| Re: Entering the queue at a stop sign
"Roly Poly Man" wrote
> 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.
>
> 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?
>
With 5 to 10 vehicles lined up, I will frequently come up the left side , on
the center line (eliminates the right hook scenario) and switch to the right
side as I'm coming up on the last two or three vehicles waiting for the stop
sign. I do this by using the gap created as the first vehicle leaves the
stop sign and the second one hasn't started to move yet. I then clear the
stop sign in conjunction with the vehicle along side of me, using him to
block traffic from the left and provide visibility to traffic from the
right. If the vehicle at the stop sign shows any sign of intending to make
a right turn, I wait and go with the next vehicle, or (traffic permitting),
go through the stop sign on the right turning vehicle's left side. Driver's
in my area don't seem to mind, possibly in part because I move quickly and I
am very careful not to hold anyone up.
Left turns: keeping to the right and making two crossings could be a safe
bet in really heavy, fast traffic. If my speed and traffic speed permits, I
move into the left turn lane like a car. Signal your intentions, plan your
move a long way ahead, and be ready to bail out and do the "stay right and
make two crossings" scenario if you have to. Another option if the cross
street is a quite one is to make a right turn, a quick U-turn (check for
traffic behind you first), and proceed straight through the intersection.
HTH,
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mark
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