Is turning right (on the bike) legal / illegal / grey zoned?

49 comments
  1. I kid you not. Some of my friends have gotten fined by the popo for making a right turn when it was red..
    This was all in Copenhagen so I can imagine that it could happen in Valby as well.

  2. Riding your bike through a right turn during a red light is illegal.

    Getting off the bike at the red light and walking it, on the pavement, to the bike lane going right is legal.

  3. I will do it if its safe even though it’s illegal. Its just plain dumb to stand there like a sheep waiting for the light turning green in that little tiny right-turn on bike.

  4. When red? Illegal. Last I heard someone complain it was a 1000kr fine. But that was a few years ago so it’s probably more now.

    There are a few lights where they are experimenting with having a legal right turn even on red, but they’re clearly marked

  5. It’s illegal if the light is red.

    [Here’s another fun one, that many people forget](https://i.imgur.com/ufkKel0.jpeg) (or ignore). In an intersection as a cyclist, you have to ride your bike to the opposite side, turn 90 degrees to the left, and wait for the light to turn green. It doesn’t matter how big the intersection is.

    Red in the picture = No go

    Green in the picture = How to do it

    I get why people do it in small intersections, because as long as you’re oriented, you won’t get run over (don’t hold me accountable on that one, though). Same goes for turning right into a bike lane – I get why people do it.

    EDIT: Oh, and technically you need to ride your bike all the way back to where the white line is, [which in this case](https://i.imgur.com/nmyJtmj.jpeg), is really far back. [Here is a better example](https://i.imgur.com/5sE7pYq.jpeg) with a [source](https://www.google.dk/maps/@56.3595585,8.6337254,3a,75y,187.96h,77.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOHQRGIXACeK13lGjgH757A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=da).

    EDIT 2: Huh, guess I got schooled. Been 10 years since I rode a bicycle, so bear with me hah

  6. It’s illegal. In some cases you can turn right and not just when you have that special sign.
    Like in that right turning lane at the intersection of Holmens Kanal and Havnegade. The line there is a yield line and not a stop – full line – like it is to go straight. The traffic light is also left of the right turning lane. It’s a very weird crossing and there’s construction there at the moment blocking the right turning lane 😬 sorry I can’t add a picture and there no streetview.

  7. It is illegal, just like it is with any other means of transportation on the road, if not posted on sign saying it’s legal.

  8. If you’ve gotten this far (crossed the stop-line and cross walk) then you already broke the law and have now “entered the intersection” and should complete the passing of the intersection without impeding other road users.

  9. It’s fine if you get caught.

    Edit: Looks like I have to explain the joke, you get a fine if you get caught

  10. Illigal – unless there is a sign that alows you to turn right.

    However. Left turn – many people don’t know this. But if you want to turn left, you can ride the green light to the other side and then wait for it to be clear and then just go – you don’t have to wait for the light to turn green from the other side.

  11. If you do decide turn anyways, stick your arm out and signal so you don’t give a driver a heart attack.

  12. Besides the question, this intersection is completely crazy, along with the one a bit further up after Valby station.

  13. It is illegal unless there is a sign saying “cykler undtaget” with a picture of a bike and an arrow pointing right

  14. It’s funny you should post a picture of that exact turn at that exact intersection cus I actually got ticketed for running a red light turning right on an electrical scooter

  15. Real Dane here, yes it’s very harsh seen on to turn right on your bike, infact you will never ever see a Dane turn right on her/his/it’s bike!! We only turn left and this is the reason why we have so many roundabouts, it makes it easier when we have to turn 270 degrees to get to our destination.

  16. It’s illegal, but as other has pointed out you can just walk with the cycle on the pavement when ‘turning right’.
    Interesting it is legal to turn left(for green) when in a crossing, which is often thought as more dangerous

  17. Unless there is a sign with a bike and a arrow which says “udtaget”, ypuabrent allowed to turn right on red.

  18. A (not so) fun fact kind of relating to this question.

    If Im not mistaken this image is the exact spot that Søren Huss (from saybia back then) lost his wife in a right-swing acccident. It’s right next to Toftegårds plads on Valby yes?

  19. It’s illegal apparently. I did it once while a police car was stopped waiting to turn right as well. As the light went green he caught up and pulled me over. I got away with it by explaining to the guy that i never ride a bike, and i genuinely doesn’t know how this thing works. Also, it’s not even my bike..

  20. if marked with a sign that says so, it’s legal.
    Normally, in theory, it’s illegal.
    Practically, it’s grey zoned.

  21. Sometimes it is legal! Not sure about this picture but where I live on the posts nearest the bike lane there is a little sign with “right turn allowed” or something like that.
    .
    .
    I think it has something to do with how the intersection/bike lanes Layout is built. If there’s plenty of space and a dedicated bike path to turn right (white lines are enough) then why not let them through?

  22. Related: its legal to make a left turn on a bike in an intersection but many people don’t know and will cross the street and then wait for green light from the other direction. If there are no cars it’s legal to cross right away.

  23. It’s illegal unless there is a sign saying differently. I don’t get it though, I can’t think of a reason. Even cars should be allowed to right turn at red lights in my opinion.

  24. Didnt they try making right turns legal on red at some point, i think i saw one of the spots somewhere, cant really remember where…

    But most bike riders seem to think it is legal to do everywhere, i cant count the number of times ive seen a bike come flying and turning right at the last sec, and signaling is out of the question i guess…

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