Turning left...
Discussion
Thought I'd ask this in here for some cyclists' veiwpoints.
If you are pulling up to traffic lights, in a cycle lane which stops at the lights (no advanced stop line), and you want to turn left, would you pull up on the inside of a vehicle already waiting and indicating left?
Most cyclists I see will pull up to the rear nearside and follow, avoiding the need for an overtake on the new road, or a collision when turning. I know this is to keep safe, but should the cyclist have priority to turn, or should they hang back and follow the motor vehicle around the corner? I can't see where this is explicitly covered in the highway code.
If you are pulling up to traffic lights, in a cycle lane which stops at the lights (no advanced stop line), and you want to turn left, would you pull up on the inside of a vehicle already waiting and indicating left?
Most cyclists I see will pull up to the rear nearside and follow, avoiding the need for an overtake on the new road, or a collision when turning. I know this is to keep safe, but should the cyclist have priority to turn, or should they hang back and follow the motor vehicle around the corner? I can't see where this is explicitly covered in the highway code.
No. I wouldn't pull infront of a left-indicating vehicle.
I have also been keeping my position in traffic, i.e. not passing anything which has just passed me on the approach to the lights. This might mean I could be 5 cars back from the lights but I feel more comfortable doing that as I have only been cycling a few weeks.
I have also been keeping my position in traffic, i.e. not passing anything which has just passed me on the approach to the lights. This might mean I could be 5 cars back from the lights but I feel more comfortable doing that as I have only been cycling a few weeks.
SSBB said:
If you are pulling up to traffic lights, in a cycle lane which stops at the lights (no advanced stop line), and you want to turn left, would you pull up on the inside of a vehicle already waiting and indicating left?...I can't see where this is explicitly covered in the highway code.
Rules 72 and 73 deal specifically with cyclists turning left at junctions. In any case, it's madness to go up the inside.If you know you have got time before the lights change, then by all means do it and then position yourself right in front of the vehicle at the front of the queue so they can see you. Don't do a dozy Doris and pull up next to the indicating vehicle.
Exceptions to this are:
Never attempt this on any large vehicle like a bus or lorry. never attempt this unless you are certain how long it will be before the lights turn green.
Exceptions to this are:
Never attempt this on any large vehicle like a bus or lorry. never attempt this unless you are certain how long it will be before the lights turn green.
I sometimes sneak past vehicles like that when I am turning left and there is no advanced stop for cyclists. I never do it when there is a truck/van/dodgy looking car/taxi.
I can usually turn the corner, travel at least 25m and be up to speed before the car behind has caught up with me.
I've never been peeped at or had any agro thrown at me for doing this.
I've only once come a cropper when 'overtaking' when a car was sitting in the middle of the road 20m before a set of light and as I passed on the inside (I had no idea what the car was doing, the light was green) and a man opened the front passenger door and jumped out. I stopped in plenty time, told the man to be more cautious and to hurry up and get out of the way, and yes I do know I was at least 50% in the wrong.
I can usually turn the corner, travel at least 25m and be up to speed before the car behind has caught up with me.
I've never been peeped at or had any agro thrown at me for doing this.
I've only once come a cropper when 'overtaking' when a car was sitting in the middle of the road 20m before a set of light and as I passed on the inside (I had no idea what the car was doing, the light was green) and a man opened the front passenger door and jumped out. I stopped in plenty time, told the man to be more cautious and to hurry up and get out of the way, and yes I do know I was at least 50% in the wrong.
Edited by AndrewEH1 on Monday 19th September 16:36
It depends on the light - if it's one I know the sequence for or one that has just turned to red in my sight, then I don't mind going up the inside. I'll be at the front of the queue of traffic before it moves off again and upon my way before the car at the front moves off.
If I'm approaching a stale red, I'll do so with caution up the inside of a line of traffic, being prepared to slot in between 2 cars should the light change.
If there's room on the outside instead I'll filter as if I was on the motorbike (unless of course the traffic is turning right...)
Cheers,
Tom
If I'm approaching a stale red, I'll do so with caution up the inside of a line of traffic, being prepared to slot in between 2 cars should the light change.
If there's room on the outside instead I'll filter as if I was on the motorbike (unless of course the traffic is turning right...)
Cheers,
Tom
My rule is -
If there's an advanced stop line, use it, but only if I'm sure the lights won't change whilst I'm getting there.
If there's not an advanced stop line (or I'm not sure if there is due to stopped traffic)
At sit fully in the line of traffic, then indicate and turn when I get to the junction.
This stops cars cutting you up when there's a car in front of them stopped and turning right (assuming this is a cross roads) and if it's just a left turn, stops cars cutting you up.
At high risk situations - traffic lights, turning right off the main carriageway, straight on or right at roundabouts, I position my bike like it's a car.
Also a recent development seems to be cars coming round the OUTSIDE of me when I'm going right at a roundabout with my desired exit at the 2 o'clock position - this is even with me going nowhere near the "apex" of the roundabout and staying mid lane all the way round - glad I do the idiot check over my right then left shoulders EVERY TIME - it's amazing how often it picks up an idiot!!!
I have had to unclip and stop to avoid being taken out by the idiot on the outside - leaving me stopped in the middle of the roundabout, which is a bit scary sometimes!!!
If there's an advanced stop line, use it, but only if I'm sure the lights won't change whilst I'm getting there.
If there's not an advanced stop line (or I'm not sure if there is due to stopped traffic)
At sit fully in the line of traffic, then indicate and turn when I get to the junction.
This stops cars cutting you up when there's a car in front of them stopped and turning right (assuming this is a cross roads) and if it's just a left turn, stops cars cutting you up.
At high risk situations - traffic lights, turning right off the main carriageway, straight on or right at roundabouts, I position my bike like it's a car.
Also a recent development seems to be cars coming round the OUTSIDE of me when I'm going right at a roundabout with my desired exit at the 2 o'clock position - this is even with me going nowhere near the "apex" of the roundabout and staying mid lane all the way round - glad I do the idiot check over my right then left shoulders EVERY TIME - it's amazing how often it picks up an idiot!!!
I have had to unclip and stop to avoid being taken out by the idiot on the outside - leaving me stopped in the middle of the roundabout, which is a bit scary sometimes!!!
AndrewEH1 said:
I sometimes sneak past vehicles like that when I am turning left and there is no advanced stop for cyclists. I never do it when there is a truck/van/dodgy looking car/taxi.
I can usually turn the corner, travel at least 25m and be up to speed before the car behind has caught up with me.
^^^^This^^^^I can usually turn the corner, travel at least 25m and be up to speed before the car behind has caught up with me.
If you have seen the light go red, and you know you can get ahead of the driver in plenty of time, do it. Just make sure you are in the right gear to get away quick, hit the power and lift the front wheel a little as you move off, so drivers can see that you don't intend to hang around. I'm no TdF standard rider, but I've seldom been beaten 'off the line', and am often 20-40 metres away by the time Dozy Derek/Doris has woken up and got going. The key to the OP is the fact that his scenario states that there is a cycle lane all the way to the stop line, but no advanced stop line. I wouldn't cut up the left side of any vehicle where there wasn't a cycle lane, or it was sat close to the kerb (although I would be tempted to pass such a vehicle on it's right, dependant on the available road space and the situation regarding traffic in the oncoming lane. The big caveat is that there is no 'standard' way to approach such a situation. Use all the information available to you to formulate a plan, so that you can act in a safe, decisive, but non-aggressive manner.
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