Hand Signals...

Glitterangel76

Hi,

I was wondering which is the correct hand signal to show the drivers that I want to go straight on?

I'll explain...on the Coast Road, there are 2 lanes, the inside lane is for straight on and for turning up the Howth Road and the outside is for people going straight on.

Bike lane is on the LHS (inside lane), now I want to go straight on and some cars want to turn left. Now some of them wait, and let me go pass but yesterday one of the cars was being impatient, and wanted to turn.
Anyway, there was a older guy on a bike behind me and he said as he turned off, 'signals'. (which in my defence I use for left and right turns...but not for straight one)

So now I'm brushing up on my cycling proficiency and there seems to be 2 schools of thought... 1. you indicate you are turning/or pulling out to the right or 2. you put ur hand up as if to stay stop or talk to the hand gesture. http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/traffic-lights.html

So which one is the right one or is there an alternative?!?!?

Chips Lovell

As with a car, no signal means you're going straight on. If someone cuts accross you, then it's their fault, not yours.

Raam

For a start, you get out of the cycle lane and take the center of the main lane if you want to go straight on so as to avoid getting cut up.

So indicate right, get in the main lane and cycle straight through. You can then indicate that you want to go straight on if you wish

Alanstrainor

Raam wrote: »

For a start, you get out of the cycle lane and take the center of the main lane if you want to go straight on so as to avoid getting cut up.

So indicate right, get in the main lane and cycle straight through. You can then indicate that you want to go straight on if you wish

I'd do the same. I've been cut-up far too many times hugging the inside of the lane.

briano

That junction is a pain for going straight on alright.

I'm not sure if it's the correct thing to do, but whenever I've been doing that I try and "take the lane", or whatever it's called, by pulling out into the centre of the lane behind traffic that are turning left. This stops drivers following me from trying to get around me and then swing left. Obviously I check first to make sure there isn't someone flying up the lane trying to make an orange light or anything.

*edit*

I see RAAM and alanstrainor got their first

Glitterangel76

el tonto wrote: »

As with a car, no signal means you're going straight on. If someone cuts accross you, then it's their fault, not yours.

Now that was my train of thought..and I was going to ask my friend who cycles loads but he's a bit of a liability and seems to annoy more drivers and pedestrains than is healthy!

Raam wrote: »

For a start, you get out of the cycle lane and take the center of the main lane if you want to go straight on so as to avoid getting cut up.

So indicate right, get in the main lane and cycle straight through. You can then indicate that you want to go straight on if you wish

Cool, I will try this this afternoon/evening.. Now if you see angry drivers and a very annoyed/embarressed cyclist arguing on the coast road near this junction...good chance it could be me!

Eoin D

el tonto wrote: »

As with a car, no signal means you're going straight on. If someone cuts accross you, then it's their fault, not yours.

Left hand vertical in the air is the signal for going straight on, same with a car

Malari

Eoin D wrote: »

Left hand vertical in the air is the signal for going straight on, same with a car

But not much good unless everyone who drives knows this signal.

To be honest if they saw your left hand going up they would probably think you are turning that way. Or waving at someone :pac:

Lumen

At roundabouts I point at my exit with a raised arm/karate chop.

This is mainly a courtesy to drivers entering from my intended exit, since otherwise they have to assume I'll go right (many cyclists don't indicate at all).

Eoin D

Malari wrote: »

But not much good unless everyone who drives knows this signal.

To be honest if they saw your left hand going up they would probably think you are turning that way. Or waving at someone :pac:

Ha, I know, just clearing up the fact that there is actually a hand signal for it, I even think I was asked it during my driving test many moons ago.

LDB

If the traffic is stopped I'll usually pull up to a stop in front of the cars so I can get off safely. you have to read every situation though e.g. if all / some of the cars in the line are indicating to go left then it is usually best to move out into the lane beside to go straight.

Glitterangel76

I just said it to my friend who drives and she said if she saw someone doing that she would figure they were waving at someone. And thats if she saw it, as if she was turning left and was alongside me she wouldn't see what my left hand was doing...

Think I will take Ramm, Briano and Alainminstrators advice and see how I get on.

Luckily I've the seperate bike path further on..cycling on the quays seems to be so much easier than dealing with coast road traffic....

