Signaling

[davidsa1]

I voted #1 "not asking permision" but in the same note I don't change lanes in a way that someone else has to alter the way they are driving.

 

[wrightme43]

I didnt vote because it all depends to me.

The best have read it put was I think by Nick Ienatsch. Claim space like a Mack truck, yield like a bicycle. LOL

 

[psnbye]

I will look to see if I have a safe place to go, then give it a few seconds to see if the drivers are paying attention, then go. I drive big trucks for a job and I have a healthy respect for all that metal hurtling down the road. "I will die if they hit me." is my motto, so I stay the he!! out of their way. :thumbup:

 

[Crotalus]

I think it depends on the situation. I answered number 2, but on the highway I simply acclerate past the cars in the slow lane, signal for a few seconds and get into the slow lane for my exit. I do this miles before the exit so that it's not a last second thing.
I don't do much city driving, so all this is easy. Inside the city acclerating ahead of everyone is easy to get to the lane you need. I don't excessively speed inside the city, just out acclerate the cars from a stop light.

 

[Sawblade]

I try to move through traffic so I won't make anyone have to change what they're doing already. I signal when my move might affect what they're doing later on, otherwise, I just leave the button alone.

 

[jamesfz6]

Sometimes you have to drive offensive on a bike. If you only drive defensively the cars will run all over you.

 

[jamesfz6]

I think it depends on the situation. I answered number 2, but on the highway I simply acclerate past the cars in the slow lane, signal for a few seconds and get into the slow lane for my exit. I do this miles before the exit so that it's not a last second thing.
I don't do much city driving, so all this is easy. Inside the city acclerating ahead of everyone is easy to get to the lane you need. I don't excessively speed inside the city, just out acclerate the cars from a stop light.

I watched a guy weave in and out of 3 lanes of heavy traffic just to get 3 cars ahead. Then he cut off 2 cars as he jumped 2 lanes for his exit.

 

[The Toecutter]

i'm very careful on my bike.i turn on my blinker then turn my head to make sure i don't have a car or another bike coming at high speed in the lane i'm merging too.when i'm going to turn on to another street at an intersection i allways look for someone trying to beat me to it via an intersection.just to many way's to get run over out there i'm allway's cautious.

 

[The Pheasant]

Use indicators to indicate in good time to other road users what you intend to do, assuming it is safe to do so. Ie., no need to indicate when there is no one around, no point if you have left it so late that indicating will make no difference to the outcome...

 

[opds9091]

i always put my blinker on, look, tilt my head and if there is no car i go in, if there is and it doesn't see me or doesn't move, i downshift hit the throttle and blast past them, and then take my blinker off.

 

[Brandad]

From my perspective, there's a difference in signaling for regular traffic and signaling for crawling, congested traffic.

Almost always, I ride as if I'm invisible. I expect cars won't see me and ride accordingly. So normally I'm only changing lanes when there's clearly the appropriate amount of room to do so. I will signal to increase my visibility to other drivers, but normally that is only to let them know that I intend to change lanes, and now here I come. No permission required.

In bigger cities, the offramps or even the slow lanes will slow to a crawl during rush hours. Cars will be just a few feet behind each other. In this case, I will find the biggest gap, signal as a means to show my intent and as a way to ask the other driver to slow down and widen the gap. I probably could have squeezed in, but it's far more courteous to use the signal to get permission in this case.

 

[Jedi]

I voted for number three, because one, two and four may result in me being dead.

 

[bluenova]

Interesting poll.

I'm originally from England, where you signal and wait a moment and someone will make a hole for you (most of the time). I just got back from a weekend in Blighty and it was so refreshing to see people giving each other respect, like moving from lane 1 to lane 2 when passing a slip road to let the traffic join.
I now live in Belgium, if you were to just signal you would be waiting for ever for someone to give you room, people would be flying passed you thinking 'why has that guy got his indicator on and not moving'. Your only option is to barge your way in, it's expected.

Personally I voted '2'. I will indicate my intension and after a moment if I'm not going to cause anyone the need to brake I will move. On the bike it's so easy to accelerate into a space without pissing off other road users, in the car that's not so easy.

 

[bluenova]

One thing to remember (between the UK and US at least) is that in the UK traffic in the fast lane has priority over the slower lane, so you can legally barge from lane 3 to lane 2 but not from lane 2 to lane 3. How does that work in the US where you can overtake in any lane?

 

[Wombat1940]

In Oz the signal is for showing you want to change lanes ,it doesn't give you the right to change lanes.In Adelaide the bloody cages just try and speed up to block you anyways.

