Hi Ken, You where saying:
KP>Let's see.  You are in Australia where vehicular traffic moves on the left
KP>side of the road, right?  So your 'outside lane' is on the left and your
KP>'right turn' is the equivalent to an American's 'left turn.'
Yup, that's the case, only in this particular case there is only one lane,
well a one lane road.
KP>Is it the case that cars go to the 'outside lane' to make a 'right turn' 
n
KP>Australia, the equivalent of making a left hand turn from the right lane 
n
KP>the U.S.?  That is asking for a collision.  No driver expects a vehicle on
KP>the outside lane to turn across inside lanes to make a turn.  That include
KP>bicycles.
No no no, we got a bit mixed up here hehehe...there is no inside or outside
lane, only one lane going in one direction. If I wand to turn right, I have
to slow down and keep to the right, and slip across when save to do so.
In the US, I have noticed, that at times in situations like that, there is
another line in the middle, with an arrow pointing left. Which gave me the
opportunity to wait until the oncoming traffic in the other lane has
cleared and it was safe to move.
When I encountered that situation for the first time, I thought, mama 
ia.....
there I go straight ahead and another car is heading straight for me, from
the other side, wanting to turn left to. But in the middle we met, he went
left and so did I....What a good idea...I thought....one could even sit
there safely with a bike and not obstruct the other drivers.
KP>In the Effective Cycling program, the only national bicycle safety 
raining
KP>program with certified instructors, bicyclists are taught that they fare 
best
KP>when they act like and are treated like any other vehicle on the road.
I'll remember that advise:)
KP>Thus if you are in the outside lane, you are 'signaling' to the other
KP>vehicles on the road that you will be going straight or turning to the
KP>outside.  If you are going to turn toward the inside, you need to get over 
to
KP>the inside lane, thus making your intention clear.
That might be the save in Denmark or Holland, where drivers are bicycle
aware...but here....it's very risky...even if you are right....
KP>To be sure, in heavy traffic it is not always possible to get to the 
nside
KP>lane to make a turn.  But that does not mean that you turn across all 
anes
KP>of traffic from an outside lane.  You wouldn't (or at least shouldn't)
No, never, that would be against my basic survival instincts...
KP>attempt that maneuver when driving a car.  If you can't get into the 
nside
KP>lane to make a turn to inside, you have two alternatives (actually one 
ore
KP>than a car): 1. to make a series of right hand turns (go around the block) 
or
KP>2. become a pedestrian and walk your bike across the street.
Yea, that's the only sensible alternative.
KP> BP> I soon gave that away, because it was outright dangerous; other
KP> BP> drivers of cars, must have thought that I was a car on two wheels....
KP>That is what you are.  You are a two wheeled vehicle.  You are safest when
KP>you act like a two wheeled vehicle because, among other things, the 
operators
KP>of other vehicles can predict what you are going to do.
If they see you they will...I'm lately much more assertive in riding my
bike, doing all the right things, letting the motorist know that I'm
there, but don't take unnecessary risks. As far as the above dangerous
situation goes....well it seems I wasn't the only one, that had close shaves
on this intersection....a roundabout is to be installed in the near future...
Nice talking to you Ken,
Greetings from sunny Redland...Bill :)
 * OLX 2.1 TD * Email: billp@st.net.au
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