Traffic situation

[malkin]

I use the left hand bent up at the elbow to signal right (same as when I learned to drive an ancient VW with no turn signals). It always cracks me up when people 'wave back.'

[Catrin]

I use the left hand bent up at the elbow to signal right (same as when I learned to drive an ancient VW with no turn signals). It always cracks me up when people 'wave back.'

This is generally what I do, though I go back and for between this and using my right arm to point to the right for a right turn. I do wonder if people even look for a signal from the right arm...

The two times I've almost been creamed though over misconstrued hand signals has been when I've given the turning left signal - how more clear could it be? Either they had no idea what it meant, or they were so distracted that all they could think of was speeding around me. Thankfully it's been some time since I last had a problem with this.

[Crankin]

Today we had a driver pass DH when he was making a left into a parking lot. He was signaling and was in the lane. The person couldn't wait, accelerated and went around him . Of course, DH saw it, but still... the same thing happened a couple of weeks ago when we were leading a ride. A driver (in a Prius, no less) decided he couldn't wait for our small group (10, plus DH and I) to turn left. He passed DH so close that DH was able to pound his car and get his plate #. He also cut off 6 or 7 of the other riders in our group. Since I was sweeping, I saw the whole thing and all I could think was "I am going to have to have to write one of those accident reports for AMC." This was on a country road, in Concord, about 3 miles from my house.
What is wrong with these people? We were "taking the lane," and I guess they must have been pissed we were.

[ny biker]

I've also had drivers pass on my left while I'm signaling a left turn. Last year I was almost rear-ended by a car when I stopped to let oncoming traffic pass before turning left, despite the fact that I started signaling well before the turn and still had my left arm out while I waited.

I used to signal right turns with my left arm, like they taught in drivers' ed, but last year I decided to start signaling them with my right arm. Unfortunately I'm very unstable with my right hand off the handlebars. I've had to train myself to remain steady while holding the bar with my left hand only.

BTW with the advent of Capital Bikeshare in DC, there are many more cyclists in the city than there used to be. And so few of them signal turns. It drives me crazy. As a driver, there is a lot that you have to be scanning for on busy city streets, and forcing me to guess what cyclists are doing makes it that much harder for me to drive safely near them.

[Crankin]

I also used to signal right with my left hand up, but I switched to using my right hand about 5 years ago. Like NY Biker, I also am very unstable taking my right hand off of the bar. In the beginning of a ride, I can barely do it.
In the instance of the person passing on the left when we were leading the group, I think he or she was just pissed at seeing another group of cyclists. There were several special things going on around here that day, cycling, running, and one of the main streets was closed for electronic recycling day.
Yesterday, well, I think they are not used to seeing and dealing with cyclists in the way they are here. Not that it's an excuse, but I really think some people don't know we are supposed to act like cars or realize how fast we can go. In both cases I think DH should have called the police, especially yesterday, but he didn't want to spend the time.

[Catrin]

I also used to signal right with my left hand up, but I switched to using my right hand about 5 years ago. Like NY Biker, I also am very unstable taking my right hand off of the bar. In the beginning of a ride, I can barely do it...

Thanks Crankin, this makes me feel better. The main reason I use my left arm to signal a right turn is I too am unstable taking my right hand off the bar. I can do anything I want with my left, that isn't a problem. I really don't want to do something that I KNOW makes me unstable in the middle of traffic. I can do it briefly, but not long enough to make me confident that the driver saw it.

I've also read the argument that drivers aren't looking for/don't notice so much right-handed signals, but frankly I don't think there is merit to that argument. Cars have turn signals on the right side, after all!

[WindingRoad]

I too use my hand and arm to point to the direction I'm turning. I think it's better too b/c it's a bigger movement and I have screaming yellow gloves I wear when I commute so they HAVE to see my turnsignals I'm surprised those gloves don't require batteries. I am familiar with that intersection at that time and I think if you are sitting in traffic and its backed up then it shouldn't be so bad b/c you can get going about as fast as they can. If you can give them room to pass you while you are taking off fine but if not I'd continue to take the lane. Curious did they ever finish the Multi Purpose Path along Michigan? If so, you could take that over to 60th street? I know you said there was construction but there are 'ways' to weedle through some of those neighborhoods.