Safety and Education Committee Report - Archive

Making left turns

Making left turns is difficult for bicycles. There are many different ways to perform this maneuver. How you choose to handle the task is dependent on many factors.

Ideally the traffic will be light and you can signal your turn, pull over to the centerline and turn at the intersection. When there is a left turn lane things get more complicated. In light traffic I take the whole lane and let the turning cars stay in the through lane until they pass me. If the traffic isn’t too fast or heavy going to the dividing line allows the turning cars to pass on the left. When the left turning lane is stopped I pull ahead of the first car (so it can see me) and clear of the through lane. When both the through lane and the turning lane are stopped I cross through traffic to get onto the line separating the through and left turn lanes. I don’t like to ride between two lanes of moving traffic so I try to plan it so I reach the intersection before the cars start moving.

Sometimes traffic is so heavy or fast it isn’t safe to use these tactics. If the left turn is onto a cross street you turn right onto the side street and reverse direction (pull into a driveway or something else). This will allow passage through the intersection with through traffic. When the road enters from the left sometimes you have to pull over to the side and wait for a break in traffic. When you are standing astride your bike heading toward the side street people frequently stop to let you go.

Riding in a group changes everything. If the group is small (2-5) you can act like a single bike. If you try this everybody must stick together as a single unit. A timid rider choosing an alternate path will confuse the other drivers. It is important that the cars know where you are going and when. If riding in a larger group or with people you don’t know it’s best to be more cautious. Making a right turn to avoid a left or stopping beside the road is best unless the road is empty.

Bill Fisk- Safety and Education

Safety and Education Coordinator