Abbiegen und Handzeichen

Turning and signalling

23 Aufgaben
RadfahrenVerkehrsregelnVerkehrssicherheit

Jeder Richtungswechsel läuft in derselben Reihenfolge ab: Schulterblick, Handzeichen, zweiter Blick, dann fahren — § 9 StVO verlangt die Rückschau ausdrücklich zweimal. Der ausgestreckte Arm ist der einzige Blinker, den ein Fahrrad hat. Links abbiegen geht direkt (einordnen, Gegenverkehr abwarten) oder indirekt (geradeaus über die Kreuzung, an der Ecke halten, drehen, neu starten) — die indirekte Variante ist ausdrücklich erlaubt und für Ungeübte die sichere.

Ein Fahrrad hat keinen Blinker, kein Bremslicht und keine Spiegel. Alles, was der Verkehr hinter dir über deine Absichten weiß, musst du ihm mit dem Körper sagen — und alles, was du über den Verkehr hinter dir weißt, musst du dir holen.

Die Reihenfolge ändert sich nie: zurückschauen — Handzeichen — noch einmal schauen — fahren. Der Blick nach hinten heißt Schulterblick, und das Gesetz verlangt ihn zweimal: einmal vor dem Einordnen, einmal vor dem eigentlichen Abbiegen. Er ist auch körperlich das Schwerste, weil ein ungeübtes Rad dorthin zieht, wohin man schaut. Das übt man am besten auf einer leeren Straße, bis das Rad seine Spur hält, während der Kopf sich dreht.

Das Zeichen selbst ist einfach: den Arm auf der Seite ausstrecken, in die du willst. Linker Arm nach links, rechter nach rechts. Lang genug halten, dass man es sieht, wieder an den Lenker, bevor du zu lenken beginnst — und nicht winken, solange du noch überlegst.

Es gibt zwei erlaubte Arten, links abzubiegen, und die Wahl zwischen ihnen ist die nützlichste Entscheidung in diesem ganzen Thema.

  • Direkt abbiegen. Schulterblick, links anzeigen, zur Fahrbahnmitte einordnen, dort den Gegenverkehr abwarten, dann abbiegen. Schnell — und du stehst zwischen fahrenden Autos.
  • Indirekt abbiegen. Rechts bleiben, geradeaus über die Kreuzung, an der Ecke gegenüber anhalten, das Rad um neunzig Grad drehen und mit dem Verkehr wieder losfahren, der jetzt vor dir liegt. Das Gesetz erlaubt Radfahrenden ausdrücklich, vom rechten Rand aus zu queren. Es dauert länger und ist deutlich sicherer, und es ist nichts, wofür man sich schämen müsste — viele fahren ihr Leben lang so.

Rechts abbiegen ist leichter, hat aber eine Falle: die Menschen, die die Straße überqueren, in die du hineinfährst. Sie haben Vorrang vor dir, ob dort ein Überweg markiert ist oder nicht. Langsamer werden vor der Ecke, nicht in ihr.

Voraussetzungen (1)

Wo man fährt
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Leicht
Multiple Choice #1 10s ▶ Testen

You are about to turn left. Which arm do you put out?

  • ● The left arm
  • ○ The right arm
  • ○ Both arms, one after the other
The arm goes out on the side you are going to. It is the only indicator a bicycle has, so hold it long enough to be seen and bring it back before you start to steer.
Wahr / Falsch #2 12s ▶ Testen

One glance over the shoulder before a left turn is what the law asks for.

✓ Falsch
It asks for two: before moving across, and again before turning. The second one is the one that catches the car that has just started to overtake you.
Wahr / Falsch #3 12s ▶ Testen

Turning left by riding straight across, stopping at the far corner and starting again is a legitimate way for a cyclist to turn.

✓ Wahr
Expressly permitted. A cyclist may cross the road from the right-hand edge rather than moving out into the traffic first.
Karteikarte #4 12s ▶ Testen

What does the German verb "abbiegen" mean?

✓ Antwort: to turn off
Links abbiegen is to turn left; rechts abbiegen is to turn right.
Multiple Choice #5 10s ▶ Testen

What is a "Schulterblick"?

  • ● A look back over your shoulder
  • ○ A glance in a mirror
  • ○ A hand signal before a turn
Schulter is shoulder, Blick is look. A bicycle has no mirror that covers what is right behind you — the look does.
Wahr / Falsch #6 10s ▶ Testen

Riding into a roundabout, you signal left as you enter.

✓ Falsch
Never signal on the way in — it would read as leaving at the first exit. Signal right on the way out.
Wahr / Falsch #7 12s ▶ Testen

You are turning right and have signalled. A pedestrian crossing the road you turn into has to wait for you, because you signalled first.

