You want a nice new bicycle gizmo for your birthday. Your husband wraps up a new vacuum. Human beings are terrible at reading minds. Cycling isn't the place to hope others know what you are thinking. Don't make the pickup truck behind you guess your next move. These handy (no pun intended...well maybe a little...) signals are required by law. Use them.
- Always signal your intention to turn right or left, change lanes, or stop at least two seconds before doing so (41-6a-804). You do not have to maintain a continuous signal if you need your hand to control the bike. Once stopped in a designated turn lane you are not required to signal again before turning (41-6a-1109).
- The acceptable hand signals are:
- Left turn - left hand and arm extended horizontally;
- Right turn - left hand and arm extended upward or right hand and arm extended horizontally; and
- Stop or decrease speed - left hand and arm extended downward (41-6a-804).