Commuting - Construction Zone

I’m riding home from work yesterday when I come to a freeway overpass where there is construction going on, only one lane is open and one direction can go through at a time. A flagger is waving the cars through, I’m about 5 cars back slowly keeping pace with traffic. As I’m about to pass him, he steps in front of me, waves me to stop at his side, which I do, and continues to wave the rest of the traffic through.
“Why did you stop me”, I ask.
“It’s for your own safety”, his reply.
“What’s for my own safety?”
“Don’t’ want anyone getting hurt, bicycles go last”, his stern reply.
So I sat there, not really understanding why, for approximately 5 min, until he waved the last car through. He then said, “You can go now”, and directed me through. I was confused at why this was done. I have went through flagged areas several times in the past, never asked or told to go last, “for my own safety”. I have to admit I was a little embarrassed, sitting next to a flagger, on display, as 50 or so cars go by. The more I think about it. The more pissed it makes me. Is this normal practice? Or, was this guy just looking out for the fella traveling on a child’s toy. I’m going through the same area on my way home today, and this time I don’t think I’m going to stop. Am I out of line? (Forgive the pun)

The flagger was a moron.

Originally posted by sscyco
I’m going through the same area on my way home today, and this time I don’t think I’m going to stop. Am I out of line? (Forgive the pun)

I wouldn't stop the next time either. Hey, he's not the law - he's just a guy with a flag in his hand, and perhaps, a chip on his shoulder! :D

I would personally stop just to ask him why it is for your safety, try and get some sort of actual reason out of him. If you are not satisified with his reasoning, leave during the middle of the line of cars (if possible).

I've never heard of this happening before.

Were cars able to pass through the construction zone at a speed greater than you would be able to maintain while riding through the construction zone? Would you have created a hazard in the construction zone if drivers became inpatient and attempted to pass you?

I think if the answer is yes to either of the above questions, the flagman was did the right thing.

I've ridden in this situation once, it was quite unnerving to say the least.

originally posted by threadend
Were cars able to pass through the construction zone at a speed greater than you would be able to maintain while riding through the construction zone? Would you have created a hazard in the construction zone if drivers became inpatient and attempted to pass you?

No to both - I could easily have maintained a speed much greater than the other cars, the surface was gravel w/ pits and ruts - I actually did the day before, but did not pass, just stayed with traffic. The flagger maybe assumed that I could not keep with the flow, I was riding my cross bike w/ drop bars - from a distance it does look like a fragile road bike. If the speed was on the edge, or greater than what I could have maintained, or even if it was a great distance, I probably would not have questioned it - but it was only about 2 to 3 hundred yards long.

A flagger did something like that one time to me. I just rode on by him.

I went through the same area today on my way home, same flagger (I will eternally remeber him as Mr. Moustach), same thing - points to me then to his feet, "I need you right here", repeted that a few times, each time a bit louder, he then took a step towards me (I was not stopping). I just swerved away from him, and he yelled stop at me a few time until i was out of earshot. A bit more of a show than i expected.

:eek: things may get interesting on Monday if the construction zone is still there.

The truth of the matter is that most flag-wavers do not have any idea what is for the safety of cyclists. The guy was probably doing what he thought was right, he just didn't realise that bikes are usually at least as fast as cars in such areas. Perhaps you should try politely explaining this to him.

One guy tried to ask me to ride against the flow of traffic on a 14% descent once - I politely declined his offer, explaining that I'd clock at least 70km/h on that section, so I doubt I'd really be holding anyone up.

Well sscyco, don't keep us in suspense, who won round 3?

Here’s the deal - Friday after I posted I called the city hall where this happened. I was referred tothe project manager. I then called him, explained the situation - and let him know that my main objective was to find out who was in the right, the flagger or I. He took my number and agreed to get to the bottom of it, he said "I’m not sure, but what he's (the flagger) doing sure does not make sense". Today I was at work and received a call from the project Forman - I again went over the previous accounts. He responded by first saying that the flaggers have "individual" experiences that might cause them to be more cautious with some vehicles than others. He then said it would be hard to figure out this specific situation without knowing who the flagger is. I got as far as "really big mustache", when he broke in.
"Um, oh, I know exactly who your talking about, I'll take care of it, there should be no more problems from here on". Obviously there is a problem that goes a bit further than this - I just hope the guy doesn’t get in trouble, even though he was a bit of an ars.

Right as I was leaving work, I was invited by a co-worker on a short off road ride, which caused be to take another route home - evading another confrontation with Mr. Mustache. However, I will definatly be going that way again tomorrow.

.... and they expect the economy should recover by 2005. Meanwhile in breaking news, reports are coming in of a road worker randomly firing a semi-automatic weapon at passing cyclists. Police cannot confirm the details but it is rumoured to be some kind of revenge attack. More on that story as it comes to hand. In other news, President Bush today announced .....

He did it because he could. Small mind abusing his perceived power. I'm glad you called attention to him.

Carl

Originally posted by MediaCreations
.... and they expect the economy should recover by 2005. Meanwhile in breaking news, reports are coming in of a road worker randomly firing a semi-automatic weapon at passing cyclists. Police cannot confirm the details but it is rumoured to be some kind of revenge attack. More on that story as it comes to hand. In other news, President Bush today announced .....

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Originally posted by sscyco
Obviously there is a problem that goes a bit further than this - I just hope the guy doesn’t get in trouble,

Why not? If I were in that situation, I'd be hoping he got the pink slip.