Left Turn Boxes, GroundWork, Issue 4

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Issue 4:  Left Turn Boxes

 Image credit: Toole Design Group

What is a Two-Stage Left Turn Queue Box?
And why are cities painting them on the road?
A Two-Stage Left Turn Queue Box (Left Turn Box) is the technical name for the painted green square a cyclist can use to make a left turn. Instead of crossing many lanes of traffic to make a left turn, a cyclist  remains on the right side of the street and  travels with traffic to the turn box.  Then the cyclist will be on the correct side of the cross street. This helps reduce the chance of an intersection crash.

A cyclist may decide the safest turn is
to use the left turn lane instead of a Left Turn Box.  
Where Should Left Turn Boxes Go?
The most common placement for a Left Turn Box is at the front of an intersection with a bike lane on the right side of the road.
What About Bike Boxes?
Left Turn Boxes and Bike Boxes look similar but are used differently by cyclists. Stay tuned for more on Bike Boxes in an upcoming issue of GroundWork. 
Questions? Feedback?