In a heavy vehicle it's a different story,you are obliged by law to let them in.

Same in Melbourne although don't know about obligation by law bit. Can you direct me to where it says this?

Sightly digressing:

Quote: " ........... I ride like I own my space. In other words on a four lane road I ride next to the dashed white line, the inside of the lane, not the outside. I try to dominate my space, if not, you get run over. This holds true with the bicycle too. If you clammer to the edge people will not see you, ignore you, not respect you if you will. ..............."

When going for your licence instruction in Oz you are taught this. As a caged driver I never new this and nor do 90% of other caged drivers.
Its the most important rule for all m'cyclist, but can lead to huge anger to motorist. They want us on the left of OUR line so they can squeeze past. :spank:. At every speaking opportunity, whether I'm address issues relating to "How to grow Roses" or The best sxx positions for Geriatrics" , I put in my bit in about "My Space as a M'cyclist"

 

[OZXJR]

Can you direct me to where it say this?

I,ll see if I can find it later,may be an S.A only law,but I remember it coming in .Was mainly so that buses could pull out from bus stops,cagers just would not let them.

 

[damnpoor]

One thing to remember (between the UK and US at least) is that in the UK traffic in the fast lane has priority over the slower lane, so you can legally barge from lane 3 to lane 2 but not from lane 2 to lane 3. How does that work in the US where you can overtake in any lane?

In California you are allowed to pass on the right but it "shall not relieve the driver of a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway."

Theoretically you should rarely ever pass someone on the right.

 

[cv_rider]

I ride like I own my space. In other words on a four lane road I ride next to the dashed white line, the inside of the lane, not the outside. I try to dominate my space, if not, you get run over. This holds true with the bicycle too. If you clammer to the edge people will not see you, ignore you, not respect you if you will.

Interesting. I see your point, but I don't think think that's the safest position. On the fwy, I assume you are riding in the fast lane. In that case, I almost always ride in the far left edge, near the shoulder/yellow line. That gives me nearly a whole lane of space before they make contact if someone tries to come into my lane. If you ride near the white line on the right, you're in an accident if someone veers into your lane - no time to react to it.

I do find that people are more likely to tailgate me if I ride on the far left of my lane - probably with the intention of passing me while "sharing" that lane with me. If I see someone doing that, I go to the middle of the lane.

I do recognize that being the far left of the fast lane, that it is harder for cars in front and to my right to see me in their rear view mirror. I still feel that the extra 8 feet of space between me and the car on my right is more valuable than the possibilty that that car has more awareness of me.

I see other riders in the same position as me, or sometimes in the middle of the lane. I can't recall seeing anyone ride near the right edge of the lane.

 

[chunkygoat]

Interesting. I see your point, but I don't think think that's the safest position. On the fwy, I assume you are riding in the fast lane. In that case, I almost always ride in the far left edge, near the shoulder/yellow line. That gives me nearly a whole lane of space before they make contact if someone tries to come into my lane. If you ride near the white line on the right, you're in an accident if someone veers into your lane - no time to react to it.

I do find that people are more likely to tailgate me if I ride on the far left of my lane - probably with the intention of passing me while "sharing" that lane with me. If I see someone doing that, I go to the middle of the lane.

I do recognize that being the far left of the fast lane, that it is harder for cars in front and to my right to see me in their rear view mirror. I still feel that the extra 8 feet of space between me and the car on my right is more valuable than the possibilty that that car has more awareness of me.

I see other riders in the same position as me, or sometimes in the middle of the lane. I can't recall seeing anyone ride near the right edge of the lane.

I agree, depending on the circumstance. When I'm in the fast lane, and coming up to pass a car in the slow lane - I start off in lane position 3, near the dotted whites to let them see me, and as i begin to pass i shift to lane position 1 to allot the most time possible if they veer into my lane or didn't see me. Sometimes at night I even ride in the fast lane, lane position one (far left) with my left turn signal on. The flashing light catches people's eyes. Keeping in low gear and high RPMs helps being heard - giving other motorists awareness of my presence.

I try to get the best of both worlds. I want time to react, and I want people to see me. I am always trying to ride in the most visible spots, constantly flashing my high beams, honking my horn, changing lane positions - to any other motorists.

I still always assume i am invisible though.

 

[nixter]

I didn't vote because none of the answers really fit for me. I signal and merge the same on my bike as in my car. First, I find an open spot, then I signal and merge. I'm not asking for permission as I've already found a spot and nobody needs to make adjustments for the same reason.