safety question -- unprotected left turn

I just spent 15 minutes googling "unprotected left turn" and variations, and I was mildly surprised to find a bunch of "round-a-bout" political advocacy. What I really want to know is this:

Single left turn lane turning into multiple lanes, here on the west cost USA most cagers swing wide into the middle or right lane. In a car I meticulously enter the farthest left lane, then signal and lane change, which often gets me looks and sometimes fingers and honks. I am thinking on a bike maybe I should put safety before strict legality and aim for the safest lane to begin with. IE, if I want to be in the right lane and there are no oncoming cars turning right, I should swing wide like everybody else.

Second question -- do y'all pull into the intersection and stop when there is oncoming traffic? I found this exceptionally awkward today, caught between creeping slow and putting my foot down in no mans land. On the other hand, not moving at all until the intersection is completely clear is bound to engender road rage from the guy behind you who just wants to go.

Up 'till now I have been plotting my routes on side streets and what not, but I am wanting more practice on regular surface streets.

Thanks all!

 

As far as the left turn thing goes, I would also take the "path of least resistance" as it is far better to be sloppy and safe than correct and smooshed. For #2: I personally DO NOT pull into the intersection until absolutely 100% sure it's about time to GO. If you've got your signal on, it is obvious what you're waiting for. I don't like the possibility of being "hung out" in the intersection if you end up not being able to turn, for instance if so much oncoming traffic runs the yellow that turning would be against a solid red. Also, if at all possible, pop it into neutral and let the clutch out at long lights. If you're sitting there in gear holding the clutch in and a bee flies up your left sleeve, you may find yourself in an awkward situation...

 

I'm pretty sure the law is if you are making a left turn onto a multi-lane road, you turn into the furthest left lane. In the instance where there are two left turn lanes, the furthest left vehicle should turn into the furthest left lane, and the 2nd left turn lane should turn into the 2nd furthest lane.



See where the dark area in the lane is going?

 

Congratulations on driving correctly! Very few seem to.

On my ride to work I need to make a right turn to get on the freeway. 2 lanes turn right into 3, of which the leftmost leads to the freeway ramp. I always turn from the leftmost turn lane into the leftmost lane of my destination.

Every time there is at leas one idiot that turns from the right lane and cuts across 2 lanes to get to the freeway. I use my air horns a lot there.

I always pull into the intersection waiting for a left turn just as I would in the cage.

I never put the bike in neutral on the road unless I'm waiting for a long train. I think it's much more likely I'll need to move from some cage that doesn't stop than having to deal with a bee.

 

Carl, I pull into the intersection too. Got stuck out there once. No fun. heh. And I agree, i NEVER put the bike in neutral unless I'm stuck by a train or some such for long periods of time. I like the idea of being able to move if I gotta!

 

We got some long damn lights out here in booney-ville but I never considered the quick getaway theory, here's why: True story: 16-year old me sitting on my Honda 160 (Sport!) in gear, clutch in, and NOT watching my one puny mirror. Some lady in a Ford Fairlane came up behind me and stopped 3 inches INTO my rear wheel---a quick BUMP and I'm sitting bewildered on the hood of the Ford and my beloved Honda is in the middle of the intersection on its side. In retrospect, it wasn't the being in gear holding the clutch that was the true culprit; I hadn't learned to watch my mirror yet...

 

Not sure what the laws are down in the states, but up here in ontario, if you creep into the intersection on a green turning left, and the light turns from green to yellow then red, YOU have the right of way before ANYONE from the opposing light can go.

I do have to say that i'd be a little upset at the driver (and i see it lots) that sits behind their line on a green left turn lane cause they can't go. Only because if you do creep out, you at least have the right of way to get at least 2 sometimes 3 vehicles to turn left if it's busy and the light turns red. Instead of nobody goin through the whole light.

Just my $0.02

 

Over here in MD if you're caught out in an intersection and your light goes red, you broke the law. Usually the driver gets away with it but at some intersections you get caught by the "big brother" camera and the person who registered the vehicle gets a nice fat fine in the mail.

As far as left and right turns onto multi-lane roads, I was taught to always take the lane closest to you.

 

mlipert83 -- in your picture from the Top to the Right the drivers all swing wide because only one lane is turning. From the bottom to the left they hit the middle. It is only from the right to the bottom that they follow the law because there are two lanes turning. Interesting!

It is the swing wide thing that concerns me. While driving a car I have had plenty of people pull wide *around* me and into my blind spot. I would rather preempt that option if I want to be in the right lane. Looks like there isn't a consensus about that.

Interesting there is less of a consensus about pulling into the intersection. Legally we are on firm ground here -- no one is ever ticketed if the light is green when they start. My concern is the balance between regularly pissing off traffic behind me by sitting firm (they will honk assuming you aren't paying attention and possibly retaliate) and being hung out to dry when someone blows through the red light going cross-wise.

Looks like in both cases experience will tell over time.

Thanks for your input!

 

for your second question i think the correct answer is to do what others do in your area. where i grew up in houston i dont remember ANYBODY creeping into the intersection. but when i moved to milwaukee EVERYONE does it. it just makes sense. you get alot more cars through the light if you move up. if you really look at the logistics of it it really isnt that dangerous. the only thing to make sure of is that that last guy on the oncomming lane is FOR SURE stopping for his red light. dont assume anything. but yeah if your area does it then do it. otherwise youll just get honked at alot.

also when you DO finally get that opening to turn left. you will be able to make it much sooner becuase you are already halfway there. if you stay back then there might be a suitable opening that you cant take becuase you dont have enough time. thats when i imagine youd get honked at.

if you are new to riding though just take your time. if you arnt comfortable doing it yet dont do it.

 

Yeah. Nobody has ever been killed by a horn.

 

Well, here on the west coast USA the horn is often the first sign of road rage -- we have a bad problem with it. More than a little beep and I am getting off the road.

"do what others do in your area" -- yeah, I like that. Stand out visually, blend in with traffic flow. Works for me -- thanks!