Cycling Mob Cycling Forums - View Single Post

07-23-2003, 03:25 PM

In article <ef3e9e44.0307231353.462464f5@posting.google.com >,
rolypoly_man@yahoo.com says...
> As a novice biker, I am curious what you are supposed to do when there
> is a stop sign with about 5 to 10 vehicles lined up to get their turn.
>
> Most of the time I have seen cyclists fly by all the traffic right
> up to the stop sign. Isn't this kind of dangerous? I know it's
> not proper to pass traffic on the right, and I have often seen a
> car suddenly pull out (which would be into a cyclist) using a
> lane, gravel shoulder, etc to make an impromptu right turn.
>
> On the other hand, I can't see a cyclist entering the queue with
> vehicles. At least I don't think I've ever seen this done.

You've never seen me, then; that's how I do it. I was almost right-
hooked (which is the Cyclist's term for what you described above) a
couple of months ago, and since then, I always take the lane at stop
light or stop sign. I can accelerate as fast as the car in front of me
and stay fast enough through the intersection that I don't delay the car
behind me and get him pissed at me.

> Also, what is the proper way to make a left turn at a typical
> busy 4-lane or 6-lane boulevard? Do you keep to the right and
> make two crossings?

Traffic and speeds permitting, I move over into the left lane just as a
car would. If the traffic is too heavy or going too fast for that to
feel safe, then I pretend I'm a pedestrian and make two crossings in the
cross-walks, making sure to go at pedestrian speed so as not to throw
off a car which might be turning across the cross-walks. It only takes
an extra minute or so usually, so doesn't cost me much.

YMMV!

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

07-23-2003, 03:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
David Kerber Posts: n/a	Re: Entering the queue at a stop sign In article <ef3e9e44.0307231353.462464f5@posting.google.com >, rolypoly_man@yahoo.com says... > As a novice biker, I am curious what you are supposed to do when there > is a stop sign with about 5 to 10 vehicles lined up to get their turn. > > Most of the time I have seen cyclists fly by all the traffic right > up to the stop sign. Isn't this kind of dangerous? I know it's > not proper to pass traffic on the right, and I have often seen a > car suddenly pull out (which would be into a cyclist) using a > lane, gravel shoulder, etc to make an impromptu right turn. > > On the other hand, I can't see a cyclist entering the queue with > vehicles. At least I don't think I've ever seen this done. You've never seen me, then; that's how I do it. I was almost right- hooked (which is the Cyclist's term for what you described above) a couple of months ago, and since then, I always take the lane at stop light or stop sign. I can accelerate as fast as the car in front of me and stay fast enough through the intersection that I don't delay the car behind me and get him pissed at me. > Also, what is the proper way to make a left turn at a typical > busy 4-lane or 6-lane boulevard? Do you keep to the right and > make two crossings? Traffic and speeds permitting, I move over into the left lane just as a car would. If the traffic is too heavy or going too fast for that to feel safe, then I pretend I'm a pedestrian and make two crossings in the cross-walks, making sure to go at pedestrian speed so as not to throw off a car which might be turning across the cross-walks. It only takes an extra minute or so usually, so doesn't cost me much. YMMV! -- Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying! REAL programmers write self-modifying code.