Not so Effective Cycling

On a local "club" ride, a left turn results in four different methods of preparing for the turn. With no traffic behind for miles, the first rider moves into the striped center section, followed by the second rider, who waits a few yards, then moves into the striped section. The third rider moves over into the left turn lane, which is the correct manner of preparing for a left turn. Although the camera lost lighting for a moment, you can see rider number four hold the right side of the road until the last moment, then move into the end of the left turn lane, wait for traffic, and complete the turn.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• effective
• cycling
• bicycling

[nigglenoo]

This is not in my country (UK) so the procedure has to be reversed in my mind, i.e. your left turn = my right turn, and possibly laws are different as well, but I would say that the third rider's position in the left turn lane is too close to where traffic could potentially be passing him on the right, a more central position in his lane would be safer IMO, what do you think?

[freddotu]

I very much agree with your assessment. I enjoy watching UK cycing videos and often have to make an adjustment in my alleged mind for the "other" side of the road.

There's a great lane change video at:

h t t p : / / w w w . r i d e b o l d l y .o r g / 2 0 0 9 / 0 5 / 2 8 / v i d e o - c h a n g i n g - l a n e s - a s - a - g r o u p /

take out the spaces, youtube doesn't allow links in comments

[MewFushisDad]

Good example of how too and how not too make a turn.

It's just experience.

The more we (cyclists) behave like traffic the more we will be treated like traffic, the less (I hope) confused motorists will be and the safer we will be.

I'm thinking that posting videos of correct cycling behavior is a great idea.

[MewFushisDad]

@mychokehold Do you ride a bicycle very much? How many miles a year do you ride? Or are you just some slug surfing youtube. The only time I have been hit by a car and had some very close near misses has been riding on a bike path. I stay out on the road and stay as far to the right as is practicable but enough to control the lane to my satisfaction, I have been safe and sound.

[mychokehold]

@MewFushisDad the more you behave like traffic, the more you will be treated like traffic, the more times you will be hit by a car.

[BeeryUSA]

Also, none of the cyclists took up a safe lane position. The first two rode into the restricted area of the road. The third cyclist rode on the line, while the fourth was way over in the right lane. When approaching an intersection, cyclists MUST take a central position in the lane of the direction in which they're traveling. If they don't, drivers in the intersection to the right and left cannot accurately judge the cyclist's position, and therefore cannot judge the cyclist's intention.

[BeeryUSA]

I realize there was no traffic behind, but even if you see no traffic, that doesn't mean there is none. The fact is, there was traffic at the intersection, so the cyclists should have signalled the turn. Not one cyclist did so, leaving the driver of the pick-up truck less sure of the cyclists' intentions. ALWAYS signal. Safe cycling requires predictability. These cyclists were not being predictable, they were all over the road, and they did not signal their intentions to other road users.