Hand signal before pulling out to pass a parked car?

[Banjo]

I usually give one to let drivers behind or coming the other way know that I am moving out to pass a parked car.Seems sensible to me but is not what is taught on bikeability courses apparently they teach both hands on bars covering the brakes and no signal.(I havent done the course so this is second hand info)

I think the signal discourages some knob overttaking you on the approach to the obstruction or if noone behind lets approaching traffic going the other way know what your doing so I plan on carrying on as I am unless otherwised convinced??

 

[Telemark]

I always try to signal to show my intention to pull out and look backwards, too ... makes my path predictable, and seems to be polite/appreciated. Most drivers (apart from the n***ers who exist in all walks of life) hang back a bit and let me out.
It's all about communication, as far as I am concerned (sounds like management speak )

EDIT: I haven't been on bikeability training courses, maybe they focus on less 'stable' cyclists who are better off keeping control of the bike before practising indicating in traffic? It doesn't seem to make sense to me ... Have done the British Cycling Ride Leader training course though - they teach that the group keep both hands on the handle bars and ride leaders at the front and rear do the indicating for the whole group, with more experienced rear riders only being asked to indicate on behalf of the group if the rear leader has to leave his/her position and go forwards along the column. This may be fine for the group ride itself, but doesn't stand people in good stead when they are out by themselves, IMHO.
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[ColinJ]

I don't signal but I look over my shoulder way before I get to the car and start a long passing trajectory so it is obvious what I am doing.

I was rather shocked to see how a friend went about it - she hugged the kerb until about 3 feet behind the car then turned through 90 degrees and shot out from behind it! I explained that it wasn't really a very good way of overtaking ...

 

[HLaB]

I sometimes do, sometimes don't; mostly don't, instead reading ahead and looking for gap, adjusting my speed to slot into it.

 

[Banjo]

I don't signal but I look over my shoulder way before I get to the car and start a long passing trajectory so it is obvious what I am doing.

I was rather shocked to see how a friend went about it - she hugged the kerb until about 3 feet behind the car then turned through 90 degrees and shot out from behind it! I explained that it wasn't really a very good way of overtaking ...

I do as you do in starting coming out a long way back but I think that cyclists tend to be more aware of obstructions than drivers on average so think the signal is a bit of a wake up call to other traffic.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I do, or don't, depending on the exact situation. Much as I would if driving a car.

 

[ColinJ]

I signal when changing lanes to turn right, even if any vehicle coming up behind is some way back. I glance over my shoulder a couple of times before making my move. The first glance alerts the driver that I am intending to do something, the signal tells him/her what it is, and the second glance is to check that they have taken notice!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Pretty much the same as ColinJ for me, I might even throw in a 3rd glance just to make sure that I'm sure they are still paying attention - Haha

 

[PpPete]

I usually give one to let drivers behind or coming the other way know that I am moving out to pass a parked car.Seems sensible to me but is not what is taught on bikeability courses apparently they teach both hands on bars covering the brakes and no signal.(I havent done the course so this is second hand info)

That's a change from the old Cycle Proficiency what I used to teach then.

 

[byegad]

When I was a driving instructor the answer for a driver was no! There was no need apparently for a signal to say 'I am not going to run into this stationary car.' BUT when passing a moving cyclist the advice was to always signal as your car could obstruct the view of the cyclist from following drivers.

As a cyclist I always give a signal! On the basis that the brain dead motorist will expect me to stop and let his infinitely more important vehicle drive past the parked car without him having to go to the immense trouble of lifting his right foot off the throttle and touch the brake pedal to follow me past the parked vehicle !!!

 

[theclaud]

No. I expect motorists to have grasped the fact that I can't levitate over parked cars.

 

[Andy_R]

Extract from the National Standard (which Bikeability follows) "When a cyclist is riding steadily and confidently there should be no need to signal when overtaking. It should be obvious from their position and riding that they will be carrying on past the vehicles."

 

[gavroche]

No need to signal, I dont, because the car behind can see the parked vehicle and tberefore expect you to pull out.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I usually give one to let drivers behind or coming the other way know that I am moving out to pass a parked car.Seems sensible to me but is not what is taught on bikeability courses apparently they teach both hands on bars covering the brakes and no signal.(I havent done the course so this is second hand info)

I think the signal discourages some knob overttaking you on the approach to the obstruction or if noone behind lets approaching traffic going the other way know what your doing so I plan on carrying on as I am unless otherwised convinced??

Under Bikeability, the actual training for going past parked cars is covered under Level 2. General guidance is that normally the rider shouldn't need to indicate, on the basis that if they're riding confidently, they will have first looked behind and then have started a smooth process of moving gradually across, to then pass the parked car, rather than hugging the kerb and turning sharply to go around the car. However, there's no rule that someone can't indicate.

 

[L14M]

I've done bike ability, it is a load of rubbish at times. They don't teach what i call "lifeskills" as they are what actually keep you alive especially in london. Stuff like wet man hole covers, how white lines etc can be slippery. Yes they teach some good stuff but they also miss out a lot. Personally i signal before passing a parked car. For me even though it may be "obvious" I treat everybody like an idiot.