Left hand turns from busy multi-lane streets
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Left hand turns from busy multi-lane streets
Is there a word or a short phrase that cyclists use to describe making left hand turns from busy multi-lane streets by turning right at the cross street and then a quick U-turn to wait for the stop light? This avoids the dangers of changing several lanes from the bike lane near the gutter across heavy traffic to the left hand turn lane for cars.
Likes For R.M.W.:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 3,890
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2111 Post(s)
Liked 1,753 Times
in
854 Posts
Is there a word or a short phrase that cyclists use to describe making left hand turns from busy multi-lane streets by turning right at the cross street and then a quick U-turn to wait for the stop light? This avoids the dangers of changing several lanes from the bike lane near the gutter across heavy traffic to the left hand turn lane for cars.
Likes For tyrion:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 14,509
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7109 Post(s)
Liked 2,532 Times
in
1,385 Posts
No specific term for that practice .... maybe "cycling survival"?
Making the left turn is not the issue for me as a rule ... it is trying to convince traffic that I have the right to actually cross from the bike lane/ right-hand edge to the left- or turn lane. Lots iof times drivers seem to be fine with me on the far right and seem to see me as a target anywhere else.
Well ... not always. Twice this year I had a driver pass me in the oncoming lane on a blind corner because I took the lane .... once the overtaking car missed hitting an oncoming car by about ten feet (which is really close at 40+ mph) and the other time the oncoming driver had to drive right off the road to avoid the overtaking car.
So long as it happens away from me, they are free to joust, I say.
Making the left turn is not the issue for me as a rule ... it is trying to convince traffic that I have the right to actually cross from the bike lane/ right-hand edge to the left- or turn lane. Lots iof times drivers seem to be fine with me on the far right and seem to see me as a target anywhere else.
Well ... not always. Twice this year I had a driver pass me in the oncoming lane on a blind corner because I took the lane .... once the overtaking car missed hitting an oncoming car by about ten feet (which is really close at 40+ mph) and the other time the oncoming driver had to drive right off the road to avoid the overtaking car.
So long as it happens away from me, they are free to joust, I say.
Likes For Maelochs:
#4
Senior Member
It sounds like the word you are searching for is "illegal."
Becoming a pedestrian for a little bit and using the cross walk and light is simple, legal and safe.
Becoming a pedestrian for a little bit and using the cross walk and light is simple, legal and safe.
Likes For Pratt:
#5
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 7,805
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1314 Post(s)
Liked 1,181 Times
in
714 Posts
Crossing to the other corner, realigning 90• and crossing was once called a “Swedish left turn”. I haven’t heard that term in decades.
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter
I guess the British would call that technique an "English right-hand turn".
Last edited by R.M.W.; 01-22-23 at 03:38 PM.
#7
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 40,317
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 543 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19961 Post(s)
Liked 6,673 Times
in
3,175 Posts
Likes For datlas:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,140
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3595 Post(s)
Liked 2,053 Times
in
1,048 Posts
I've used that technique many times but I never knew there was an actual name for it.
Likes For wolfchild:
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#10
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 5,522
Bikes: Scott Addict R1
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1989 Post(s)
Liked 1,941 Times
in
1,016 Posts
Is there a word or a short phrase that cyclists use to describe making left hand turns from busy multi-lane streets by turning right at the cross street and then a quick U-turn to wait for the stop light? This avoids the dangers of changing several lanes from the bike lane near the gutter across heavy traffic to the left hand turn lane for cars.
Specifically, it is the u-turn that is risky.
A local guy got flattened a few years back doing that. He didn't notice that a car had also turned and was overtaking him. He started to make his u-turn, splat.
After making a right turn off an expressway, I was surprised by a car appearing behind me, seemingly from "out of nowhere". It had done a "go like hell" left turn on a very yellow light, so it was moving fast. Fortunately, I got the long horn blare instead of a flattening.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat
Ride, Rest, Repeat

Last edited by terrymorse; 01-23-23 at 11:19 AM.
Likes For terrymorse:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,767
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1306 Post(s)
Liked 1,453 Times
in
723 Posts
Depending on the street and traffic situation I also do this when it is the safest option for making a left turn.
I always thought of it as a "Jug Handle" or "Jersey Left".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle
I always thought of it as a "Jug Handle" or "Jersey Left".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle
#12
😵💫
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 4,025
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1583 Post(s)
Liked 2,965 Times
in
1,687 Posts
Suicidal
__________________
Road and Mountain 🚴🏾♂️
Road and Mountain 🚴🏾♂️
#13
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 13,793
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7803 Post(s)
Liked 8,457 Times
in
4,314 Posts
I've seen some of this, but mostly I see riders make a right on red without stopping, flip a U-turn, and then a right turn at the green to just keep going straight. I consider that cheating.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#14
please no more wind
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,430
Bikes: aethos, creo, vanmoof, public ...
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 834 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
506 Posts
the u-turn part of this can be a little risky, you need to be really sure nobody is making a fast turn, or just going through the intersection fast if it changed quicker than you thought.
we used to call this a “P” turn as kids.
we used to call this a “P” turn as kids.
__________________

