Bicycle Driver: Cool website for urban riding skills

[Dianyla]

I just found a link to this site on the Cascade bicycle club commuting forum:

Bicycle Driver

It's got a whole bunch of videos showing good and bad ways to negotiate intersections, traffic, left-hand turns, etc. I thought it was pretty informative.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Thanks, I just watched most of the videos. I'm happy to say I'm a pretty "sharp" cyclists. I find drivers respect me when I clearly operate like a "vehicle". Yesterday I was in the left lane of a double left-turn lane intersection because I needed to make another immediate left. I was surrounded by cars. I don't think anyone had a problem with me being there. And I think guys like to watch ladies in bike shorts anyway.

I think this should be posted in the Newbie section.

[fatbottomedgurl]

One odd thing I noticed was the cyclist signalling a right turn with his right hand. I stick to the left arm bent up like the DMV requires from a motorist. Do they still teach that in Driver's Ed?

[Dianyla]

One odd thing I noticed was the cyclist signalling a right turn with his right hand. I stick to the left arm bent up like the DMV requires from a motorist. Do they still teach that in Driver's Ed?

I know this question has come up before and someone looked up some local laws. In most states it seemed that if you're in a car you need to do the left-arm bent at a 90, otherwise noone will see your right arm signals. Cyclists can use either their right arm to point right or their left arm to do the angle. I find that motorists are confused when I hold up my left arm, so now I always point with the right for right-hand turns.

[Melody]

One odd thing I noticed was the cyclist signalling a right turn with his right hand. I stick to the left arm bent up like the DMV requires from a motorist. Do they still teach that in Driver's Ed?

They do, as far as I know, however in the California Vehicle Code section 22111 it says the following:

22111. Hand Signals[...]
(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.[...]

So, in the state of California it is perfectly legal to use your right hand to point or use the classic left handed right turn hand signal. I personally use the "point in the direction of travel" method (i.e. use right hand pointing right) since it leaves less ambiguity. With some drivers who haven't seen a hand signal in a loooooooooong time they may forget what the crooked left arm pointing up means.

Mel

[snapdragen]

A million years ago when I did CAR 7, they had us using the left arm bent signal. It's stuck with me.

Trek - what hand signals are they using for LifeCycle?

[KnottedYet]

I use the right-arm-out-for-a-right-turn technique. I've found that cars seem to be confused about the left arm bent at the elbow thing. If I'm POINTING in the bloomin' direction I intend to go, they get it.

Also, if I act like a car they treat me like a car. I hog the left half of a lane when I need to make a left turn, and haven't had anyone pass me on the right yet. If I'm wearing a big ol' goofy lime green jacket or a reflector vest I get even more respect. Like they trust me to behave appropriately if I'm gonna dress like such a total dork and ride in the road. Put a hot orange flag on me and I'm way groovy.

For the most part, I get treated like a slow car on my work commute.

And I always wave and mouth "thank you" to any car who gives me the right-of-way, even if it was legally mine in the first place. Public relations, dontcha know.

[Geonz]

Okay, how come the link comes up as "not found" for me? Did we drive tpoo much traffic to it?

Yup, hte left arm up is a vestige of pre-turn-signal days for cars. I think maybe we remember it at all 'cause it's weird :-) I find I'm so right handed that it's easier to make a right turn with that right hand on the handlebars, but as often I'll point with my right hand anyway. I have a blinkie for a left signal but I can't always get the switch to work... I'm thinking of getting some bar end lights (I have flat bars) like http://www.knogusa.com/en-us/dept_6.html
I also use the dork factor. I got a Hi-Viz Camelbak and put a blinkie on it. I've got a little blinkie 'way down low on the back, and a ***big*** (reellight or realite, I forget) 8 x 5 blinkie in the left bag and a WTF "wonder wand" that blinks through five colors on a little plastic moon (it's a kid's toy that my friend got me 'cause she figures the more lights I have, the better). That and the HOkey Spokes ... I didn't even have 'em all going but a kid says "ain't nobody gonna hitchu!" as I ride by...
Cars really do seem to have a more automatic "treat you like a slow car" response when you are *in* the road acting like a car than when you are trying to stay totally and completely out of their way. And I do try to be overtly nice & friendly... and they tend to be, too.

[withm]

I downloaded the file, but was not able to play it in Windows Media player, nor in Real Player. What program plays it?