Crosswalk, Countdown, and a Right Turn on Red
You are eastbound on a city street approaching an intersection with a marked crosswalk and a pedestrian signal showing an orange hand with a countdown at 9 seconds. You intend to turn right. A pedestrian is on the left side of the crosswalk walking toward your side, about 20 feet from your path, moving slowly. The light for your direction is red. A bicycle is in the bike lane to your right, slightly behind your front bumper, traveling straight. A 'NO TURN ON RED' sign is mounted on the signal pole, but it faces the opposing direction. Your view of the crosswalk is partly blocked by a parked delivery van on the right corner.
1. Can you turn right on red here, and how do the pedestrian signal and the sign facing the other way affect your decision?
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The sign you can see faces opposing traffic, so it does not govern your movement; you would need a sign facing you to prohibit the turn. That means a right turn on red is legally possible here, but only after a full stop and only if you yield to pedestrians and to traffic, including the cyclist. The countdown display is a pedestrian clearance interval: it tells pedestrians how much time remains to finish crossing, and the orange hand means do not start a new crossing. It does not give you a green light or a protected turn. Because a pedestrian is already in the crosswalk and moving toward your path, you must wait until that person has cleared your intended path before turning. The partly blocked view from the delivery van means you must creep forward to a point where you can actually see the crosswalk before committing.
2. The cyclist is slightly behind your right front bumper in the bike lane. How does that change your turn, and what is the safe procedure?
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A cyclist in the bike lane traveling straight has the right of way over your turning vehicle, and a cyclist just behind your bumper is in your blind spot during a right turn. Turning immediately would cut across the bike lane and could strike the cyclist. The safe procedure is: stop fully at the limit line, check the right mirror and shoulder for the cyclist, wait until the pedestrian clears your path, then signal, and only turn when both the crosswalk and the bike lane are clear. If the cyclist is passing, let them go first. Also watch for the cyclist continuing straight as you turn, since your turn path crosses theirs; a 'right hook' is the failure mode to avoid.