SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/bike-turn-box

Some intersections have a painted 'two-stage bicycle turn box'. What is it for?

A safe spot to wait and finish a left turn in two steps.

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  1. A safe spot to wait and finish a turn ✔
  2. A place to park bikes
  3. A box for drivers to stop in

Why: Instead of crossing lanes of cars to turn left, you ride straight to the box on the far side, turn your bike, and wait. When the light changes, you finish the turn with traffic.

Huh, didn't know that: The US Federal Highway Administration gave interim approval for these boxes in 2017.

The dad joke
Why did the bike love the turn box? It finally thought outside the box... by waiting inside it.
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References

Answer: A safe spot to wait and finish a turn. Instead of crossing lanes of cars to turn left, you ride straight to the box on the far side, turn your bike, and wait. When the light changes, you finish the turn with traffic.

  1. FHWA MUTCD Interim Approval IA-20: Two-Stage Bicycle Turn Boxes mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interim_approval/ia20/index.htm
    an area set aside for bicyclists to queue to turn at a signalized intersection outside of the traveled path of motor vehicles
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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Sports & FitnessIn Florida, a bike rider making a left turn from the turn lane may use how much of that lane?Sports & FitnessWhich hand signal tells drivers you are turning left on your bike?Sports & FitnessIn Florida, a driver who just passed a bike may turn right only if the bike is at least how far from the intersection?

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