Originally Posted by
chaadster
Pointing right to turn right is dumb AF. The American road code for all vehicular traffic is left arm bent 90° and I see no sane reason bikes should be exempt or different.
Nope.
From the 2000 UVC
§ 11-606 — Method of giving hand-and-arm signals
All hand—and-arm signals shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner and such signals shall indicate as follows:
1. Left turn — Hand and arm extended horizontally.
2. Right turn — Hand and arm extended upward.
3. Stop or decrease speed—Hand and arm extended downward.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a person operating a bicycle may give a right turn signal by extending the right hand and arm horizontally and to the right side of the bicycle.
Originally Posted by
chaadster
Signaling differently because you can is not a good reason.
Signaling in accordance with established and recognized protocol is a good reason to use the left arm. Because we ride with traffic, usually to the right, which puts our left arm in the centerline view for vehicles following, behind, and alongside, is a good reason to use the left.
Making up signals because you can is childish.
And extended right arm for right turns has been “established and recognized protocol” for at least 20 years. Just because you didn’t get the memo doesn’t mean that the use of a right arm for right turns is “made up”.
Originally Posted by
chaadster
Kinda.
Motor cycles are motor vehicles with the same ability as cyclists to use both arms, but I believe they’re required to hand signal just as cars are.
Not “kinda” at all. Motorcycles have the throttle on the right. Letting go of the throttle to signal a turn would have some detrimental consequences. But, as has been pointed out above, motorcycles are supposed to have turn signals if they were made after the 1970s.