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Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

priceonomics.com

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Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#71

Post by PakG1 »

kristiandupont wrote: post #12

In Denmark, the term højresvingsulykke (right turn accident) is common, meaning when a car, typically a truck, turns right and hits a bicycle. Lots of people are killed from this every year. One theory is that it is primarily foreign truck drivers who are not accustomed to the high number of cyclists in Copenhagen. When I initially saw the title, I was expecting it to be a mistake and actually say "Why UPS Trucks Don…

In most, if not all, cities in Canada, this is why we're told to always check our right-side blind spot before we turn right. Don't know how it is in Denmark. A quick Google search tells me that Denmark doesn't have such a law. Not sure why they don't, it makes total sense.

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#72

Post by jzwinck »

acchow wrote: post #61
claudius wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Non-optional bicycle lanes make this unavoidable and motorists still lobby for cyclists to be kept of ‘their’ road.

I'm confused - having a dedicated lane somehow forces you to pass?

Imagine the bike lane is on the right. Now if cars are moving slowly you as a cyclist will be passing them on their right ("undertaking"). This is unsafe near the places where cars turn right (across the bike lane).

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#73

Post by kalleboo »

mistermann wrote: post #37

Id very much like to know why they don't send a text+email prior to a physical delivery so I can confirm whether I will be home to take delivery and potentially offer a reroute address or simply say do not attempt, rather than the current approach of making three unsuccessful attempts.

My old FedEx guy used to do this. It was great. Then they took away their phones as a cost-saving measure... Now I never order anything to ship via FedEx. Hope they're saving lots of money.

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#74

Post by jzwinck »

WalterBright wrote: post #68
jakobe wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be happy if my GPS just stopped sending me on detours through residential areas...

For fun I've used my GPS navigator for parts of the city I know well. I've not found its selected routes to be very optimal, though a couple times it suggested a better route I'd never thought of. I suspect what it needs are 'hints' from human users familiar with the areas.

We could use data from other drivers' recent trips to suss out good routes. If I designed a GPS navigator I would add two buttons: Like and Dislike. Users would just tap one to indicate if a route seemed especially good or bad. I mostly want this for my cycling GPS but it could be useful for cars too.

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#75

Post by noisedom »

I'm reminded of the one time I drove through New Jersey. Major arterials are all set up like interstates and left turns aren't an option. Usually you have to go further than your destination and take a right to get on an overpass that spits you out in the opposite direction on the arterial. It's very frustrating if you manage to get lost.

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#77

Post by kevinpet »

jzwinck wrote: post #72
acchow wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm confused - having a dedicated lane somehow forces you to pass?

Imagine the bike lane is on the right. Now if cars are moving slowly you as a cyclist will be passing them on their right ("undertaking"). This is unsafe near the places where cars turn right (across the bike lane).

In California:

1. A bicyclist does not need to stay to the right of the road when approaching a place where right turns are allowed (i.e. can leave the bike lane).

2. Vehicles are required to merge into the bike lane before making a right turn, otherwise it's consider making a turn without being in the rightmost lane.

Not to say I've ever seen a single car in the bay area correctly merge to the bike lane before turning. Any case where a bicyclist is hit by a car making a right turn should be considered "failure to complete a passing maneuver."

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#78

Post by will_work4tears »

bunkat wrote: post #64

I have a friend that is a UPS driver and he always rolls his eyes when somebody mentions this to him. UPS trucks definitely turn left. Sure the delivery order generally tries to reduce left hand turns, but on the routes that he drove he saw very little difference in the route when comparing them before this 'change' and after it. The biggest cost savings were done by reducing the driver and truck counts and paying th…

I always get a mental jolt when I see a UPS truck turn left because of this "rumor" or perception or whatever it is. I certainly see it, and remember it when it happens because of the idea that they never do turn left.

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#79

Post by fennecfoxen »

ams6110 wrote: post #48
kristiandupont wrote: post #12

In Denmark, the term højresvingsulykke (right turn accident) is common, meaning when a car, typically a truck, turns right and hits a bicycle. Lots of people are killed from this every year. One theory is that it is primarily foreign truck drivers who are not accustomed to the high number of cyclists in Copenhagen. When I initially saw the title, I was expecting it to be a mistake and actually say "Why UPS Trucks Don…

When I cycle, I never pass a car on the right at a crossroads. Even if they are not signaling a right turn. Regardless of who has the right of way there, I am going to lose a vs. a car.

Indeed. The right of way is indeed cold comfort when you're DEAD. Of course, some times you'll be approaching a crossroads and a car will be approaching it faster and pass you just in time to run you down. :)

This is why I have a bell on my bicycle, and ring it any time I have a shadow of an excuse. (I recommend spending a few dollars extra and getting a nice bell that you like the sound of.)

Re: Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

#80

Post by towski »

edemay wrote: post #51

Could this inform urban planning? Shouldn't we ban left hand turns more often for everyone?

I have a theory that traffic in cities would be much reduced if we removed left have turns all together.

Although I guess in San Francisco most left turns on busy intersections are prohibited, so maybe they already solved this.

Then if you make traffic in the alternative direction go over or under then there would be no stopping ever.

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