Need advice on handling a particular intersection
 

I've been commuting to work for about a week now and it's been going really well. I have a good route that keeps me off of the main roads, so my commute has been mostly non-eventful. However, there is one intersection that I have to tackle and I'm not sure of how to do it.

It's a T intersection, and I am approaching the stop sign with traffic crossing in front of me. Similar to this:
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersect.../images/f1.png

The issue is that on some days the traffic at that intersection can be 15-20 cars deep. So what is protocol here? Do I wait in line with the cars? Do I ride up the side and get in front of the front car? Or should I just avoid the intersection by taking a marginally longer route? I should add that I'm taking a left at the intersection, as are 90% of the people in line.

I've been waiting in line, as I don't want to be seen as the jerk cyclist who jumps the line and slows people up. Should I do otherwise?

I would ride up the side (shoulder) and cross/turn with a left-turning car. Hang back so that if the car surprises you and turns right, he doesnt right hook you. make your own left turn wide so that there is plenty of room between you and that car. You won't slow anyone down, as you won't be in front of anyone. I wouldn't want to inch forward between cars and risk getting accordioned. If a driver complains that you're jumping the queue, explain you don't want to slow down traffic by taking up a "turn" at the stop sign. Technically, you are crossing at the intersection (like a pedestrian) and then resuming riding along the road.

This.

What they said. Take advantage of your mobility! Also, if the intersection is much like that, there's all that great space on the sides of the shoulders - I've seen that in other pictures of things outside of NYC. I think it's called "dirt", or "land"? I imagine you could get your bike across that stuff pretty nicely.

That makes sense. It is a tight shoulder (there's a ditch on the side), but I think there's plenty of room. I'll give it a shot next ride.

Thanks!

How much time would it take those 15-20 cars to get through the intersection? If quick (couple of seconds per car) I would probably wait in the queue. Otherwise I would filter up as described by the others and turn left with the lead car. Strategy really depends a lot on the cars. If you are waiting in line and the cars to your rear behave impatiently (because you are in front of them), I would avoid waiting in line. If you filter up and after your turn are met with signs of displeasure because you "cheated" then you may want to wait in line. Try it both ways for a while. Experience will guide you. An option is to turn right, go down a ways and then make a U-turn. None of the drivers that saw you turn right will be there when you return and so you won't "offend" anyone.

Also, 5 minutes can make a big difference in traffic so adjusting your schedule can help.

Good luck. Report back please.

It can take a bit per car to get through. The worst day last week had me waiting about 5 minutes to get to the front of the pack. Some days, though, there is no traffic there. It all depends on if the main route is overloaded - when it isn't that intersection is pretty clear.

So far no car has given me any grief over being in line, but I also don't think people are used to seeing cyclists around here.

I won't be able to try again until Thursday due to some traveling for work, but I definitely will report back.

I would take the lane behind the last car and wait my turn. I pretty much avoid filtering up on the right of lines of traffic. Too many bad things can happen. Dooring and right hooks, people pulling onto the shoulder to jump their turn and make a right. Sometimes such as in this instance it might be safer than many other examples. However it's a bad habit and you just might find yourself filtering in a situation that's not so safe out of habit and have a problem.

Also intersections are a mine field and I find that controlling the lane into and through most intersections is safest I find that if I behave like any other vehicle on the road my presence is tolerated and accepted better. Also other drivers are accustomed to dealing with vehicular behaviour and that acting like one (which I am anyway) makes drivers somewhat comfortable. They are surer of what I am going to do and how they should respond.

Since you are commuting regularly and finding yourself in situations where you are unsure of what to do you may want to consider taking a bicycle safety class. The League of American Bicyclists run excellent classes. Linky below. Ride safe!

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/e...on/courses.php

I don't ride right up to the lead car. I stop one back and let that driver see me and signal my direction. Sometimes they wait and sometimes they turn with you.

To me it depends on how much room there is and the situation. Just a few cars, there's no real gain in filtering and it's safer to just queue up. If it's ridiculous though and there was room for all those cars to pass me rushing up to the intersection as they tend to do, there's probably also room for me to pass them back. Except for right hooks. So I don't like to be directly right of the first car unless it's a left-turn only lane - establish a position while stopped between or in front. Also if it's really narrow on the cross street I'd be reluctant to share the lane on the turn (otherwise I would share while turning and no one is being slowed down much), but if you have to take the lane in the turn is the road so narrow that you have to keep controlling the lane afterwards and they all have to wait again? I don't think I would jump the line in that situation.

I think it depends on the roads you are turning off of and on to... if they are narrow roads and people had to wait patiently to get around you, passing when they are stopped is kinda rude, IMHO, especially of the road you are turning onto is also narrow and difficult to pass a bike.

If either of the roads make it difficult for drivers to pass then I would wait in line so people do not get frustrated and try to pass me when it is not safe.

At intersections, if there is just the one lane, I wait my turn in queue. Going right or left. Sometimes I may even go right and cross down the road a bit if it's really messy and crossing traffic does not stop and there are alot of cars turning into the road.

If there is a big enough shoulder and you are going right then it's not as big a deal to go up the side IMO Just watch out for those hotshots that get tired of waiting and decide to scoot up the breakdown lane also.

From the picture you posted I would wait in queue for my turn to go.