I was disturbed to note that your Oct. 18 editorial entitled “Learn How to Bike, Seriously” provided incorrect instructions for hand signals.
Seriously.
According to the DMV Vehicle Code Section 22111: All required signals given by hand and arm shall be given from the left side of a vehicle in the following manner:
1) Left turn – hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the vehicle.
2) Right turn – hand and arm extended and bent upward beyond the side of the vehicle, except that a bicyclist may extend the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.
3) Stop signal – hand and arm extended and bent downward beyond the side of the vehicle.
Also, bicyclists should not “pretend” to be vehicles. The DMV considers bicycles to BE vehicles — which means that we bicyclists are subject to the same rules of the road as cars. So in addition to using hand signals, bicyclists must stop at all stop lights and stop signs — even if no cars are in sight.
Thank you for your attempt to keep the students safe, but please make sure you have all the facts correct next time.
— Cynthia Weller
Staff member of Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Behavior
