Advice for left turns?
 

I needed to cut my transportation costs so I got a bike last week, first bike in 25 years. I intend on riding it to work tomorrow. 3 miles one way, four lane divided highway. Sidewalks are a laughable joke as they tend to come to a sudden stop at several points during the trip and on my test ride tonight (two thirds of the way there and back) I felt safer just staying on the road rather than try to get on and off the sidewalks repeatedly. The road is kinda flat, it feels flat driving but this evening I found the gentle hills....not so gentle when you've had your bicycle all of a week.

Both going to work and coming home I have to make a left turn. Turning into work is a traffic signal, turning into my apartment complex is at a stop sign, oncoming traffic has a stop sign, the minor road with very little traffic and traffic leaving the apartment complex have right of way, no stop sign.

It's a major road so there's a decent amount of traffic, especially during rush hour. The posted speed is 40mph, but most people travel 50mph+ since the cops don't care unless you're approaching 60. The areas where I have to turn have a little less traffic than most of the road but it's still scary. And tonight it was clear that at least one car out there doesn't know a left turn signal from a bicyclist.

Any advice for how to make a left turn less scary and successful under the above described road conditions?

The one with the stop light, try to turn your move over to make the left turn with the light. If the light is red, the traffic will stop or slow and it should be easier to move left.

I'm assuming here you already know that making a left turn you move to the left of the lane, when safe to do so, before making the turn.

if traffic is to heavy for you to move left, you can always pull off the road to the right at the intersection, dismount, and cross the intersection as a pedestrian,

Or turn right at the intersection, make a legal u turn down from the intersection, and proceed straight across the intersection when safe to do so.

I don't understand. You have stop signs and lights at these turns if I. Reading correctly. Which part of turning at stop signs and lights is scaring you? Taking the lane? Entering the intersection?

No specific advice as im not familiar with US highways, but make your self visible and use a helmet. Lights, bright yellow clothing, what ever it takes. Stay safe :thumb:

^ My take from the OP's post, is that the problem is moving left across a high speed road (possibly with multiple lanes) to set up the left turn.

I don't see much problem with the turn with the stop sign because everyone has to stop and it should be relatively easy to move left safely.

I totally understand the problem for the one with the stop light. Entering my subdivision from one direction, I have to move left across two lanes. With heavy traffic moving 50 mph plus, it can be dicey. Hence my advice to time it with the light slowing or stopping traffic, and to bail if you don't see an opportunity that you feel safe by crossing as a pedestrian, or turning right, and circling back.

How about posting a link to google street view. Im sure that would make answering your question a lot easier.

This is great advice! Lights front and rear, and a reflective vest! Also, when confronted with fast or heavy traffic, pull off to the right and cross the road as a pedestrian, that was excellent advice as well.

You're right to be cautious in this situation, especially if there's no left turn lane,

since fast cars in the left lane may not see you stopped to turn left.

Get yourself a mirror for the bike. It allows you to see what is coming from behind without turning your head. If you go to the A&S subforum you can read a number of discussions on mirrors. Some people like the mirror that attaches to your sunglasses or helmet visor (Take-a-look is one brand) BIKE PEDDLER TAKE A LOOK BICYCLE HELMET EYEGLASS MIRROR COMPACT NEW | eBay while others (me included) like one that mounts on the handlebar ends provided you don't have bar end shifters. Mirrycle is my favorite and you can get one for under $12 online Mirrycle Mountain Mirror Adjustable fits Hybrid MTB Recumbent Bike Urban Bicycle | eBay If you have a mirror, you can look for cars approaching from behind as you come to your left turns. To me, riding without a mirror is like riding without clothes.

Also signaling early so that the cars know what you will be doing and make sure to check if the cars see you. Moving across 2 or more lanes to make a left can be intimidating, I have to move across 3 lanes of traffic going 50+mph to get to the turn lane into my work.

Slow down and when approaching the light and when it turns red you should be far enough back that you can start moving over and get into the turn lane behind most of the cars. Just use caution and if you need to use the crosswalk that's fine too. Good luck and keep us posted! Have fun!

Hook turn?

For countries with right-handed traffic who want to make a left turn you stay to the right, cross the intersection and then stop, turn the bike 90 deg to left and take up a position on the right hand side of the road. With traffic lights you would stop and wait for the light to go green.

Traffic flows opposite, but that is the law for cyclist. On small roads I might just take the lane for a little and turn with no oncoming traffic, but if there is a light, I go through and do the 90 degree turn. I do think it's much safer.

How funny. Thats my city. Copenhagen, Denmark. :-)

This, IMO, is the safest way turning left. I really feel unsafe doing the left turn in one go, like the cars do.

That's a great way to take advantage of the small size of bikes. There weren't any other cyclists or pedestrians in that video, but since it's an unexpected maneuver, it's very important to signal the way she did when riding in town like that.

If you're not in a hurry but don't want to play pedestrian like that, you could always go around the block instead - go past, then make a series of right turns around a block, or turn right off the highway early and make two left turns on the quieter side streets instead - there's a major intersection in the area here where that's a popular option.

What I do is turn a little to right before the crosswalk so I can smoothly line up for the light. Or if I catch a rest light I cross the street in the crosswalk, and then line up on the sidewalk to use the crosswalk, and turn into the road from the crosswalk when the signal turns. I probably don't explain it well, but a little practice and it becomes second nature. Much safer and much less frustrating to motorists.

If the roads/grid provide for it you can make the route a little longer and eliminate the left turn. Go one block/street more. Take a right. Go another block, and take a right. One more block and one more right. That should now put you on the street you wanted to turn left onto heading the direction you want to go. You just made a square loop that put you on your chosen path. I see this all the time with drivers. They try to cross dangerous 4-6 lane streets from one side to the other with no light. Most of the time, there will be an intersection with a protected light a block or 2 before or after the intersection they are trying to cross. With some planning they can get to a light and make their crossing a lot safer.

THIS.


Based on your experience as a rider, or just do it as you were a pedestrian. Or walk your bike. Safety is top priority.

Or ride a bit farther if there is a safer place to turn around.

A bit of extra riding is a benefit, especially if it reduces the risk of sitting in the traffic lane hoping that cars behind you will notice and stop.

If you turn right 3 times, you wouldn't have to turn left

I though this was the most common way turn left at a busy intersection.

Except she motioned she was turning right but turned left...

No, that particular sign means "brake" in Denmark where the video was shot. Im local.

Here, a brake gesture is that gesture but downward.

You know, after posting I realized there might be some confusion about what that signal was supposed to mean. But it is still extra important to signal in situations like this. Typically, I make a point of turning my head to look back if I'm going to do something like that - as much to signal as to see.

Thanks for the advice!

For home, there is no left turn lane. The lanes are also offset once you cross the road and a lot of people don't realize that the major road has stop signs but the minor road and apartment complex don't, so a stop is a brief slow down and then step on it for a lot of the cars who think they are at a four way stop. There are a lot of close calls with people peeling out when apartment traffic is coming out. And there's major construction going on there right now, since they are widening and expanding the major road.

For work, there's no easy way to go around the block. The road goes nearly half a mile without a cross road, my work is two-thirds down (lots of green area there), and the only alternate to go around is a US highway with tons more traffic at much higher speeds and no sidewalks. The right turn you see is an apartment community that has only one other way out in the wrong direction. But the tip of bailing to the right and then crossing as a pedestrian is probably going to be very, very helpful.