I prefer to consider myself at least a potential obstruction to the tons of steel approaching me from behind. That reminds me to practice techniques that minimize the chance of a collision.

Edit: Meant for this to be a reply to the previous post to mine, not to my own.

Because the bike is not a car, specifically smaller and allowed to share lanes. When there's room to lane-share you can get through the intersection and stab the FRAP position with the least impact to the smooth flow of traffic, and least disruption to yourself. If there isn't room for that on the far side, for sure grab a spot in the line of traffic.

Oh, you mean right in the blind spot of the cars that are a car or two in front of you when you're filtering up to the front? When the drivers who might suddenly decide to make a late right turn are looking for cars in the middle of the lane and not bikes right up against the left side of the right turn lane?

Yes. I'd rather deal with that risk than others. In practice I don't find much of a problem there.

Edit: Especially since the cars that might suddenly move into the right lane probably just passed me and know exactly where I am.

Move to the center of the rightmost straight lane, then move back right once through the intersection.

Advantages:
1. Makes it obvious to other road users that you're going straight.
2. Lets right-turning road users turn.
3. Prevents passes within the intersection.

Relying on morons who drive cars not to kill you is a bad plan. They've forgotten you, or think you move the pace a fat, old, and lazy slob would.

Your point is valid. I watch the traffic and pace myself relative to it so as to minimize that risk. There's no perfect plan. They all have risks. So my plan is a compromise. That brings up another important point though. When I say what "my strategy" is I'm talking about my default plan for the average intersection around the Atlanta area. But different intersections are different, and different at different times of day. I read what's going on and while commuting have the benefit of intimate knowledge of the route and whip out the plan for that intersection while also watching for unusual conditions to adjust for.

In the end I don't think everything is reduced to logic that you can rationalize ad infinitum. What I do in any given situation is primarily governed by how it makes me feel - safe or not. I've played with all the strategies discussed on this thread and more over 40+ years of riding in traffic and what I do day to day now is based on intuition that is hopefully influenced by experience in a way that helps protect me. So far so good.

This is pretty standard stuff right here and is what most bicycle safety instructors will teach. If in doubt, this is how to handle intersections with RTOL.

There are at least two possible scenarios.

1. If the right-only lane is formed by branching off of the right-most lane, then all you have to do is stay in the lane you are in. Don't move into the right-only lane.

2. If the right-most lane becomes a right-only lane, you have to move to the left-most edge of it or move into the next lane to the left. This is essentially a lane change, so you have to yield to traffic behind you.

In either case, it is not a good idea to pass people who you know are turning right on their right sides. Stay behind them if you can't move left. When you can move left, do so.

This.

/thread.

i think [MENTION=313684]spivonious[/MENTION] says it best and in my opinion closes this thread. I also agree with [MENTION=175954]Tundra_Man[/MENTION] as well. I would ride my bike as if i was driving a car. we want respect we should be patient and wait our turn to cross intersection.

Me three

Agreed.

Here in NYC, there are bike lanes on several of our avenues. Most avenues are one-way, and the NYC standard is to put the bike lane on the left side of the avenue. Now they are in the process of converting the avenues so that the bike lane is against the curb. Then, moving right, is a parking lane. Then, moving right further, there are travel lanes for motor vehicles.

At intersections, there are signals for (1) straight-ahead motor vehicles, (2) left turn motor vehicles, and (3) straight-ahead bike. Lights 2 and 3 are never green simultaneously. Lots of cyclists ride to the left of the left turners, which is asking for trouble. I slip in behind them when it is safe and pass them on the right.

I've considered moving my eyeglass-mounted mirror to my right temple, but I'm not sure I can adjust quickly and safely. It will be like driving in the UK. ;)

I take the lane that is going straight and wait in line like a car. When the light turns I generally go through the intersection with traffic then get to the right once I'm through. There isn't always room to straddle lanes and I think the cars that want to turn right on red appreciate me getting out of the way and all drivers appreciate me demonstrating my unambiguous intention of going straight.

or you could filter through gaps tighter than a retrogrouch's sphincter, get in front of the SUV, track sit, and then jump the red as soon as the coast is clear.

do you make vroom vroom noises when you bike too?

The best rule of thumb is to ride in the rightmost lane that is serving your intended direction of travel. So, you'd only want to be in the right-turn-only lane if you are planning to turn right. Otherwise, if you're going straight through the intersection, then signal and move to take the rightmost through lane. This leaves the right-turn lane open for people turning right, and makes your intention to go straight through the intersection clear to everyone else. Riding straight from a right-turn-only lane is only going to increase the likelihood of getting hit by someone who was expecting you to go in a different direction.

CA & local law should be followed here.

In PA you cannot ride in a right turn lane and go straight. It is a ticket-able moving violation. If a cop sees you do it more than once, you can be assured you will be cited. It is true that in multi-lane intersections the lanes can be narrow, but if you stay in a straight line, most sane drivers will understand that you are part of traffic & try to not edge you into the next lane.

Part of the responsibility of owning and operating a bicycle is to comply with traffic laws that apply to bicycles, or of there are no specified laws, you follow the laws governing automobiles, as bicycles are still considered vehicles no matter where you ride.

- Andy

Laws made for and by motorists that typically have little bearing on public safety and discriminate against active transport. I consider it my civic duty to violate these laws as much as is practical.

Bwahahaha! I've flagrantly violated the law in front of philly cops countless times without a ticket. No harm...no foul.

[MENTION=369902]TransitBiker[/MENTION], I learned recently that in New York State, bicycles are not classified as vehicles though they are classified as traffic. Sorry I don't have a citation handy. It may be functionally equivalent, but the nomenclature is different.

I don't live anywhere near philly. The police here actually enforce laws actively.

- Andy

Yea, some language in laws is odd/vague and often very dated. My town still has laws on the book from 120 years ago that are no longer relevant. I guess my point was that every state addresses cyclists somehow. :)

- Andy

There's too many variables in a discussion like this. I'm thinking it would be impossible to come up with a hard and fast rule that would fit in all situations. :) The variables:

• Every intersection is different and presents its own right turn lane challenges.
• Laws are different everywhere.
• Even if laws are the same, they are oftentimes interpreted by a police officer, who is just a person, subject to moods and personal beliefs.
• Sometimes intersections are defined by the types of drivers that are there. Also, the types of vehicles.
• Weather is different, changing road conditions and visibility.
• A thousand (ok, maybe just a hundred) other possibilities

Therefore, when I come to an intersection with a right turn lane, I'm going to act in a way that I think is the safest for me and everyone else there. Thinking about laws will be secondary. If I get ticketed? Lol I'll deal with that when (if) it happens :)

Basically, if you have to cross paths with another vehicle, cross as soon as you can do so safely. Since cars generally go faster than bikes, cross behind the nearest car. I do this by following behind as closely as I can, bordering on tailgating. This reduces my likelihood of being hit from behind, and it might also help being seen.

This is how I handle it too. I have one intersection along my route where a single lane of traffic splits just before the intersection into two lanes: One right turning and one straight lane. Since I'm already riding AFRAP, it can be a little tricky to get over into the left (through) lane, but I get over there as soon as I can and occupy the center of that lane. Just as soon as I get to the other side of the intersection, I move back over to the right.

Excellent advice. When it comes to safe riding there are no hard and fast rules.