When riding your bicycle, communicating your intentions to other cyclists and motorists is an important part of keeping everyone safe. Turn signals, a fundamental part of this communication process, is something everyone should be familiar with on the road.
While motorists can rely on blinking lights, cyclists continue to rely on hand signals. If you are a little rusty on your hand signaling technique or recognition, it is fortunately straightforward, particularly for cyclists. A left turn is signaled by fully extending your left arm and a right turn by fully extending your right arm. A right turn can also be signaled with you left arm by bending it at the elbow and pointing you hand upward. A stop is signaled in the same way except your hand is pointed to the ground.
As valuable as this is, there are other forms of communication that should and do take place. Another way a cyclist can and should indicate their intentions is by their position within their lane of travel, particularly at intersections. Even in the absence of hand signals, a cyclist’s position on the roadway should give an indication to those behind them the direction they plan to go. If it is a right turn, the cyclist should position themselves to the right of the lane in the same position as they approached the intersection.
If their intention is to go straight through the intersection, they should position themselves near the center of the lane as they approach the intersection. If they intend to make a left turn, they should place themselves to the left of their lane.
If there are multiple lanes or separate right or left turn lanes, the cyclist should position themselves in the right most lane that will lead them to their destination.
Cyclists often give other clues as to their intentions by scanning over their shoulder. Often times, if a cyclist looks back over the same shoulder several times, it is an indication they are looking for a gap in traffic in an attempt to change lanes or are preparing for an upcoming turn.
There are other ways that we communicate out on the road and it may be as simple as making eye contact. So let us all be attentive to the messages that are being sent and get home safe and sound.
David Bange became the City of Jefferson city engineer in 2013. He began working for the city in 2003 and had previously held the positions of design engineer, engineering supervisor and engineering division director.