Left Turn Trap
On a four-lane road, a cyclist pulls into a left-turn-only lane and waits for a green arrow. The signal fails to detect the bicycle.
In a state without a "dead red" law, how may the cyclist legally escape this location?
Walk across two lanes of traffic, against the "DON'T WALK" signal, to get to the pushbutton on the sidewalk? Illegal, and dangerous.
Ride straight through the intersection, changing lanes into the left through lane while crossing the intersection? Illegal, and dangerous.
Make a U-turn over the double yellow line and ride away from the intersection? Possibly legal, depending on the intersection striping, but it puts you in front of traffic getting back up to speed after clearing the intersection.
Are any of those really safer than proceeding to make a left turn when there's a gap in oncoming traffic?
Left Turn Trap
On a four-lane road, a cyclist pulls into a left-turn-only lane and waits for a green arrow. The signal fails to detect the bicycle.
In a state without a "dead red" law, how may the cyclist legally escape this location?
Walk across two lanes of traffic, against the "DON'T WALK" signal, to get to the pushbutton on the sidewalk? Illegal, and dangerous.
Ride straight through the intersection, changing lanes into the left through lane while crossing the intersection? Illegal, and dangerous.
Make a U-turn over the double yellow line and ride away from the intersection? Possibly legal, depending on the intersection striping, but it puts you in front of traffic getting back up to speed after clearing the intersection.
Are any of those really safer than proceeding to make a left turn when there's a gap in oncoming traffic?