Iride01 

Appears you are correct. While the verbiage I found elsewhere in the online stuff for Michigan sort of leaves a lot up for the imagination of who is allowed to do the optional signaling with the right arm. But this link below is the actual law for Michigan unless there is an if and or but somewhere else. So I guess it becomes a question of what is the law enforcement enforcing and will they be okay with a motorcyclist using a right arm.

Michigan Legislature - Section 257.648

Interesting that there isn't an exception for those in motor vehicles being driven from the right side. I doubt my state has an exception either. But it's time for lunch.

livedarklions

Ask not what your early 20th century hand signal can do for you, ask what you can do for your early 20th century hand signal.

livedarklions

This is pretty close to being the only time I bother to signal a right hand turn.

rumrunn6

might be related to what controls are on which bars. I don't ride but do they have rear brake & clutch on right bar?

genejockey 

Throttle and front brake IIRC, both of which probably come in handy when setting up for a right turn.

cyccommute 

Nope. Rear brake is usually a pedal on the right side. Clutch is on the left. Throttle and front brake are on the right. Kind of important not to let go of the right because it keeps the go juice flowing and the front brake accessible if you need to stop the go juice.

livedarklions

So, let's get back to my question. Does anybody on this thread actually use turn signals on a MUP? Right turn signals in particular?

Eric F 

I have before. I pointed right with my right hand/arm because it's a clear way to let other users know what I will be doing.

Rdmonster69

Geez ....people will argue all day on the smallest of things....Here is my contribution.

I have no idea what Indiana law is for bicyclists. I use my left hand as that is what I learned and still use on my motorcycle when I feel a hand signal is warranted. Yes my motorcycle has turn signals but sometimes it is about being as visible as possible.

I feel that on a bicycle either method is acceptable but those who think that a driver will "get" that a right arm pointing is any clearer than a left arm bent at a right angle is deluding themselves. Most driver's probably have little to no idea what any hand signal means in the first place. My belief is that most motorists have no idea what you are doing if they even see you in the first place.

I still signal because I am a dignified cycling gent and believe that it is proper courtesy : )

WhyFi

I tend to avoid MUPs, but sometimes they're a lesser/necessary evil. In those instances, yes, I'll signal if there's someone nearby that would possibly be affected by my change in speed and/or direction.

chaadster

we keep right, so don’t call out to the left.

genejockey 

I tend to signal all turns regardless, so I don't have to remember to do it under certain circumstances. I don't signal stops unless it's the situation I described above, where not doing so might lead to being run over by cyclists unaware of the habits of San Mateo County deputies.

Rdmonster69

^^ I love MUP and it takes up the most of my riding. I can easily go 60 miles and rarely have to ride on regular roads. I can't recall ever using a hand signal on a MUP as I have never really turn off the path. When I am on the few surface streets I need to traverse to get back to campus I will use hand signals. Thankfully I only have a left turn to make thus avoiding the dreaded left arm bent/right arm controversy : )

WhyFi

Yeah, I tend to signal most of the time, but make a point of it if there's someone nearby. Well, stopping/slowing is one of those automatic signals, unless it's hard braking that requires both hands on the bars.

urbanknight

Sounds like you ride in some unique settings not common for most people, so your habits and rules won't work outside of your parameters. Any pack that rides 2 or more wide may encounter a situation where they have to split to go around a hazard. It's totally cool that you only ride single file and never pass each other, and that you expect all the drivers around you to be educated, but I don't see that working where I ride.

Rick

Another point is are you required to give a continuous hand signal ?

genejockey 

I'm glad your experience of MUPs is different from mine, which always left me wanting to use hand signals, but not the ones prescribed in the vehicle codes. Perhaps you've got a better class of pedestrian than I encountered.

chaadster

if we’re two abreast, the one on the left calls out on their right…which is to the left of the riders at the fog line. We ride the same way in IN, OH, and KY aswe do at home and it mostly works fine. If it’s something real serious on the left, it gets called with the left hand, but that’s an exceptional circumstance, because the baseline flow is to the right.

WhyFi

I live a few blocks from a system of interlinked MUPs that could easily be strung together for 60+ mile rides, too. Doing such a ride would be absolute torture to me. *shudder*

WhyFi

You point out stuff across your bodies? voidh

urbanknight

That makes sense. Still not how I would do it, but sounds like it works.

chaadster

cyccommute 

It depends. I don’t signal all the way through the turn. I will usually give a signal before a turn for a few seconds, then I get my hands back on the bars so that I have control of the bike in the turn. There’s no hard and fast rule and even if they were, I’d ignore the rules if my safety is going to be compromised.

cyccommute 

You really like to make things harder. I don’t ride in groups all that often but pointing at something on the left…pothole, rock, dead body, etc…with the right hand seems a good way to confuse people. I’m not completely ignorant about group riding and I’ve never seen anyone use their right hand to point out problems on the left. Talk about confusion!

Rdmonster69

Our pedestrians are oblivious and would be as bad as drives. One section I ride on is crushed packed limestone ..... lightly trafficked. Our major rail trail has some little villages on it that have lots of foot traffic to be aware of. Half the time a bike bell attracts them into your path. I just use abundant caution. Little kids and inattentive pet owners worry me the most. I do ride the rural roads around where I live but the state of todays distracted drivers as well as country bumpkins who think messing with cyclists is good sport deters me somewhat.