I'm very new to cycling and when I get to this intersection, I get the feeling that making the red turning movement is pretty sketchy when other cars are present. Not too sure if I have the right of way to make the left turn over the other cars, or maybe if a car taking a yellow movement would even look in my direction before making their right turn. Making the red movement or simply going straight can also be pretty rough too since a green car might not see me (especially if a parked car is blocking the way). Most times I just feel like it might be safest to just dismount and take the crosswalk. I'm probably just being a bit paranoid and overthinking, but how would an experienced cyclist take this movement?
by Sycoraxe
19 Comments
This is not a you problem. This is a great example of why bicycles should be treated as regular vehicles when it comes to basic principles of travel direction and right of way.
Just slow down and take your time to make sure drivers see you and aren’t about to crush you. Same with going straight through that intersection tbh.
That sucks, is a car parked in a crosswalk? Take the road at some point before the turn and do the blue arrow.
The above responses are right, it’s poor design. Either ride the red arrow and be prepared to inch your way across or until it’s safe, or follow the blue line. With the blue it’s taking the path of automotive traffic so drivers should be more likely to look and see you…should.
The experienced cyclist would likely avoid that bike lane altogether, use a hand signal and turn left when there’s no yellow traffic.
Oh wait is that two lanes in either direction? Blue then.
May I ask where this is?
If car drivers remembered rule #1 and didn’t cross solid white lines, this would be a fine intersection. I’ve seen worse, just proceed across in the bike lane and turn, carefully. Call your local rep and ask about getting some flexposts installed to keep cars out of those corners.
I’d probably turn left and ride on the sidewalk until I was a little further away from that disastrous intersection. My rules for self preservation take priority over taking heat for using the sidewalk for a bit.
When I ride in the city and encounter awful situations like this I dispose of all traffic laws (unless there is obvious po po around) Everyone else from parked cars to people making wide turns are violating laws all over the place but bikes have to be perfect citizens and obey all laws. BS! I’d ride in that vacant space to the left of those two cars. Stop in front of the white truck. Look carefully and roll back into the proper lane for bikes watching carefully to not get doored. The best defense is offense sometimes
I’d probably get off and walk it across the crosswalk
If you are the red line either going straight or turning left the yellow line car should see and yield for you. I say should cause people take right hand turns might not being paying 100% attention. The key is you. Slow down, watch the driver, make eye contact, and signal you are going left.
Overall with the green and blue lines this is a bad intersection for biking and I would try to avoid it. I would try to plan my route to avoid this even it means an extra .5 mile commute. Always good luck and stay safe.
Who got drunk and designed this roadway?
Ride this like you would if you were driving. Blue path all the way. Just make sure you are as visible as possible and keep your head on a swivel.
This is madness
Never ever ride against traffic! If you are going the wrong way in a bike lane, you will eventually get hit. Cars at intersections or driveways are not looking in your direction or expecting you. They will drive right into you without even looking your way. You also put anyone riding in the right direction in danger as you or they would need to swerve into traffic to pass each other.
Looks like a horrible intersection all together. Nothing cycling nor pedestrian friendly about it. I don’t think you are being at all paranoid. If you feel the most comfortable dismounting and crossing at the crosswalk, do so. Two way cycle tracks are not great for safety anyhow. What a dumb street design.
Blue will sit in that median until the left lane of yellow is clear, since yellow is turning right then everyone is blowing past in the left blocking blue. Green has a stop sign, even with a parked car you can see them so keep an eye on them. Yellow has to slow way down to make that right then so you may have some confidence they’ll see you coming through straight or doing the red lined left turn.
I will tell my chickenshit stay alive method, cross straight, shortest path. And then use pedestrian walkway to cross the road and on your way.
i would ride on the blue line and flip off any people that would have a problem with that
this is one of the worst roads ive ever seen. Geniunely have no idea what the hell to do if im driving a car on it.
Personally I just slow down and then break my neck trying to look around and see if a car is coming from any direction. If not, go. We have a lot of intersections like that in my town if a bit smaller.
It depends of the laws in your country, which I am not familiar with.
For what I know… this is a dual-direction cycle path, with a specific kind of marking on the road. You should look up if that kind of marking gives you priority, or if turning cars have priority. By feeling, you *should* have priority.
You going straight or left doesn’t actually change anything about your priority, given the only point you intersect with cars is while on the crossing. This would be different if you went right.
That said, the graveyard is full of people who had the right of way. Of course make sure to be seen, and to not be cut off. I would go through without stopping (*maybe? I’m not sure the visibility is very good to see cars coming from left, so I might come slow*), watching if there’s anything coming from purple. Yellow I assume saw me, but I’d be wary if they do not look like yielding.
If colors are wrong, please forgive my colorblindness.