Likes For mschwett:
#15
Senior Member
I ride like driving a car. I make a left turn at a major intersection, but I'm riding in the left-most lane before the intersection, just like the cars. You have the right to use the road like other vehicles. Most often, I'm in a row of cars, all wanting to turn left at the light.
Likes For DaveSSS:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern VA
Posts: 1,527
Bikes: 2021 Domane SL6, Black Beta (Nashbar frame), 2004 Trek 1000C being made an all arounder.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times
in
206 Posts
I’d call it a jug handle turn like the New Jersey way to make a left.
#17
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 7,805
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1314 Post(s)
Liked 1,181 Times
in
714 Posts
In a 'Swedish left turn' there is no u-turn or jug handle.
#18
Lopsided biped
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 666
Bikes: 2017 Day 6 Cyclone (the Buick); 2015 Simcoe Deluxe (the Xebec); Street Strider 3i (the not-a-bike)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
71 Posts
I ride like driving a car. I make a left turn at a major intersection, but I'm riding in the left-most lane before the intersection, just like the cars. You have the right to use the road like other vehicles. Most often, I'm in a row of cars, all wanting to turn left at the light.
Another thing I've done a few times is, whenever I was first in line in the left-turn lane on a red light, I'd turn and wave the car behind me to pull up close so they were over the sensor and would trigger the left-turn arrow for us both.
Claiming the whole lane doesn't work everywhere in all cases, of course; I'm almost never able to do that in the exurb I now live in.
#19
Junior Member
I don't understand the OPs approach. Doesn't the U-Turn require crossing lanes. Of course if the cross street is much smaller and perhaps only has one lane in each direction, then there is no crossing.
I realize the OP's questions is what is this called rather than a question on best practices. But I'll chime in on that. I rarely ride where I need to cross multiple lanes with heavy traffic. So, I never have trouble moving over into left turn lanes. If I did need to, I'd probably stay right, cross, then stop and orient myself to cross again on the green, What some here are calling the "Swedish Turn". I've heard this called a "box turn".
Heck even when driving, trying to move from the far right to the left in heavy traffic is hard enough. Most of us would make the needed lane changes well in advance by taking advantage of gaps that open when the cars are at max speed between intersections. Around where I live, heavy traffic moves too fast for a cyclist to do this. When the traffic slows for a red light, it's bumper to bumper and no one in a car or on a bike is making any lane changes.
I realize the OP's questions is what is this called rather than a question on best practices. But I'll chime in on that. I rarely ride where I need to cross multiple lanes with heavy traffic. So, I never have trouble moving over into left turn lanes. If I did need to, I'd probably stay right, cross, then stop and orient myself to cross again on the green, What some here are calling the "Swedish Turn". I've heard this called a "box turn".
Heck even when driving, trying to move from the far right to the left in heavy traffic is hard enough. Most of us would make the needed lane changes well in advance by taking advantage of gaps that open when the cars are at max speed between intersections. Around where I live, heavy traffic moves too fast for a cyclist to do this. When the traffic slows for a red light, it's bumper to bumper and no one in a car or on a bike is making any lane changes.
#20
Sock Puppet
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 1,310
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 788 Post(s)
Liked 694 Times
in
462 Posts
I ride like driving a car. I make a left turn at a major intersection, but I'm riding in the left-most lane before the intersection, just like the cars. You have the right to use the road like other vehicles. Most often, I'm in a row of cars, all wanting to turn left at the light.
Likes For Lombard:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 601
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 343 Times
in
202 Posts
Nonsense. When you are on the right hand side of a busy road, you simply go onto the right side street and over to the far curb. At that point you can dismount and straighten the bike to make the crossing. Since you are either waiting for a light on the side street or waiting for a traffic gap in the main street, you'd have to stop anyway. This way of making the turn is recognized by every bike safety training program out there.
Likes For KerryIrons:
#22
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,899
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7849 Post(s)
Liked 8,413 Times
in
4,700 Posts
I agree with that--I think this is a mistaken probability calculation, although the particulars of a specific intersection might make it the better choice. The real problem with it as a general proposition is that there's a false premise--there's no reduction in the number of lanes being crossed by doing this maneuver, and two of those lane crossings are being done at a weird, hard to predict angle (the U turn) where you likely have a blind spot to cars turning right from the road you started on.
Likes For livedarklions:
#23
Knurled Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 14,899
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7849 Post(s)
Liked 8,413 Times
in
4,700 Posts
Nonsense. When you are on the right hand side of a busy road, you simply go onto the right side street and over to the far curb. At that point you can dismount and straighten the bike to make the crossing. Since you are either waiting for a light on the side street or waiting for a traffic gap in the main street, you'd have to stop anyway. This way of making the turn is recognized by every bike safety training program out there.
I have never seen any "program" advocate it. I'm pretty sure the U turn would be illegal in a lot of places where the rule is we have to follow the same rules for motor vehicle operation.
Likes For livedarklions:
#24
my bikes have chrome
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,017
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 750 Post(s)
Liked 632 Times
in
316 Posts
...But I do slow or stop as appropriate before making that right.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
#25
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 15,327
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 120 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9674 Post(s)
Liked 6,049 Times
in
3,477 Posts
GREEN- If I am riding in the road, I will move to my left as traffic allows and then get into the left turn lane. I do what vehicles do since I am using the road like a vehicle.
RED- If I am riding on a MUP/Trail, I will turn right and pull a U turn at the stop light. This is me transitioning from not being part of traffic to being part of traffic.
RED- If I am riding on a MUP/Trail, I will turn right and pull a U turn at the stop light. This is me transitioning from not being part of traffic to being part of traffic.

Likes For mstateglfr: