Northern California - People in Bay Area can't drive

Yes I said people, not "cager", or JAM or some other stupid acronym, PEOPLE. I say this as a cyclist and as a driver. Today I was doing my intervals, going through this side street. There is another smaller street that intersects it. It has stop signs, the street that I am on doesn't. This guy on a minivan inches past the stop sign, and is looking the opposite direction. I, being aware that people around here have driving skills on par with monkeys, hit the breaks and make a sharp right turn. As I suspected he proceeds straight. If I didn't make a turn he either would have ran in to me, or more likely pulled right in front of me and I would have slammed in to the side of his van.

I turn around wave a hand saying "What a Freak, you Freaken brain dead freaker." He passes me I wave an again and point out that he should see a proctologist so his head can be located. He gives me peace sign. There is another stop a head I wanted to chase the airhead down, but I was in the middle of the zone2 interval and didn't want to ruin it further or get even more upset. I knew I was pissed enough that I wouldn't be able to articulate how I felt about his brain dead move.

Same here today.... a minivan nearly ran into me at a very mild left turn... it actually ran into half of the bike lane! Afterwards another minivan blocked me off while I was avoiding a parked car and I nearly slammed into the back of that parked car.

I wonder is there something to do with minivan drivers and the summer?

Wow, it's dangerous out there on a Wednesday. I think I'll ride the bike trail to work tomorrow after reading this ... but then again, riding on Lawrence Expressway is not the best idea.

nah, they can drive...they just can't park worth a damn...

Obviously, you haven't been to Florida.

Obviously, you haven't been to Florida.


I have, and they are a bit worse.:rolleyes:

Obviously, you haven't been to Florida.

According to federal statistics, Florida is the most dangerous state for bicycling by a huge margin. Twice as many cyclists were killed by cars in Florida than in California (per capita). Both states were above the national average, though that may be because there are more cyclists in states with year round good weather.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2002/2002pcyfacts.pdf
http://www.alligator.org/pt2/061128bike.php

Ugh. People in Sacramento are worse. No one knows how to use a freeway: slow driving in the far left lane, fast driving in the far right, not knowing how to merge properly.

If I were King, there would be a huge sign at the bottom of every on-ramp that said "You must be going at least 55 mph by the end of this ramp."

If I were King, there would be a huge sign at the bottom of every on-ramp that said "You must be going at least 55 mph by the end of this ramp."

I had a roommate (born in Santa Rosa), grew up in Sebastopol, who would STOP on on-ramps. She was 'scared' of the traffic :rolleyes: . She finally stopped doing that when she realised that more than a few people had gotten dangerously close to her, screeching brakes and all.

East Hill

If I were King, there would be a huge sign at the bottom of every on-ramp that said "You must be going at least 55 mph by the end of this ramp."

OMG, +∞

I had a roommate (born in Santa Rosa), grew up in Sebastopol, who would STOP on on-ramps. She was 'scared' of the traffic :rolleyes: . She finally stopped doing that when she realised that more than a few people had gotten dangerously close to her, screeching brakes and all.

East Hill

Well, given the design of some of the ramps in Santa Rosa, that's somewhat understandable--I've often wondered who hires traffic engineers in Sonoma County. Love that Corby Ave. offramp that does a sharp 180 almost immediately after you exit--and that's just the most egregious of many fine ramps on the 101 corridor here. Then there's the apparent inability of any Sonoma County city to time the lights on their main thoroughfares--I've gone through SF on 19th Ave. only stopping at 2 or 3 lights. Mendocino/Santa Rosa Ave. it's not unusual to hit almost every one red, driving at, or slightly on either side of the speed limit. Don't get me started--don't even get me started!

Well, given the design of some of the ramps in Santa Rosa, that's somewhat understandable--I've often wondered who hires traffic engineers in Sonoma County. Love that Corby Ave. offramp that does a sharp 180 almost immediately after you exit--and that's just the most egregious of many fine ramps on the 101 corridor here. Then there's the apparent inability of any Sonoma County city to time the lights on their main thoroughfares--I've gone through SF on 19th Ave. only stopping at 2 or 3 lights. Mendocino/Santa Rosa Ave. it's not unusual to hit almost every one red, driving at, or slightly on either side of the speed limit. Don't get me started--don't even get me started!

She would enter Highway 101 at 12--and stop on the ramp :eek: . I used to come in from Graton via Frei Road to Guerneville Road. I worked a graveyard shift, and it was smooth sailing. The rest of the time downtown was not :mad: .

East Hill

If I were King, there would be a huge sign at the bottom of every on-ramp that said "You must be going at least 55 mph by the end of this ramp."

Agree, but that got harder to do after they put in all the ramp meters. I have to floor it with my poor little gutless Toyota...

Well, given the design of some of the ramps in Santa Rosa, that's somewhat understandable--I've often wondered who hires traffic engineers in Sonoma County. Love that Corby Ave. offramp that does a sharp 180 almost immediately after you exit--and that's just the most egregious of many fine ramps on the 101 corridor here. Then there's the apparent inability of any Sonoma County city to time the lights on their main thoroughfares--I've gone through SF on 19th Ave. only stopping at 2 or 3 lights. Mendocino/Santa Rosa Ave. it's not unusual to hit almost every one red, driving at, or slightly on either side of the speed limit. Don't get me started--don't even get me started! And oh my gosh, will they ever ever ever complete the freeway going through town? I feel like I am 'running the gauntlet' when it's 2 narrow lanes and drivers who can't figure out the size of their vehicles start freaking out.

Can't tell you how many drivers I have seen on the Dam Rd (San Pablo) who are fully driving in the bike lane. It makes me shudder just to imagine these drivers going around a turn IN the lane and what could happen.

He gives me peace sign. There is another stop a head I wanted to chase the airhead down, but...

At least he acknowledged you and threw up a peace sign. Most people would just flip you off or ignore you.

And oh my gosh, will they ever ever ever complete the freeway going through town? I feel like I am 'running the gauntlet' when it's 2 narrow lanes and drivers who can't figure out the size of their vehicles start freaking out.


Hey, who doesn't love Highway 12 turn onto Farmer's Lane to get to Sonoma Highway?

I just had a flashback there---I haven't thought about that snakepit for ages.

It's STILL not finished?

East Hill

Agree, but that got harder to do after they put in all the ramp meters. I have to floor it with my poor little gutless Toyota...

Yeah But the meters work pretty well.

I have noticed a big improvement on 101 S on the Peninsula during the AM commute.

BTW... I am a Transportation Planner. But NOT for Sonoma County ;)

Maybe we need to install steam catapults. Get them cheap from the Navy when they mothball an old carrier.

Maybe we need to install steam catapults. Get them cheap from the Navy when they mothball an old carrier.

My husband's been on one of those rides! He says it was almost the highlight of his stint in the Navy (in a positive fashion ;) ).

East Hill