rumrunn6

studs?

indyfabz

Interesting. Several years ago I was proceeding through a four-lane intersection in Philly with the light (It had been green for me for several seconds before I even entered the intersection) when a motorist approaching the intersection from my right made a right turn (from the left lane, mind you) without stopping for the red light. He almost hit. We exchanged words and I noticed that he had a MA license plate. Hence the term Mass-hole.

crispbike

Seriously, I didn't learn about correct hand signals for bikes until well after I started commuting.

I don't use the stop signal for two main reasons.
1. Motorists don't recognize the signal.
2. Taking a hand off the bike means I only use one brake and have less control over the bike.

GravelMN

I still use it when appropriate (uncomplicated stop where I can use the back brake alone) but most motorists don't recognize it. Honestly, with modern electronics and LED technology it wouldn't be difficult at all to fit bikes with a rear brake light.

I also gave up on the traditional "right" turn signal, with the left arm at shoulder height bent upright at the elbow, for the same reason. Modern motorists don't recognize it, some will even wave back to me. Instead I just point right or left if it is safe for me to take a hand off the bars.

Few people realize that the old style "right" hand signal was never intended for bicycles. It evolved from the early days of automobiles, before the advent of turn signals. Early motorists would wave their left hand down and rearward for slowing or stopping, point to the left to turn left, and point right over the roof of the vehicle for a right turn since they were unable to point out of the right side of the vehicle without the assistance of a passenger.

AngeloDolce

I've seen dirvers honk and gesture at drivers in front of them stopping at red lights in Philadelphia too. It happens at many times of day, not just light traffic.

kevindsingleton 

People blowing through red lights and stop signs reminds me of the old joke, "My brother might be coming the other way!"

kobaneul

These are probably both contributing factors. I don't generally take this route and if I was more familiar with the lights on that street I might not have executed the lane change at that point, which then required me to react quickly to the light.

kobaneul

Is 15+ years long enough? I'm a born-and-raised "M*******" in any case.

I used to believe the same about Boston drivers and consequently did not cycle here. After my husband successfully bicycle-commuted for few years, I decided to give it a go and have been pleasantly surprised. I meet the occasional jerk but most people behave properly in traffic (though awareness of the laws regarding cyclists is a bit spotty).

lostarchitect 

Hmm. I am someone who grew up in Massachusetts, lived in Los Angeles for 5 years, and have now lived in NYC for over a decade. All these places have different driving habits, which sometimes don't go over well in the other places. The NYC drivers are aggressive, the LA drivers oblivious, but the MA drivers just seem extra polite compared to the rest. On the other hand, I see a lot of Pennsylvania license plates in Brooklyn driving incredibly badly.

rumrunn6

we just have a cute nickname. I even saw a guy w mass plates with a m******* bumper sticker. wonder if he hits himself in the head when he gets home. I don't get it. from NY originally, family in CT, 1 kid in VT college so I drive up and down between these 4 states seemingly constantly all year long. according to the truckers in on the CB, no matter what state it is, they say "ppl in this state can't drive to save their life"

... and then there's parking during the winter months ...

kobaneul

Ironically, I was carrying a rear-view mirror in my pannier bag, on its way to being returned as it didn't work with my bike. I've been resisting the glasses-mount type as I wanted something I couldn't accidentally leave behind, but that might end up being the only option.

This happened on Charles Street. I think my new strategy there will be to remain in the middle lane as I'm taking a left at the end of the street anyway. But generally I avoid this route because of the general confusion that is the Longfellow Bridge.

Milton Keynes

Because you're not supposed to inconvenience those very important people with places to go. And stopping in front of them takes their attention away from texting.

ItsJustMe

I've had people have to brake hard behind me at stop signs, both when I was riding a bike and when I was driving a car, when I came to a complete stop at a stop sign. Around here, it's extremely rare for cars to actually stop at stop signs unless there is actually cross traffic present. If they even slow down to < 5 MPH it's about the best you can hope for.

genec

Apparently nobody stops...



2 Dead, 17 Injured in Newark Bus Crash - The Daily Beast

Leebo

Works for police officers directing traffic. Hand out, open, at a 45 degree angle to the ground.

Daniel4

The only way to stop a bad person behind the wheel is a good person behind the wheel.
Wayne Lapierre

KD5NRH

Pretty low. I really only bother to signal lefts anymore, and that mostly by pointing. Hopefully it's reasonably apparent what that means even to those who haven't read the driver handbook.

rumrunn6

one night, at 4am on the cape, on a dirt rd I thought I was being followed by a cop so I stopped at a stop sign. a short while ahead I pulled into my summer cottage parking space and the car followed me. I thought for sure it was a cop gonna ask for my docs and check for drunkeness. turns out it was a drunken local (who was renting the other half of the same cottage) who didn't like my NY plates and proceeded to throw a fit yelling "dam New Yorkers" there's no reasoning w ppl like that

rumrunn6

plus ... a sudden hard braking situation requires 2 hands on both levers, or at least that's the impulse. hard to do a quick unplanned stop with one hand while signaling with the other. a mirror would help, but in heavy quick changing traffic situations you might still be focused on what's ahead instead of what's behind. a lot can change between glances at the mirror. but I only have a cpl months experience using a mirror in suburban traffic

Hokiedad4

I'm pretty sure that'll buff out.

"I didn't expect you to stop" = "I was looking at my phone". Guaranteed.

bulldog1935

I have Sigma brake lights on two bikes (the two bikes where they'll be visible) - I bought them for greenways and folks in our riding group also really like them. I also don't have to give a hand signal and can brake with both hands when necessary.

I've heard some editorial guffaws on greenways, but they work.

Yesterday a guy stopped on a greenway bridge and turned sideways right in front of me (it was because there was a siren on the overpass - gee you think that firetruck is coming down the greenway?). Actually, my comment to him was, dude, you're not supposed to stop on a bridge. On that bike I can also brake with both hands and ring my bell at the same time - rang it 8 times in about 2 seconds but he was in his own little world.

I-Like-To-Bike

If that makes sense to you, I understand why you expect positive results from motorists behind you by your use of arcane hand gestures to communicate your intention to stop.

bulldog1935

I live in twisty-bit no-shoulder roads where most of a major city hauls their bikes out on weekends to ride.
When you're being followed by a car, you get the view over the bend or around the turn a long time before the motorist does.
I use hand braking signal to tell the motorist it's not safe to pass, or give him a thumbs up to tell him he's clear to pass.
It has never failed and of course I don't want to be there if it ever does. .

not actually feeding the trolls here

wphamilton

It just struck me, isn't it possible that a disproportionate number of the out of state plates that we see, from neighboring states, have recently moved and for some reason face a challenge in getting their plates changed? Traffic tickets, FTA warrants, cost of high-risk insurance, which could all indicate a bad driver to begin with. So that "M*******" red flag of a tag is, maybe, just because Massachusetts is nearby and he's more likely to be that type of risky driver only because he hasn't changed his tags?

trailangel

Riding in a lane with traffic and stopping for a red light within the lane is dangerous. You wanna stop, pull to the right so the traffic behind you doesn't rear-end you. The guy behind you was probably going to run the light.
Not good riding survival skills IMO.
Maybe you were right, but you could also be 'dead right'