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 Carter O'Brien on October 7, 2011 at 4:53am

I agree 100%.  I think the best thing an organization like Active Trans could do for us is to work to get better bicyclist awareness into the driver's education process. 

 

That's the time to hammer this home, before someone ever steps foot behind the wheel - kids in driver's ed should be required to display a thorough knowledge (in both written exams and the "road tests") of how to drive safely with regards to cyclists or no license, period.


I definitely hesitate to support more legal hoops for cyclists to jump through, but at some point we do need cyclists to all get on the same page as well, it's in our best interest. 

 

Maybe something as simple as requiring all cyclists to register bicycles (which people should be doing in case they get stolen, anyway), at which point they get a booklet with the official rules they'd agree to follow would work - similar to the honor system where if you visit a beer-related website you check a box that says you're over 21.


Jeff Schneider said:

What this whole thread shows is how pathetic the cycling education situation in the US really is.  Most drivers and many cyclists don't even know or agree on the rules for something as simple as signaling turns.  Don't even get me started on the Salmon thing...

Until we get a large enough part of the population on bicycles that cycling education gets some attention, I guess we'll just have to do our best to watch for left arms, right arms, finger wags, nodding heads, whatever, and at least be appreciative of the people who bother to signal and bother to pay attention to signals, whatever they might be.

Permalink Reply by David Lieb on October 7, 2011 at 10:29am
If I had a penny for every time I have signaled a turn and gotten a blank look from drivers around me, I would buy even more bike stuff I don't really need. It is funny, because drivers that appear to be second generation or more in this country give me this look of "ok, I know you are trying to tel me something, but I am not quite sure what it is". OTOH, first generation drivers have a completely different look of "what the heck are you sticking your arm out for???" A trifle un-nerving. Being above a certain age, I do my signaling with my left arm, although it would be more intuitive to simply point (and yes, now legally acceptable), mostly for the reason given above of having more control by keeping my right hand on the bars and on the rear brakes. Out of curiosity, I inquired about this on a board of MG car owners as to whether British bikes over there have the rear brake on the left so as to be able to use it while signaling on the right (traffic side). Indeed they do.
Permalink Reply by K. on October 9, 2011 at 5:20pm

Kiltedcelt,

 

I agree with you, completely; this half-ass signaling cannot be seen by motorists. 
When I signal, the world knows! I put my arm straight out in the direction I plan on turning and either wag my finger like "naughty naughty", wiggle my fingers, or do my "disco arm" which is an out and in, out and in, motion.

 

I don't care if I look like a Fred, Betty or Wilma. If I am seen and not hit then I'm a happy cyclist!

 

K.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on October 10, 2011 at 10:31am

From the Illinois Rules of the road-  see page 3 on signaling:

 

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd...

Permalink Reply by David Lieb on October 10, 2011 at 10:52am

Nice to see that the web version has the 3' rule in there ;-)

I have seen tandem stokers do both variations of the right turn signal simultaneously. I have also (just yesterday in fact) seen cyclists signal a right turn with the right arm pointing straight out and then execute a left turn. And vice versa. I cannot comprehend. I do understand a certain reluctance to sticking one's arm out into oncoming traffic and I will admit to keeping some of my left turn signals on the conservative side. My oldest brother had a broken arm from a left turn signal as a youth...

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on October 10, 2011 at 3:03pm

Karolyn,

I LOVE the "disco arm" concept- really cracked me up.

Don't know if I could pull it off, though. One-handed turns are tough enough.

 Maybe at a stand-still...

-f

Karolyn said: 

I agree with you, completely; this half-ass signaling cannot be seen by motorists. 
When I signal, the world knows! I put my arm straight out in the direction I plan on turning and either wag my finger like "naughty naughty", wiggle my fingers, or do my "disco arm" which is an out and in, out and in, motion.

 

Permalink Reply by K. on October 10, 2011 at 3:39pm

Thanks Fran, it's a winner. Start by practicing the "disco arm" standing still and slowly progress to in-motion execution. It will change your life.

K.

Fran Kondorf said:

Karolyn,

I LOVE the "disco arm" concept- really cracked me up.

Don't know if I could pull it off, though. One-handed turns are tough enough.

 Maybe at a stand-still...

-f

Karolyn said: 

I agree with you, completely; this half-ass signaling cannot be seen by motorists. 
When I signal, the world knows! I put my arm straight out in the direction I plan on turning and either wag my finger like "naughty naughty", wiggle my fingers, or do my "disco arm" which is an out and in, out and in, motion.

 

Permalink Reply by johnmont on October 11, 2011 at 12:02pm

I started using the left arm fully extended to signal left turn and right arm fully extended to signal right turn after seeing the State of Illinois doc.

 

Honestly, I didn't trust  drivers to know what the 90 degree right turn single was. :)

Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on October 11, 2011 at 2:59pm
The left arm bent at the elbow method of signaling a right turn is officially correct as far as I know and was thought out for automobile drivers, since they can't signal with the right arm and expect anyone to see it. In many places apparently, on a bike, putting out your right arm fully to signal a right turn, just like the usual motion for a left turn, is an acceptable alternative. Not sure about illinois law, but I signal that way. It's more intuitive to point where you're going, I think. With your whole arm. The little finger wiggles don't make sense, do they? And I don't like pointing at the sky before turning right - doesn't make sense. I'm with John S.
Permalink Reply by K. on October 11, 2011 at 3:20pm
Finger wiggles work, bubs. And if you were referring to my "disco arm", it's out and in, not up and down then out and in. Disco much?
Not everything in life makes sense, but if it works, and it gets my point across, I'm doin' it -- whether I make sense or not.

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