Right Turn Signal

[DebW]

This is a poll. Do you signal for a right turn with your left arm or with your right arm? Feel free to discuss the reasons or debate the pros and cons.

[tulip]

I used to signal with my left arm bent, but drivers didn't seem to get it, so I switched to the more obvious choice. If you are not a cyclist, I don't know if you would know that a bent left arm means you are turning right. Nowadays, if someone's car blinker doesn't work, the drivers don't use hand signals--they just don't signal!

[traveller_62]

I think making your intentions as clear as possible is the safest thing to do. When I want to turn right, I point to the right.

[Duck on Wheels]

B'lieve it or not, though I'm not THAT old ("just" 56) I actually got my license back when only the newest or fanciest cars had blinker signals. There were still lots of cars out on the road with "flipper" signals (a reflecting flag that would swing out on one side of the car or the other, depending on which way you flipped a signal lever) or no signals at all. Back then we all had to learn the left hand signals. After all, in a car it doesn't help much to stretch out your right hand. But I guess they don't require those any more for drivers license tests. So the biggest baddest drivers on the road, kids in Jeeps and Humvies who might not even care when they do see you signal, probably wouldn't know what you meant by bending your left arm upwards from the elbow. I think I may try both signals, first one then the other. I go slow enough to have time ;)
But it's probably only the right hand signal folks behind me understand. Maybe better to just point where I'm going and not confuse folks.

[Lise]

I must've had some bike safety class in grade school, because it's deeply ingrained in me to signal a right turn with a bent left arm. Although....do I? :confused: Or do I just turn? I don't know! We can't check the video....there is no video! In truth, I probably just get as far to the right as possible, and make the turn. L.

[pkq]

I've seen riders use the bent left arm from the drops, which means it is barely visible, if visible.

[betagirl]

I've found that if I point in the direction I'm going to drivers, they get it better than if I use the proper signal. So I'm a pointer versus a bender.

[tatormc]

As most have said already, I did the bent left arm when I started riding but no one knows what that meant. I had to ask just to figure that out cause I had no idea what the signals were. Now I just use a straight left or right arm to make the direction clear.

[Trekhawk]

When we arrived in the states my DH had to get a California license and they did expect him to know hand signals. So from this info I knew how I was suppose to signal on my bike but I agree with the girls most drivers dont seem to get the bent left arm thing. I just stick out a straight right or left to signal which direction I will be going it saves confusion and that has to be a good thing.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I've used my right hand to signal a right turn for a long time.

Just out of curiosity, I went and checked the vehicle code for Massachusetts (which is where I live and also where I ride a good chunk of the time).

From Chapter 85, Section 11B. Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; "(2) the bicycle operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn,". So I guess here signalling with the right hand is legal for those of us who choose to use it.

I also think that it is clearer to others on the road when we point (signal) to show the direction we will be turning.

--- Denise

[Geonz]

I switch... I used to always point with my right hand, but then I tried the "official" bent left way, and if I have to ride one-handed, I do much prefer steerign with the right hand. I'm very right-handed. I also like stretching my spine a little when I'm doing the left thing and sitting really straight (and opening my chest like yoga).
But if I'm in traffic where there's a lot going on, I point with the right 'cause it's more obvious.
For left hand turns I got a red blinkie on my handlebar and I think I'll put one on the right too. Prob'ly not much good in the day, but on that ride home from work I like the 'expected' visual.

[mary9761]

I was taught as a child to use the bent left arm to signal right on my bike. When I took driver's ed as a teen [I'm 44 now] I was taught the left hand signals as well so I always use them.
Mary

[Crankin]

I use the right hand and I point while I'm signalling. Do the same with the left turn signal. I used to use the bent left to signal right, but it is unclear to most drivers. My club, (Appalachian Mountain Club) uses the bent left thing and it needs to be changed.

[kiwi girl]

We ride on the other side of the road here, so they equivalent questions is do you signal left turn with your left arm straight or right arm bent - and I am a left arm straight signaller.

[Pedal Wench]

I use both. It depends on the situation, how many cars are around, if I need to brake into the turn. Sometimes I use one, sometimes the other, and sometimes I will start with the bent left hand and then switch to the extended right. I like the right handed one better - as someone mentioned, it just feels good.

[SadieKate]

Like Pedal Wench, I need to vote for both left and right. I use whichever one will be the most visible to whomever I am signalling.

I will use my right arm when there are only 1 or 2 bicyclists behind me. If I'm signalling to a driver across the road, I'll also use it being sure I can see the driver's comprehending eyes.

Whenever there is a larger group of riders or cars behind me I use my left arm but really am pointing with it over the top of my head. Seems like it is more visible because my hand is high up over my head.

[arnaew]

Like Kiwi Girl, I ride on the opposite side of the road to most of you - I always signal with a very straight arm and pointed fingers to the direction I am turning ie left for left, right for right. If they're not watching, it doesn't much matter if you're turning somersaults, you'll still hear that horrible braking sound behind you.
arnaew

[Dok-torr]

We ride on the other side of the road here, so they equivalent questions is do you signal left turn with your left arm straight or right arm bent - and I am a left arm straight signaller.

