I’m biking in the US and I’m really not sure how to get across this road. it’s a pretty busy one so crossing is kinda dangerous but there’s no way around it. I’m trying to get from the road at the bottom left to the road at the top right. I don’t know if it’s legal or safe just to go straight across to the side walk, or if I’m supposed to turn right then make a u turn, or if I’m just supposed to turn right and stay on the road or maybe something else. I’m new to both biking and driving so I’m really not sure how to proceed.
by Neat_Shopping_2662
4 Comments
Is there a signalized crossing anywhere nearby? That might be the safer option and then bike down the gutter lane for a 1/4 mile.
If not, you just gotta be really patient for a massive gap. I like to tell myself “this crossing is going to take 5 minutes. Anything less is bonus.” to try to prevent myself from rushing and taking a small gap
There’s probably not a better way than “dash straight across, Frogger style” in what appears to be a small town in a rural area. I doubt that place has a bike advocacy group or a city administrator in charge of bike and pedestrian issues.
I would do it the same way as in a car. Wait for an opening in nearside traffic from your left, and then turn left out into the middle turn lane, then wait (make sure no one is approaching from your right and getting into the middle turn lane). Once you get an opening in traffic to your right, move on over to the right lane and turn right onto the other road. I have a number of similar conditions near me, and this works no problem.
Crossing to a sidewalk works: you can always walk your bike any way a pedestrian is allowed to go (often you can get away with riding the same route at walking speeds even if it isn’t technically legal).
I’d probably turn like a car, using the center left turn lane to separate needing to find a break in traffic from the left and needing to find a break in traffic from the right. Waiting in the center lane isn’t very comfortable, but it does work.