✓ Falsch
Whoever turns gives way — to oncoming traffic when turning left, and to anyone crossing the road you turn into. Signalling announces the turn; it buys no priority.
Mittel
Karteikarte #1 20s ▶ Testen

What is the order of a change of direction on a bicycle?

✓ Antwort: look back, signal, look back again, then move
Every turn, every lane change, every pull-out around a parked car.
Karteikarte #2 12s ▶ Testen

Which arm signals a right turn?

✓ Antwort: the right arm
The arm always goes out on the side you are going to — there is nothing to reverse.
Karteikarte #3 15s ▶ Testen

What is a "Schulterblick"?

✓ Antwort: a look back over the shoulder
Schulter is shoulder, Blick is a glance. It is the word your German friends will use when they explain a turn to you.
Karteikarte #4 15s ▶ Testen

What is the German word for looking back over your shoulder before a turn?

✓ Antwort: Schulterblick
The reverse of the card you already have — different retrieval path, same fact.
Karteikarte #5 12s ▶ Testen

How many rearward looks does the law require before a left turn?

✓ Antwort: two
One before moving across, one before turning.
Karteikarte #6 20s ▶ Testen

What is an indirect left turn?

✓ Antwort: straight across, stop at the far corner, turn and restart
The slower and safer of the two permitted left turns; you never leave the right-hand edge of the road until you are stopped.
Karteikarte #7 15s ▶ Testen

When do you signal at a roundabout?

✓ Antwort: only when leaving it
Signalling on entry is forbidden; it would read as "leaving at the first exit".
Karteikarte #8 15s ▶ Testen

Turning left by riding straight across, stopping at the far corner and starting again is called an ___ left turn. Which word fills the gap?

✓ Antwort: indirect
The indirect left turn is legal and often the safer choice at a wide, busy junction.
Karteikarte #9 15s ▶ Testen

Turning, you meet oncoming traffic or someone crossing the road you turn into. What must you do?

✓ Antwort: give way
The one who turns waits — that is why you slow down before the corner, not in it.
Schwer
Multiple Choice #1 14s ▶ Testen

You want to turn left at the junction ahead. What is the first thing you do?

  • ● Look back over your left shoulder
  • ○ Put your left arm out
  • ○ Move towards the middle of the road
Look, then signal, then move. Signalling before you have looked announces a manoeuvre you may have to abandon, and moving before you have looked is how cyclists are hit from behind.
Multiple Choice #2 14s ▶ Testen

You have looked back, signalled, and moved towards the middle of the road. What comes next, before you turn?

  • ● Look back again
  • ○ Signal again with the other arm
  • ○ Ring the bell to announce the turn
The law asks for the rearward look twice: once before you move across, once more before you actually turn. Traffic changes in the seconds between them.
Multiple Choice #3 16s ▶ Testen

You want to turn left at a wide, busy junction and you do not feel able to cross the moving traffic. What do you do?

  • ● Ride straight across, stop at the far corner, turn the bike and set off with the traffic
  • ○ Get off and push across both roads on the pedestrian crossings
  • ○ Wait at the kerb until the road is empty in every direction
That is the indirect left turn, and the law expressly allows a cyclist to cross from the right-hand edge. It is slower, it is far safer, and plenty of German cyclists turn that way all their lives.
Multiple Choice #4 14s ▶ Testen

You are turning left directly and have reached the middle of the road. A car is coming towards you. What do you do?

  • ● Wait where you are until it has passed
  • ○ Turn quickly in front of it
  • ○ Go back to the right-hand edge and try again later
Turning left means letting oncoming traffic through first. Waiting in the middle is the normal, expected position; retreating across the lane you just crossed is the dangerous move.
Multiple Choice #5 14s ▶ Testen

You are turning right and someone steps off the kerb to cross the road you are turning into. What do you do?

  • ● Let them cross; they have priority over you
  • ○ Ring the bell and turn in behind them
  • ○ Turn in front of them, since you signalled first
Anyone crossing the road you turn into goes first, marked crossing or not. That is why the slowing down happens before the corner, not in it.
Multiple Choice #6 15s ▶ Testen

You are riding into a roundabout and will leave at the second exit. When do you signal?

  • ● Only on the way out, with your right arm
  • ○ On the way in with the left arm, and again on the way out
  • ○ Not at all; signals do not apply in a roundabout
Signalling on entry is forbidden, because it would tell drivers you are leaving at the first exit. Signal right as you pass the exit before yours.
Multiple Choice #7 15s ▶ Testen

You are turning right into a side street and need both hands to brake just before the corner. What do you do with the signal?

  • ● Signal early with the right arm, then both hands back on the bars for the turn
  • ○ Keep the right arm out all the way through the turn
  • ○ Leave the signal out; braking comes first
The signal has to come in good time, not last through the corner. Show it early, then brake and steer with both hands.