Hi Kiwi girl
I am a Brit currently living in NZ. I know its the old joke that Kiwi stands for Kan't Indicate Wont Indicate, but I do signal to turn right (across the traffic with a straight right arm) However I seldom do if I am turning off the road to the left. I find that means breaking with the front brake whilst steering and as its your main stopping brake its quite feirce and even dangerous.
Do you ever give way to a car that is turning in front of you and obey the NZ left hand rule? Its another one I fond really hard to get my head around.:confused:
By the way last year while on holiday in San Fran we hired bikes and it really took some getting used to having the front and rear brakes the other way around!

[Lise]

This is a very useful thread! I think I'll start using the right hand pointing method. It does make more sense. Like Mary, I was raised with the left arm bent method, but if others aren't familiar with it, then it's really of no use, right?!

And the second thing I've learned is: If I'm ever lucky enough to bike NZ, I'll try to stay off the car-travelled byways! (for that matter, I suppose, Australia, too, and Great Britain, Jamaica, the entire Indian subcontinent....) ! :eek: I nearly got killed just crossing the street in London! (Look to the right, Lise, look to the right) That said, I did live and work in Jamaica for two months once, and pretty much got used to the cars are on the wrong side of the street thing. But on a bike? Not sure I'd trust myself. :o L.

[SpinSis]

Like many have noted here, I used to use the bent left arm until I observed other cyclists doing the right hand-point. That is now my preference. I find on either side, I like being able to point and waggle my hand/arm to make sure I've got the drivers' attention (necessary here in the city limits!).

-s

[Deanna]

I've used the right arm straight method ever since the time I used the left arm bent signal and the folks in the car across the street looked through their windshield to see what I was pointing at.

[luv'nAustin]

Deanna, that was really funny...people are so silly!

I am 43 years-old and back when I was a kid, I also learned the left arm bent signal for a right hand turn. So, I was very surprised when I joined this group for a ride last year and they signaled the turn by pointing forwards at the ground with their right arm extended. Later, my coach explained that it is easier for drivers to understand when we just point at where we want to go. It made sense and now that is how I signal as well.

[SadieKate]

Just posting the California law. It is amazing how many adults I know that don't know hand signals. They don't use them as drivers after obtaining their licenses and must re-learn as cyclists. Because it is safer for me, I just assume that all drivers don't know hand signals. Since I also get to experience college students en mass as commuters, I also assume that any cyclist in street clothes doesn't know hand signals or probably doesn't care. Matter of fact, it frequently appears that they don't think common courtesy and vehicular rules of the road apply to them.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22111.htm


Hand Signals
22111. All required signals given by hand and arm shall be given from the left side of a vehicle in the following manner:
(a) Left turn-hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the vehicle.
(b) Right turn-hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the vehicle, except that a bicyclist may extend the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.
(c) Stop or sudden decrease of speed signal-hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the vehicle.
Amended Ch. 751, Stats. 1976. Effective January 1, 1977.

[snapdragen]

Correct me if I'm wrong ALC girls, but I believe their preferred method is the left arm bent signal.

[DirtDiva]

Another left-hand-side-driving, straight-arm-pointing kind o' gal here.


However I seldom do if I am turning off the road to the left. I find that means breaking with the front brake whilst steering and as its your main stopping brake its quite feirce and even dangerous.
Do you ever give way to a car that is turning in front of you and obey the NZ left hand rule? Its another one I fond really hard to get my head around.:confused:

I tend to stop pedalling and coast while I have my arm stuck out and then put it back on the bars for any braking/accelerating and the actual turning part. As for the NZ right-of-way rules, it really is ALWAYS give way to the right. The way I was taught to remember was that if you would get hit on the driver's side were you to collide with the other car, you would be in the wrong.

[bouncybouncy]

I learned the bent arm rule as a kid too...but it seems more drivers than not missed that day at school:confused:
I now point & make eye contact! I think it clearly relays to the driver what your intentions are and the eye contact...dominant i guess...
I tend to be very defensive.... I am a very defensive driver on 4 wheels too...

[kiwi girl]

I don't drive but I do use the 'if you'd get hit on the drivers side' way of remembering it.

I do obey the left hand rule when cycling - but find that cars can be surprised when a cyclist does obey this rule so maybe not many people do

[CorsairMac]

I was riding the Harley before I was riding the bicycle and we always used the side specific hand to signal anything: lane changes, turns, debris, railroad tracks, whatever.....so when I started riding bicycles again I just transferred that to the bike. I use the side specific arm to signal what I'm doing. With the drivers here in NM - I'd be afraid if I used the bent-left-arm to signal a right hand turn some idiot SUV driver would take my arm off with their mirror!

Cosair "Kamikazee" Mac

[DirtDiva]

Idiot SUV drivers receive their own very special set of signals. ;)