Bike safety is always important. Understanding the cycling (biking) hand traffic signals helps you communicate with drivers on the roads. Hand signals change from country to country, so we have a post all about Korean hand signals.
Importance of Using Cycling Signals When Riding
Casual and professional bikers and cyclers in Korea need to use the local cycling hand signals for the country they live in. This is true if you are visiting Korea as a tourist or living here as an immigrant. It’s important for your safety and the safety of others.
Using the correct Korean cycling hand signals provides a clear and effective way to communicate with other cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians on the road. By indicating your intentions through hand signals, you let others know where you are going and what you are planning to do. This may help prevent accidents and confusion.
Along the same lines as communication, using Korean hand signals exists as an important safety measure when cycling. Such actions may help to alert others to your presence and intentions. By using hand signals, you may reduce the risk of collisions and other accidents on the road, particularly when turning or changing lanes.
Finally, signaling while cycling may exist as a legal requirement in certain situations. In some Korean administrative districts, hand signals may be required by law when cycling on public roads. Failure to use such hand signals may result in fines or other penalties in the event of an accident. By using hand signals, you can ensure that you are complying with local regulations and avoiding any legal issues that might arise.
When to Use Cycling Signals
All cyclists should use hand signals on roads and on bike paths. You never know who may come around the corner when you least expect it. Stay safe and practice bike safety by always using your signals.
Importance of Understanding Cycling Signals When Driving
Even if you never get on a bike, as a person who drives a car, you need to know what cyclists are signaling on the road. You need to understand how many lanes they may cross, what direction they may turn, and if they are slowing down or stopping. Make sure you understand the following hand signals so that everyone can communicate clearly on the road and exist together safely.
Signals for Slow and Stop
The following hand signals help you know if a bike may be slowing down or stopping. You want to use your right hand for both of these Korean cycling hand signals.
For ‘Slow Down’, hold out your right arm with your hand sideways and flat. Then move it up and down in what looks like a chopping action.
For ‘Stopping”, hold up your right arm bent at the elbow 90 degrees and make a fist. Hold your arm still and slowly stop. You want to avoid aggressive stops whenever possible when being followed by other cyclists.
Signals for Turning Left and Right
When turning left you signal with your left arm. When turning right you signal with your right arm. Using the arm that correlates to the direction you want to turn, extend your arm straight and then move it up to 90 degrees and extend again. Using motion to show which way you intend to turn. You may find this different than the signals in your own home country.
Signals for Crossing Lanes
Use your fingers to show how many lanes you intend to cross. It’s important to indicate this when crossing many lanes of traffic.
Signals for Holes and Danger
When riding with others, you may want to also point out holes and other dangerous areas in the path. Use the following two signals for this.
Cycling Hand Signals in Korea Video
For your additional safety, please watch the following YouTube video regarding cycling hand signals in Korea.
The cycling (bike riding) video is in Korean, however, you can click on the gear icon, then subtitles, and then auto-translate the video into the language of your choice.
Additional Road Safety Information
You may also want to read the following blog posts regarding road safety for cyclists in South Korea:
- Korea Biking Rules
- A Practical Guide to Bicycle Touring in Korea
- Intro to Cross-Country Cycling in South Korea
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
Thank You! I needed to relearn some of these especially living in U.S.A. And Singapore with different bike signals.