Raam

if you are heading out the coast from town, here is a neat shortcut...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=R105%2FN+Strand+Rd&daddr=Ossory+Rd+to:53.36113,-6.22457&hl=en&geocode=FbQkLgMderOg_w%3BFbEhLgMdOceg_w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=16&via=1&sll=53.360477,-6.22545&sspn=0.00639,0.017745&ie=UTF8&ll=53.356955,-6.238861&spn=0.012781,0.035491&z=15

Glitterangel76

Raam wrote: »

if you are heading out the coast from town, here is a neat shortcut...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=R105%2FN+Strand+Rd&daddr=Ossory+Rd+to:53.36113,-6.22457&hl=en&geocode=FbQkLgMderOg_w%3BFbEhLgMdOceg_w%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=16&via=1&sll=53.360477,-6.22545&sspn=0.00639,0.017745&ie=UTF8&ll=53.356955,-6.238861&spn=0.012781,0.035491&z=15

Ahhh, I never think of going that way....hmm I'll give that a go tomorrow and try not to detour into the Epie Bar...expect on fridays

zzzzzzzz

Eoin D wrote: »

Left hand vertical in the air is the signal for going straight on, same with a car

Isn't that for signalling to a pointsman or someone in front of you?

I was asked a question in my driving test "If you're stopped at a junction and want to signal to a pointsman in control of the junction that you want to go straight on, what would you do?"

I'd never realised there was a signal to go straight on, so I said that I wouldn't signal. My answer was accepted.

irishmotorist

My rule is to do as a car should do - we're all traffic after all. In this case, I'd go to the right lane of the two lanes in good time and go straight. I'd keep a left line in that lane though.

So, indicating wise, indicate right that you're moving from the left lane into the right lane and then treat that as the only lane and take up a proper position in that one.

zzzzzzzz

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Isn't that for signalling to a pointsman or someone in front of you?

In addition, I would have thought you'd use your right hand if you were signalling to someone behind you. Even signalling right would be better than putting your left hand up like that IMO.

mmclo

I think everyone realsies that hand signal is a bit of a joke and not recognised by anybody. I would say in a tight situation with somebody coming up on you simply signal right, that way they know you're in their way. I've often done this and if you are taking the centre of the lane there is some truth to it as you are movng out, if you're already there it's not an issue.

Raam

turning your head to really obviously look at the cars behind is a useful thing to do. Then signal. It get's attention and reminds folk that you are actually a human being and not an obstacle.

Marvinthefish

It looks like (from this page) that the cyclist's hand signal is derived from what a car driver should do to signal that he's going straight, i.e. signal with his left hand. I think it makes more sense for a cyclist to signal "straight on" with his right hand for this reason:

In addition, I would have thought you'd use your right hand if you were signalling to someone behind you. Even signalling right would be better than putting your left hand up like that IMO.

(aidan.offbeat)

and also the reason that the same right-handed signal performed by a car driver might be blocked by the car's body and might not be seen by people behind.

monument

Eoin D wrote: »

Left hand vertical in the air is the signal for going straight on, same with a car

In some countries this means you are about to stop, so I'd avoid using it.

DBCyc

Raam wrote: »

turning your head to really obviously look at the cars behind is a useful thing to do. Then signal. It get's attention and reminds folk that you are actually a human being and not an obstacle.

+1

I cycle down the south quays everyday coming home from work and have to change lanes to turn right over to blackhall place. The quays, on the average weekday evening, are full of muppets motorists in a rush home who try and drive as fast as they can to get out of the city centre.

It is a pretty intimidating route to cycle, but I find that the hand signal combined with a look into the oncoming drivers eyes definitely works. As Raam has pointed out, it reminds the motorist that you are a human being, yes the same species as motorists :pac:, and they are more likely to let you change lanes.

Motorists and cyclists can live together in harmony!

DirkVoodoo

monument wrote: »

In some countries this means you are about to stop, so I'd avoid using it.

Yeah I think that is a weird one, seems to be some idiot took the car signals and transferred them directly to cyclists. Obviously you can stick your left arm out just as you would your right on a bike, not so easy in a car.

Eoin D

I have to admit that I've never used hand signals on my bike, thankfully I never really cycle anywhere busy enough to need them, I can usually let a car pass and the make a turn. I'm just hoping when I do use them the drivers around me see me and know what I'm trying to indicate!

DirkVoodoo

Personally I find it a good habit to get into signalling even if nothing is around. I do it a lot on my late night spins home, just me and the foxes.

There are times (e.g. going over very rough ground, needing to break, descending) when I can't signal without putting myself in a bit of danger, but most times I try to.

Húrin

At that junction (North Strand Rd/Howth Rd) I usually indicate right, when I'm going straight ahead.

Glitterangel76

I used the looking at drivers and sitting in the middle of the lane when I come to those kind of junctions...

So Thank You all for the advice and tips....I made it home and halfway to work this morning in one piece.. (This mornings lesson, was road tyres and luas track make for a great fall and sore elbow and knee )