So I’ve been riding around, going in the little box to turn left on main roads, but yesterday I came to turn left on this main road and there was no little box.
How are you supposed to know ahead of time whether there will be a box you need to use to turn left, or that you need to be in the left hand lane?
I know there’s the blue sign to watch out for, but it doesn’t seem to appear every time on every road it should be on. Also it feels like in this instance, by the time you didn’t see it, it’s too late and you’re in the wrong lane anyway,
This is one of the questions on the computer based tests, isn’t it
If it isnt there, two step left turn is optional. It isn’t on all the roads where it would be useful, because the people in charge of the infrastructure are totally incompetent. Same reason the lights aren’t timed to the speed limit, and there are curvy mountain roads with dashed yellow lines, etc.
Just do the safe thing and take the two step turn that you didn’t need to take. What is more annoying is when there is a sign covered by a tree and the safe thing to do is risk a ticket by turning like a grown up
This is near our Taipei office, I seldon use a scooter there but sometime drive (car) up there. Anyways, this road if your going South past Q square ends, there is box on the road on the left area (I see it on your maps photo) and if I remember if your in the box you must turn left (I think going strait is not an option). Scooters are no allowed in front on ChungHsiao road, so if somehow do into side of station do not exit out on front (there is police on foot stopping scooters)
If there is no blue sign, then a two-step left turn is not required.
If the left-most lane allows scooters, then it is generally safe to assume that it also allows direct left turns. However, the blue sign is still the ultimate authority. When in doubt, always look for the blue sign.
As long as you can stop in a spot that doesn’t affect traffic then it is okay. However, it seems like there isn’t enough space there to do that. Also you’re not allowed to touch the crosswalk so you’re not allowed to drive over to get into the spot in-between the stop line and the crosswalk.
Taking a look at the approach to that intersection, it looks pretty clear that there is a dedicated left turn that accommodates scooter.
For the sake of argument, i still say if you’re on the far right and get to where to box would be but find no box, then don’t try to make the left turn directly.
There is actually space behind the zebra. If a cop tries to give you a ticket explain the situation. In my experience, the cops are rarely interested anyways.
Or, you could just drive straight through and take a few extra minutes to get back on track. Also safer, if not the way things are done here.
Shouldn’t be an issue more than once on your regular routes, right?
Looking at it again you can make a direct left turn there. Actually can even see it on the street view. Just be careful of all the cars merging over or car or scooters making dangerous overtakes when turning.
The two inner lanes are for direct left turns and there is no “no motorcycles allowed” on the road section there so it is okay to make a direct left turn.
So I’ve been sporadically riding for a year now when I need to, and still the turn left situation I still find weird.
What frequently seems to happen is this - I know I need to take a left turn on a main road, so I get into the right hand lane ready for the two step box, only to find there isn’t a two step box. But now I’m positioned three lanes over from where would be the safest place to turn left.
When approaching an intersection, pay close attention to the red light pole. If there’s a designated two-stage left-turn area (often marked with a two-step box), look for a blue circular sign indicating a two-stage left turn is required.
If the blue sign is present, you must follow the two-stage left-turn procedure.
If there’s no blue sign, you can make a direct left turn as usual.
You ain’t wrong. The left turn situation is pretty messy. Some roads have them as optional so you have to make your mind up how u wanna turn.
This road has an abormal amount of lanes so there is a scooter box over on the left, that lane is usually car only so its not normal.
Most bridges actually don’t have left turns so its not normal in that way either. I find learning the roads is best way in Taipei as theres so many illogical things and stupid one way streets that it takes a while to figure out how to navigate.
When I just say I wanna go here, so I will go in this direction things usually go tits up.
Well…not always. Also have to make sure that the inner lane(s) don’t have a “禁行機車” even if there is no hook turn sign. Less likely to encounter this at most regular intersections, but when it comes to the roads and the people designing them…throw all logic out the window.
More likely to encounter it at T-intersections where there is no two stage turn box and no two stage turn sign, but instead there is a motorcycle turn left lane…on the right side of the road.
Now normally you’d think a logical view point is that you see the inner lanes, including a dedicated left turn lane that does not ban motorcycles…well you can still randomly have a two stage turn signal. It’s safe for you to drive all the way up to the stop line, but it’s so damn dangerous to make a PROTECTED left turn.
As for the location of the signs it can be pretty inconsistent too.
I think this cartoon sums it up really well.
Also as an interesting thing, since the maneuver is technically two straights, the implication is that going straight is safer than turning or moving around. Well when I rode pretty much non-stop from Taichung to Taitung before one spot threw me off was by the interchange over by the Tainan Chimei museum, that gets you on the 86 expressway. Before and after this spot many interchanges, including those to get onto the freeway you can ride straight through just fine, however, only this one along prov. highway 1 in Taiwan your lane suddenly changes to banning motorcycles and you have to move over to the right and make a detour.
I even contacted the Highway Bureau and pointed this out. They responded to me, that the Highway Bureau dept. office down South actually wanted to remove the banning of motorcycles on at least the regular outer lane to allow motorcycles to drive straight rather than have to loop around the interchange. They met with the Tainan transportation dept. and after the meeting it was decided to keep it as is. Tainan city became the first city/county in Taiwan to remove banning of motorcycles and mandatory two-stage turns on most of their roads (exceptions largely being the bigger roads/intersections)…
The right side here is the detour road for motorcycles and slow vehicles…not to get onto the 86. They already have plenty of signs that clearly indicate where to get on to go East or West, so when I saw this here I was quite surprised. I suggested to the Highway Bureau that they could remove the 86 West sign there as it’s unnecessary at best and could cause confusion at worst. They told me they agreed and would make some changes. I haven’t been passed there since so I’m not sure if they changed it or not yet.
Apologies, I should clarify more about this. If there is no sign and no box then technically it is illegal to do a two-stage turn. In practice though, no one cares as long as you are not getting in the way of traffic going straight. Also if the hook turn box is full, it is also illegal to do a hook turn and you are supposed to keep going. Again in practice though…yeah police don’t care. Just remember to be careful not to be on the crosswalk.
Also a reminder that the maneuver is two straights, so you have to move into the two-stage turn box from the outermost lane that allows you to go straight, so you can’t just go into it from an outer right turn lane, that is illegal. In practice this type of intersection can be extremely dangerous for people trying to do a hook turn as many people will go straight from the right turn lane. I often avoid doing hook turns at these types of intersections if I can. Even if it takes me 5+ minutes to loop around.
Also have to be careful of stuff like this. Going around a bend, inner lanes don’t ban motorcycles, so you move into the turn lane to make a direct left turn (at an intersection with a PROTECTED turn phase no less) and then bam!!! A two-stage turn sign shows up around the bend but you have already passed the double whites. So if you changes lanes it’s illegal and this close to the intersection more dangerous, but if you two left you are a dangerous driver. I actually reported this to the Highway Bureau and told them to remove the two-stage turn sign. They called me and said well basically because it’s a provincial highway the inner lane is banned…which it isn’t here and on many provincial highways that’s not the case on many sections. Also in some areas you can do a regular turn on prov. highways too…
So in the end I was told they would have a meeting to discuss what to do. What scares me is they will choose the dumbest option and just paint a “禁行機車” mark in the inner lane…even though the MOTC already stated they want to push for minimum at least 2 lanes open for motorcycles…instead of the 1 lane BS you have in many places…like Taitung.
