07-24-2003, 04:38 PM
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#18 (permalink)
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| | Re: Entering the queue at a stop sign
rolypoly_man@yahoo.com (Roly Poly Man) wrote in message news:<ef3e9e44.0307231353.462464f5@posting.google. com>...
> 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.
There are three things that you can do:
1. Enter the queue with the vehicles. This is most correct according
to vehicle code. You are a vehicle. I would do this if its not going
to be a long wait.
However, IMO one of the advantages of riding a bike as opposed to
driving a car is not having to put up with the congestion that having
a large oversized inflexible vehicle creates. I want to get to where I
am going quickly. If I wanted to sit idling at slower than walking
speed in a congested area I would have taken a car not a bicycle.
Which brings us to:
2. Passing on the left. (especially useful if you want to turn left at
the stop sign) The correct way to pass other stopped or slower moving
vehicles. Sometimes made impractical by the haphazard way that cars
stop in a lane at an intersection.
3. Passing on the right. This is potentially dangerous, but its a
judgment call. Is there any place for a car to suddenly pull out of
the lane? If not its easier to do this. Be aware though that a
passenger may decide to get out at a stop sign as well opening their
door into you. Practically speaking, cyclists pass on the right in
stopped traffic often. Then when you get to the front of the line,
observe whether the car at the front appears to be turning right or
going straight. If turning right let it go by.. You can also (although
also not technically correct) stop a little bit ahead of the white
line, so that when you both go you go straight ahead of the car
turning right.
Some cyclist pass on the left and then move to the right as they
approach the intersection but a "weaving" pattern can make you look
unpredictable - something you want to avoid.
> 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?
Same as you would in a car. Shoulder check. Signal left. Merge lanes
one at a time. Make sure to do this well in advance of the
intersection. If there is a left turn lane you want to be on the right
side of the lane. If there is no left turn lane you want to be on the
left side of the straight/left turn lane, however ideally not to the
left of anyone turning left. Usually I will stay in the center of the
lane at the red light (in the queue) and when the light turns green
move further left into the intersection to wait for oncoming traffic
to allow vehicles going straight through in my lane to pass.
At busier intersections or ones where I just run out of time to merge
(and sometimes ones with a gaggle of streetcar tracks to cross, I hate
that) I ride to the other side of the intersection, stop, dismount and
then walk the bike to the other side as a pedestrian.
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