The Chainlink

Signalling - an observation

I've notice a growing trend of a strange way of signalling a turn from some cyclists. When I signal a right or left turn, I hold out my left arm, fully extended for a left turn, usually two fingers extended pointing to the left. Same thing for a right turn. What I've started seeing is this weird thing where a rider holds their hand at hip level and sort of wags a couple fingers pointing in the direction of the turn. For starters, it's not very obvious and secondly it looks more like some sort of, "This is the cool way to signal a turn so you don't look like a Fred," kind of thing. Anybody else seeing this? I've seen it enough times to recognize it as a trend of some sort. Personally I think it's vague, not very obvious, and potentially dangerous.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 6, 2011 at 1:02pm
When I do the low point waggle, it's because I'm merging into that lane of traffic (making sure that it is safe to do so). When I extend my arm out to the side, I am, or soon will be, turning in that direction.
Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on October 6, 2011 at 1:14pm
I think the technique you mention is used a lot on group rides where if you held your arm straight out to signal, you would likely poke someone in the eye.  When in the drops it is sort of natural to keep your hand low, and near the bars.
Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 6, 2011 at 1:29pm

Balance or being able to get a hand back on the brakes quickly after signaling may be other reasons. I typically only do the full arm extension when I'm in traffic. When turning left to get off the LFP I'll do the hip level point type signal. I've never had an incident where someone still tried to pass me on the left. <knock on wood>

 

Hey at least they're signalling! 

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on October 6, 2011 at 2:18pm

I use my right arm bent at 90 degrees with hand pointing up to signal turning right.

 

Using your left hand to signal turning right seems confusing and counter-intuitive to me, I suspect cyclists who favor that picked the habit up as etiquette because drivers don't really have an option, and that's where the legal rule seems to have originated.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 6, 2011 at 2:25pm
I agree fully! I almost passed a rider on the right a few weeks ago because I thought he was signaling left in a funny way. It took about 2 or 3 seconds for it to hit me that he was in fact signaling right. It helped that he started moving over to the right. I see very few riders signaling a right turn in that manner so I didn't catch it right away. 

Carter O'Brien said:

Using your left hand to signal turning right seems confusing and counter-intuitive to me

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on October 6, 2011 at 2:30pm

Actually, for the most part, I think your original sense is mostly correct, it's likely a casual, hip(ster) way of signalling.  I signal big when I know I need to and stay close to the bars when I don't. 


kiltedcelt said:

I can see the group ride thing, and I have seen it there. It's when someone is not in the drops and is not actually crossing lanes or merging that I find odd. I've seen some guys riding pretty much upright on the flats of the bar doing this. It definitely is better than nothing that's for sure. I guess maybe it's born out of a fear of someone coming along and hitting your outstretched arm, either fellow rider or vehicle?
Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on October 6, 2011 at 3:23pm

The only signal that I am guilty of NOT using, is the "stop" signal. I saw it on a group ride the other week end and was like..."Ooops, I forgot about that one".

But I always use the left arm at a 90 for right and strait out for a left. I don't want any mistakes, just in case I need a witness to recount what happened.

Permalink Reply by John S. on October 6, 2011 at 4:09pm

When turning left, I extend my arm and point left.  When turning right, I extend my right arm and point to the right.  It's legal in Illinois to signal a right turn with either the right arm extended and pointing or the left arm extended out and pointing down from the elbow.

 

While it's legal, using the left arm, it doesn't seem very intuitive.  Just pointing in the direction of the turn seems to make the most sense.

Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on October 6, 2011 at 6:09pm
I use my left arm for signaling since it's totally intuitive...being that I'm left handed...and because that's the side closest to the cars...not that I expect they're paying attention, anyway.

I do the straight out for a left turn and the up with elbow at 90 degrees for a right. I do tend to do a low signal when I have to merge out into traffic, generally for a car in the bike lane, big pothole, or something like that. It's more of a "temporary change" than an actual turn.

Oh, and if I'm at an intersection with more than one direction to turn, I try to indicate which way I'll be going by pointing in that direction.
Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on October 7, 2011 at 8:22am

(sort of a general reply)

I think there's probably also a lot more people cycling nowadays who just never got a driver's license, much less one in Illinois, at all.  I don't think people are even required to get an Illinois driver's license if they have one which is active in another state, so there's many variables out there making life dangerous for cyclists.

 

If these conversations show anything, it's that we have a lot of well-meaning cyclists who are basically making it up as they go along as the rules are pretty unclear or impractical - I never would have known someone used their left hand to signal turning right because they didn't have brakes on the right side, for example. 

 

The one thing I can say with 100% certainty is that driving or cycling, do SOMETHING to alert your fellow travellers if you are turning.  Drivers who don't use turn signals should have their licenses revoked on the spot - it's something you learn in driver's ed, and it's inexcusable not to do it - turn signals are free.  Cyclists have it a bit harder, because sometimes road conditions make it tough to let up on one side of your handlebars, but you still want to get in the habit.

 

Sue - I'm left-handed as well.  The intuition I was describing was that of a driver - when I'm driving, if I see a cyclist start to extend their arm to the left (and few do anything), my instinct tells me they are pointing in the direction they're turning, it's like keeping your eye on the ball.  Arm extends left, that's where your attention goes.  So by using your right arm, you are directing a driver's attention to your right, which is what you want.

 

 


 

 

Jeff Schneider said:

I use the legal turn signals (left arm extended for left turn, left arm bent up at elbow for right turn), out of habit, as I was taught decades ago in elementary school.  Unlike today, at that time it was typical for elementary school children to ride bicycles to school, and schools taught bike safety and rules of the road (in 1969, 43% of all students walked or biked to school).  Children learned vehicular cycling.

We have so much confusion about signaling, I think, because most people now go through childhood without learning vehicular cycling (by 2001, only 15% of students walked or biked to school), and have to figure it out on their own as young adults.

(statistics cited are from Pedaling Revolution by Jeff Mapes)

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on October 7, 2011 at 9:07am

The legal signaling thing arose from the fact that drivers of automobiles in this country anyway, were seated on the left side of the vehicle. If they signalled with their right arm it would not be visible to anyone outside of the car or truck.

 

Like coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or stopping at a red light when there is no crossing traffic, it makes no sense for bicyclists to use their left arm to signal a right turn.

Permalink Reply by Betsy M on October 7, 2011 at 9:26am
I figure no one knows what the proper signals are. So I just point my arm straight out to the left or to the right depending on where I'm going. Maybe it's not the official or legal way, but I think it's the best way to tell all other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians where I'm headed!

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