Making Left Turns and other questions

[KnottedYet]

On big hairy intersections where I know the cars are too fast/too many and too many lanes (4 lanes of traffic would definitely qualify for me!!!) I get off the bike and walk in the cross walks.

I commute on the road. The last time I rode on the sidewalk it was very dark and I didn't feel safe on the road. I went about 6 or 7 mph, and stopped at each cross street. Verrrrrrry carefully.

At a stoplight when there is a line of cars I pull up behind the last car. I get centered in the lane behind that car (my lane, my spot, everyone see me in it!) and stay centered until I'm thru the intersection. Then I'll move back to the right.

(around here in my small-ish part of town cyclists cutting to the front of the line at a stop light is kind of considered rude. Plus, a car or two at the front might be turning right and you don't want to end up next to them and have them turn into you. And if you sneak up on the right the cars you sneak up on might not see you.)

[missymaya]

I agree with Knotted on this one. I have to cross one big intersection to get to work (not taking a left) and I take the lane. There are a lot of cars that turn left (but no left turn lane) so I make myself as visible as possible. I stand up when pedalling, make eye contact, and make sure they know what Im going to do. If your getting in the left lane, make people aware of that. If its just too nasty to get in the left turn lane, I would cross the intersection or use the cross walk. Better safe than sorry!

[Kimmyt]

Like others said, you have to weigh alot of factors along with what you feel comfortable with. On my commute home I have to make a left across 2 lanes of almost standstill traffic. The part where I would have to get into the left lane is so far away from the turn, due to this traffic, that I would be off an on my bike frequently. Also, the part where I would switch lanes is on or right before a large blind hill during which drivers might not be able to see me and could easily hit me. I am not a fan of riding on sidewalks, but here I will do it. I cross at a light that sees no traffic, so that I am usually the only vehicle going through the light, cut through a parking lot of a store, and ride on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the road (it is a narrow walk over a bridge with a cement barrier to my right seperating me from traffic) and then ride the sidewalk up to where I connect to a bike trail.

The other day SEPTA was doing construction and had closed the sidewalk, but I didn't realize this until I was on it and had to walk my bike up against oncoming traffic. It was not a good situation, but the only option I had. Next time I do the commute, I will probably ride on road through traffic and up to a stoplight, where depending on the traffic level, I will probably walk or ride my bike, do a U-turn and then make another left later on.

It is a messy situation, but the way I do it varies depending on traffic levels, road hazards (i.e. the construction), etc.

As to your last question, I do ride alongside them, I just make sure that there is plenty of room so that I don't have to veer into another lane suddenly.

Good luck!

K.

[Offthegrid]

I try my best not to make cars pass me twice. So if I am going straight at a light, I will generally get behind the last car and take the lane. I don't want someone turning right in front of me. Halfway across the intersection, I get to the right again.

As for that road you described, I would probably walk it across. There's one section on my commute that is only one lane each way that I walk across on the way home. (On the way in, it's no problem because there's hardly any traffic there at 6 a.m.)

[Jo-n-NY]

I also agree that you do what you feel is safe. There are also certain intersections that I get off my bike a walk across especially during rush hour. There are also times when I get behind cars while waiting for a red light, but that has taken some practice over the years. These are just my usual rides as I have not begun to commute yet.

~ JoAnn