Beginner to cycling - need advice with right turn - UK

[Dean evans]

Hello,

I am after some advice on turning right on a very busy fast road.

I have starting commuting to work, 12 mile each way, most of which are very pleasant country lanes, however there is one very short part which includes me first turning left onto a 60mph busy road, then about 400 meters later turning right off the main road into another lane. This turning is on a bend so you can't see very well around the corner.

How do you suggest I approach this? How should I position myself on the road?

I normally find myself stuck in the middle of the road which large lorries doing 60-80mph past me on both sides of the road.

Hope you can help.

Thanks!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hello,

I am after some advice on turning right on a very busy fast road.

I have starting commuting to work, 12 mile each way, most of which are very pleasant country lanes, however there is one very short part which includes me first turning left onto a 60mph busy road, then about 400 meters later turning right off the main road into another lane. This turning is on a bend so you can't see very well around the corner.

How do you suggest I approach this? How should I position myself on the road?

I normally find myself stuck in the middle of the road which large lorries doing 60-80mph past me on both sides of the road.

Hope you can help.

Thanks!

You'd not get me on a road like that - I'd rather get off and walk/push the bike for that short stretch.

 

[vickster]

Is there not a crossing to use, far safer

Aren't lorries limited to 58mph in UK, although frankly if on a bike, that is plenty quick enough to be terrifying!

 

[neil_merseyside]

Hold a line in your lane so no following traffic can pass you as you approach the turn this will remove that worry and allow you to concentrate with crossing the oncoming traffic.

Perhaps post a street view/Google earth of junction and get options from locals.

 

[Tanis8472]

Is there not a crossing to use, far safer

Aren't lorries limited to 58mph in UK, although frankly if on a bike, that is plenty quick enough to be terrifying!

56mph

 

[Ticktockmy]

When you first get into this cycling game, you do feel defenceless to the traffic that shares the road with you, only to be expected. With regard to your question, I would at first cycle along the road until you are opposite the Junction you wish to Turn Right into, then dismount and cross the road on foot, when there is a gap in the traffic, then remount and cycle happily on to work.
After a while when you are more used to the traffic on that stretch of the road: Indicate to the traffic behind that you intend to move over towards the crown of the road, Place yourself in a position that traffic cannot squeeze past you in your lane, at the Junction stop slightly away from the centre, so that you do not stick out into the lane you wish to cross, then wait for a gap in the traffic in the lane you are waiting to cross
Regarding HGV,s they are the least of your worries, the majority of HGV drivers are well aware of the dangers they are to vulnerable road users, car drivers are the problem. Most don’t seem to care if the carve you up, they well happily hang onto their horns for the smallest delay, I have had them bounce up the kerb to get round me at Junctions were I am turning Right.

 

[yello]

Sounds like a turn to be avoided if you can.

Can you cycle past the turn to a point where you have better visibility of the oncoming traffic then u-turn to come back to the turn you want?

Or could you cross the busy road directly from where you join it and walk the 400m to the turn you want?

 

[ayceejay]

I agree with the cautious advice offered above, in a confrontation between you and a car or truck you will be second. I have a similar situation at a cross roads here that I tackled just this morning I unclip and pull into the quiet turning on my side of the road and opposite the road I want, then I turn and go back to the busy road and cross when there is a safe gap.

 

[MikeW-71]

Assuming there is no other way of avoiding this junction (I tend to avoid such roads whenever possible), you need to wait in a primary position for a gap and then really go for it and get up to speed, then you will have to signal early, and get yourself in primary again for the right turn off the road. I have a similar one on the way to my parents, but I don't like using it. I go a different way which approaches from the other direction, in a 40 limit and up a hill.

Or hop off and walk the 400 metres, which will be a whole lot less stressful. Is there a footpath?

 

[Hill Wimp]

Hold a line in your lane so no following traffic can pass you as you approach the turn this will remove that worry and allow you to concentrate with crossing the oncoming traffic.

Perhaps post a street view/Google earth of junction and get options from locals.

Good advice. Take control/dominate the road before the junction leaving the drivers behind in no uncertain terms what you are doing. If you can eyeball any oncoming drivers, and act confident in your actions.

You can fall apart round the corner just not at the junction.

Think SWAN - elegant, serene and don't p**s meoff on the surface but paddling like billyo underneath

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

If this was me, (and it has been), I would (and have) pulled over at the left kerb, stood with my foot firmly on the floor, so I didn't fall over (I've not got a great history of staying upright) and look over my right shoulder until NOTHING was coming, before taking the junction. Might take a while, but I do arrive in one piece

 

[snorri]

I am after some advice on turning right on a very busy fast road.
I normally find myself stuck in the middle of the road which large lorries doing 60-80mph past me on both sides of the road.
.

Turning right on a 'very busy fast road' is a dangerous maneouvre, in conditionsof poor light or poor weather it could be lethal.
It is suicidal to be standing in the road with motor vehicles passing on each side at 60mph.
Find an alternative.

 

[slowmotion]

Personally, I'm not interested in sticking up for my rights as an equally-entitled road user if it risks my death under the wheels of others.
A right turn with vehicles passing either side of me at 60 mph ( or whatever ) is not the place to make a point. Just walk your bike. At least you will be alive to consider the injustice of it.

Edit: Sorry snorri, you made those points earlier. Apologies.

 

[paul04]

There is a very busy road just before I get to work, and the speed limit on that road is 40mph,
if there is a gap in the traffic I will cross on the road, and make the right turn.
If I can not get across, then I will ride the bike to the traffic lights (stop on the left) and wait until the lights change to red and walk across the road, I find that is the safest thing to do.

 

[Dean evans]

Thanks for your replies! I haven't been able to find a way of posting a picture of the junction! I have followed suggestions here by continuing past the junction and doing a U turn after the bend when I can see clearer. Unfortunately there is no footpaths either side of the road and no crossing. It would be a shame to go a different way to work as other than this part of road I would say no more than 6/7 cars pass me the entire 12 miles to work, Just lots of rabbits and birds! Also I noticed leaving just 15 minutes earlier in the morning has made a big difference to the amount of traffic on the road.

Thanks again!