TenSpeedV2

I don't want special treatment. Just treat me like traffic since I am in the road. That means the right of way at a 4 way stop includes me. It also means you pass me in the other lane. One of the reasons that I wear spandex, jerseys, etc is to alert drivers that I am not just some guy riding his bike in the road that doesn't know what they are doing. I think that often times drivers perception of a cyclist is what they look like and how they ride. Take the lane confidently, ride like you know what you are doing, and look the part. It sucks that it would come down to this but that is just how some parts of the country are.

johnnyace 

My sentiments exactly.

Darth Lefty 

My favorite is when people are waving you through but it's dark so you don't know they're waving.

nayr497

Oh man, passing in the other lane would be so great. It would make my life significantly better. Yep, at four ways I often wave the drivers through...lest they be tempted to one time be nice to a cyclist

Also...in my version of heaven, drivers use headlights when it's raining, dim, nighttime or their wipers are on...you know, when the law says they should. AND they use turn signals when deviating their path, you know...as the law says they should!

Papa Tom

Johnny wrapped it up really nicely there.

Drivers can't read your mind and they don't know the difference between you and one of the dumb-asses described above. I try to establish as much eye contact as possible with all the drivers around me, and I'll often talk to them when we're stopped at a light so that they know exactly what I'm about to do. When I see these people the next day and the next day on the road, they don't have to guess at anything.

Papa Tom

Yes! I do the same sort of thing. Usually, I pull out my water bottle and take a swig -- or I start fiddling around with the mp3 player on my handlebars. Works 100% of the time.

johnnyace 

I do believe drivers in Oregon, and seemingly elsewhere, are either allergic to or fearful of using turn signals. It's epidemic. I find myself yelling often "Visualize turn signals, a**hole!"

BobbyG

Yes, I know these situations. I don't like it for the reasons others have mentioned. Sometimes I will go ahead just to keep them from getting rear ended.

PaulH

The worst variation is when the offending vehicle blocks my sight line so I cannot determine whether entering the intersection is safe.

noglider 

@johnnyace, it is well known in Boston that using a turn signal is a tactical error, because it gives the other people an idea of what you want to do, and they'll take advantage of it.

johnnyace 

Hahaha, oh, the horror! So, everyone is just playing their cards close to their chest, and puttin' on their poker face.

noglider 

Yes. Boston traffic is brutal. I haven't spent much time in the PNW, but my impression is that driving there is very mild compared with the northeast.

johnnyace 

Yes, I would imagine so. Seattle can be a bear, but the issues there (in my somewhat limited experience) have to do with poor infrastructure for the amount of auto traffic involved. In Portland, it's becoming the same way: Portland is now a "hot spot" with lots of new people pouring in from all over the country, thus taxing the automotive infrastructure. All this, despite the fact that it's a very bike-friendly city, and they have a great mass-transit system.

AlmostTrick

Agreed that a drivers perception of particular cyclists is affected by how a rider looks, and especially how they ride. Not sure I agree that the spandex/jersey look is considered a positive by many drivers though... Many of the kitted riders around here are among the most inconsiderate rule breakers I've seen. That whole Group Think thing. I'd rather not be associated with them.

TenSpeedV2

Very few kitted riders here. Mostly tweaked out addicts riding BSO's on the sidewalk at night in all black with no lights and carrying plastic bags of recycled bottles.

Walter S

I tried for years to get people to take the right of way. Now I smile and wave thank-you and go. It's much faster. If there's any hesitation at the intersection I assume people are waiting for me and I slow-stop and go or just keep going.

ItsJustMe

I definitely do NOT want to be associated with the lycra crowd around here. They're THE biggest rule breakers. Or at least, they're the ones that break the rules knowingly. I'm sure there are plenty of wrong way riders and such that just don't know any better.

Leebo

Boston driving is a full on contact sport, the weak and timid get sent to Canada. Saw a truck in gridlock traffic yesterday drive 1/2 up on the sidewalk for 100 ft to make a turn. Blowing through a no right on red signal.

pdlamb

An otherwise nice lady at work took me to task because she saw a guy on a bike doing something stupid. Her description started with, "Was that you I saw on a bike?" I responded, "Was that you I saw in a car make a left turn from the right hand lane?"

johnnyace 

Haha, do you live in my town? I see a lot of this, too. I'm not familiar with the acronym "BSO" however. What is that?

TenSpeedV2

BSO - bicycle shaped object, typically found at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Often features the words Shimano equipped, faux full suspension and sometimes a fork that is backwards.

Abe_Froman

I do whatever the situation dictates to be safest for ME, fast, and courteous. I don't get hung up on what the law says. Traffic laws are, or should be, designed to keep everyone safe. Cars pose a safety hazard. I, unless I'm weaving through an area full of pedestrians, do not.

So, I go through any intersection where cars are already stopped. Most drivers expect a biker to roll through, and are sitting there waiting to see what happens. I slow down enough to see what everyone is doing, and would have enough time to stop if someone makes a move to the intersection. If everyone is stationary when I make it to crossing, I roll on through.

Bike Gremlin

Without considering others?

Rushing in front of a car having right of way can cause that car to swerve and injure people (in that, other cars, or walking by the road).

Not saying one shouldn't use a wave through - I give and use it often - just that I think other people's safety should ba a concern - even when just walking.

johnnyace 

Ah yes, those. Yup, that's the preferred mode of transportation for that class, to be sure.

Abe_Froman

I wouldn't be rushing through if there was a car moving anywhere near the intersection.

And yea...my safety is concern #1, unless there are pedestrians. I'm generally the only one without 2 tons of steel around me.