Hand Signal Nightmares

I've been riding to work lately and have had 2 incidents in the last week that have absolutely infuriated me. Last week I was on my hybrid and stopped at a light. As I was going to turn right, I had my right arm out to indicate a right turn. As the light was turning green, some guy on his bike zipped right by me on the right and headed up the bridge. It startled me; then it made me mad. I chased him down and told him to please let somebody know before he went flying by them. He informed me I had made an illegal turn signal, and that he even thought about hitting my hand as he went by! He then showed me the left arm bent and said that was the correct hand signal. I informed him that additionally the right arm extended is also correct and that I choose to use it as not everybody is sure what the left arm bent means.

Then today I'm going down another street and again have my right arm out signaling a right turn and this fellow in his Bronco cuts right in front of me and goes right! He parked in front of the PO and I told him that he'd pulled right in front of me. He started yelling that I'd used an illegal hand signal! I calmly said, "You knew I was turning right, and my signal is a legal right turn signal on a bicycle." He kept yelling and I said I'd let the police know. He then called me a bi@#*. So I went around the block and got his tag number. As he was coming out of the PO, I yelled his license number. (Guess that wasn't called for, but I did it anyway.)

So I called the state offices to be sure of the laws. The bicycle safety person said that I was correct. Then I called the police. An officer came by, and I told him what had happened. He, too, said I used an illegal signal! I told him I'd checked with the state dept. and that I was right. Anyway he said he'd contact the motorist. He asked if I wanted to file a complaint. I didn't, but he said he'd contact the motorist. (He knows him.)

So--y'all, we have to make people aware of what's going on here. Probably I'm preaching to the choir, but it makes me feel better to put this down.

There's a great website from a law firm in Portland, OR that we all should take a look at:

http://www.stc-law.com/bikearticles.html

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Originally Posted by Aint Doody

As I was going to turn right, I had my right arm out to indicate a right turn. As the light was turning green, some guy on his bike zipped right by me on the right and headed up the bridge. It startled me; then it made me mad. I chased him down and told him to please let somebody know before he went flying by them. He informed me I had made an illegal turn signal, and that he even thought about hitting my hand as he went by! He then showed me the left arm bent and said that was the correct hand signal. I informed him that additionally the right arm extended is also correct and that I choose to use it as not everybody is sure what the left arm bent means.

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What a little sh*t. Perhaps he should realize that had he intentionally hit you, he'd be in heaps of trouble.

That's so frustrating - I usually use the bent arm, but have always understood both to be correct. I've had better results with the arm straight out as far as motorists are concerned.

Good luck!

I have had the same arguments with my SIL and her husband, and they cycle too! Bicycling Magazine's book, 1000 All-Time Best Tips states, "For right turns, hold out your right arm with finger pointed. Forget that business about signaling right turns with the left arm held up. It originated because motorists couldn't reach across to point out the right window." It just makes more sense to me, too. Sorry you had two frustating incidents this week!

You would be right in CA too if it makes you feel any better... :p

Hand Signals. VC 22111

All required signals given by hand and arm shall be given in the following manner:

1. Left turn-hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle.
2. Right turn- left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.
3. Stop or sudden decrease of speed signal- left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle.

Not only are they legal for cyclists and motorcyclists, but you made your intentions clear, which they admit by saying you are using the "wrong" arm signal.

Don't these people realize the only reason you can't use a straight right arm in a car is because the drivers arms aren't long enough to fit out the right side window! I've gotten yelled at for this before and I'm thinking of printing up little copies of this particular vehicle code to carry with me on my commutes.

I'd say that both @#$%heads in this situation knew exactly what you were signaling and they knew they were in the wrong. Sadly, the only way they could think to respond when confronted was to try to blame you for a technicality. I mean, how hard is it to just apologize? :confused:

How infuriating! Print this and show those idiots!

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_safety_p2.html

I almost always use the right arm to point in the direction I intend to go. Cars just don't get the left arm bit around my neighborhood.

I've ridden with several groups in Austin and we all use the right arm with a pointed finger. How can anyone misunderstand that gesture? :confused:

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Originally Posted by luv'nAustin

I've ridden with several groups in Austin and we all use the right arm with a pointed finger. How can anyone misunderstand that gesture? :confused:

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Did these pr%&#s mean you were supposed to use the left arm bent upwards with finger pointed? I know what finger I'd have pointed in their direction! OK, so I too get p"#¤¤#ssed off at "idiots" I think are doing something wrong -- and sometimes it turns out I'm the one who's got it wrong. Luckily, I give myself time to look it up after, cuz I DON'T set out to teach'em a lesson by hitting them! (Well ... there was a time I considered getting steel-toed boots for kicking cars that cut me off in cross-walks, but I never got around to it.)

I think that one thing that really got me was the policeman telling me I made an illegal signal! What an idiot! I was soooo glad that I'd called and made absolutely sure before I called the police.

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Originally Posted by Aint Doody

I think that one thing that really got me was the policeman telling me I made an illegal signal! What an idiot! I was soooo glad that I'd called and made absolutely sure before I called the police.

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What can you say about idiots like that except that they are taking up way too much space on this planet.

Im with bikeless I can think of some lovely hand signals they might prefer.:D

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Originally Posted by luv'nAustin

I've ridden with several groups in Austin and we all use the right arm with a pointed finger. How can anyone misunderstand that gesture? :confused:

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-because drivers are taught to watch for left-arm signals, and haven't a clue what pointing with the right arm means...they think you're pointing at something not making a signal,
-because most drivers can't see the right-arm-out signal as well as they can see the left-arm-up one, especially in traffic, downtown, when you're cruising in a group
-because in most normal places, one set of arm signals applies to ALL vehicles on the road...cars and bikes...and that would be left-arm signalling only
-because a cyclist is often slowing in preparation for the turn, and using the right arm to signal means using the left hand to work the FRONT brake....often a great way to eat your handlebars and get those shiny new teeth you've always wanted. I've actually seen people swap brakes from left-handle/front brake, to left-handle/rear brake to avoid this. No kidding.
Around here...left-arm signalling is the law. Using the right arm to signal right is "acceptable" according to local spokeheads, but the lawyers say if you get into or cause a wreck, then you're in deep doo-doo.

I never use "legal" hand signals....I point to where I'm turning (right hand for rt turns, left hand for left turns). Most people don't know what "legal" hand signals mean so I figure I'm safer this way.

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Originally Posted by madisongrrl

I never use "legal" hand signals....I point to where I'm turning (right hand for rt turns, left hand for left turns). Most people don't know what "legal" hand signals mean so I figure I'm safer this way.

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Well...I really hope you don't wind up in court, and worse...being scraped up off the road because the driver who mowed you down didn't know what you were pointing at. Bad news, either way.

Sorry...I have a thing about road safety; I've seen too many cyclists get reall, really dead because they and/or the driver didn't understand one another and their legal responsibilities while sharing the road. The cyclist always loses. Be safe. :)