Cycling at stop signs
#26
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Don't go when someone "waves" you to go... Another driver did that for another driver that pulled out in front of me... causing me to collide. I ended up with three fractures in my face, two sprained wrists and a sprained neck. Most seem to wave because they want to have that "I did something nice today" feeling. Causing injury to another isn't nice. You go when you deem it safe, no other time. Unless the person waving is a cop and controls the intersection, you have no reason to proceed.
#27
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Never
+100000
While I know that it may tick off the motorist behind me, I still do it. Maybe I have seen/heard of, too instances where someone gets in their vehicle after leaving the business and unintentionally creates a new 'drive through' by not changing from reverse to forward/forward to reverse. The same sort of thing with motorists at an intersection, they may have their foot on the brake, but they could suddenly step on the gas when they weren't supposed to. The running theme, moronic motorists not paying attention.
+1000
When a driver waves for me to go first, I vehemently shake my head 'NO!'.
If you want to be seen and treated as a valid part of traffic, it helps if you take your place in the lane at intersections just like any other vehicle would. If you roll up along the right edge of the road drivers are probably more likely to treat you as a pedestrian.
Don't go when someone "waves" you to go... Another driver did that for another driver that pulled out in front of me... causing me to collide. I ended up with three fractures in my face, two sprained wrists and a sprained neck. Most seem to wave because they want to have that "I did something nice today" feeling. Causing injury to another isn't nice. You go when you deem it safe, no other time. Unless the person waving is a cop and controls the intersection, you have no reason to proceed.
When a driver waves for me to go first, I vehemently shake my head 'NO!'.
Last edited by Chris516; 02-11-12 at 06:00 PM.
#28
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I never meet eyes with a driver at a four way when there could be a show-down. I keep looking away, they eventually that their proper turn, and I go when it's my turn.
#30
Senior Member
I'd agree with the comments that the same rules legally apply when you're on a bicycle as if you were driving. However, my understanding is that the stop sign means "Stop, and proceed when it is safe" - I'm not aware of any legal obligation to take turns. This was summarized as "Actually, whoever goes first has the right of way." (since it is no longer safe for others to go, and it would be foolish for them to go). Drivers generally take turns since it works better than constant contests to see who goes first.
On a bicycle, the key is traffic and location. If I'm in the city with 2 one lane streets (i.e. one way), there is only 1 other driver. If he waves me on, I figure it is safe so I accept it. If I'm trying to cross a 4 lanes of traffic (or sometimes even 2), I may wait if I'm not convinced drivers in other lane will wait just because the closest driver waived me on.
On a bicycle, the key is traffic and location. If I'm in the city with 2 one lane streets (i.e. one way), there is only 1 other driver. If he waves me on, I figure it is safe so I accept it. If I'm trying to cross a 4 lanes of traffic (or sometimes even 2), I may wait if I'm not convinced drivers in other lane will wait just because the closest driver waived me on.
#31
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This happens to me on an almost daily basis and for some reason it really annoys me. I've even had people stop in the middle of the intersection as I approach and try to wave me through in front of them!
Now I realize that this is mostly due to San Francisco "cyclists" rarely stopping at stop signs, so drivers have been conditioned to just let them through whenever they approach a stop sign. But I have had to literally stop, put both feet down, and pretty much yell at people to get them to just go through the intersection. Then they look at me like I'm crazy. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess...
Now I realize that this is mostly due to San Francisco "cyclists" rarely stopping at stop signs, so drivers have been conditioned to just let them through whenever they approach a stop sign. But I have had to literally stop, put both feet down, and pretty much yell at people to get them to just go through the intersection. Then they look at me like I'm crazy. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess...
#32
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I've found that drivers tend to get really upset when you don't go when they wave you... how odd a "nice" gesture turns ugly for them so quickly. I've had too many instances of problems to trust them when they wave. Reminds me of a George Carlin routine - "I SAID HAVE A NICE DAY!"
#33
Flat Ire
There are a few states that allow a bicycle to regard a stop sign as a yield sign, which is the safest alternative. Once you stop on a bike, you're slower getting across, and if you have to clip-in like I do, that takes some of your attention. Sometimes you're in the way of cars in back of you. Insisting that cyclists have to come to a full stop at a stop sign is putting the letter of the law over safety. Of course in any case, ya gotta be alert. If the car coming on the cross road has a heavily tinted driver's-side window so that I can't make eye contact, I'll let the bugger go first.
#34
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Clipping in isn't that difficult, neither is accelerating. If it is an issue, get better pedals! Those are poor excuses to not stop. There may be a few states, but California isn't one of them.
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