- if i ever did got stopped by a cop i would explain the situation and inquire as to how i should safely navigate the left turn onto the bike path

I go along with much of what has been said. RegularGuy and MichaelW hit pretty close to my way of thinking. Exposure bad. I approach left turns in one of three ways.

1. Quiet road, make the left.

2. Busy road, don't even get in the left lane. Stay right and pull off the road. Wait for clearance both ways then cross 90 degrees. Yes, sometimes you might wait a long time, but it beats being roadkill. The thing is, you can't get in the left lane THEN decide it's too busy and change your mind. You have to stay right from the beginning.

3. If the street onto which I need to turn left is a quiet street I will take a right, U-turn then cross straight, again, even if it means a longer wait. My attitude about time is "If I were in a hurry I wouldn't be riding a bike."

Rainman's first rule of cycling: "Arrive alive." All else is secondary.

I recently changed my route due to a round-about that I had an accident at last year, and numerous near misses since. Whenever I approached the round-about I was in fear of crashing again, not a very nice thing to deal with every morning. I had a revelation one day and thought, just find another way. I have found a much safer way around this area. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner.

In silverstreaks situation I would either find another way or do a hook turn at the intersection. Like someone said, taking a risk once is OK but don't try it too often as one mistake can change your life.

CHEERS.

Mark

The question is, is this hill any more treacherous than making this left turn? Maybe another option is just to stay on the road.

However, making turns like this can come up in many situations, so it can be useful to learn the tricks and traps. For me, if I could do it without having to come to a stop and put my foot down, I'd take the turn the same as i I were driving a car. If I had to stop with any regularity, I'd start looking at other options. If you're stopped, you're a sitting duck. I feel very uncomfortable sitting in the middle of the road at a complete stop, unless there is a turning lane, inwhich case I'd not hesitate to use it. It also depends on the speed of traffic. If it's slow enough, you're a lot safer than if it's breezing past at 60km/h+. Lane width can be a factor as well - wider lanes of course being safer.

So, if it's on a road with narrow lanes and fast moving traffic with no median strip of turning lane, I'd probably look for other options, otherwise I'd take the turn like any vehicle.

As for sitting in the left lane at a traffic light - I say use whatever lane you need, but make sure mototrists see you using that lane. Your instinct were right - it's much easier to move across lanes of traffic at a stop light than in moving (accelerating?) traffic. Sit in the middle of the lane, and stay there as you're going through the intersection. Move to the edge of the lane as you're coming out of the intersection - in the case you mentioned above, move to the left side of the lane to allow cars to pass on your right. It can be nerve-wracking at first having cars pass on the 'wrong' side, but you get used to it, and you'll find it's no different than cars passing on the 'correct' side.

That said, I really can't say exactly what I'd do in the specific case you mentioned without a clearer idea of road/traffic conditions, but for me, the footpath (and bikepath for that matter) is always the last option. If it were me, I probably wouldn't make the turn at all and stay on the road.