Cglenny

Anyone else notice how drivers act weird sometimes when you ride? Like when I stop at a four way stop but a car gets there first, they sit there as if they don't know what to do. Or if I'm going to cross the street the cars stop and wave me to cross even though I'm standing there waiting for them to go.

Or I stop at the crosswalk to press the cross button since there are no cars going straight, (and the light doesn't turn green unless there is a car going straight) and the car turning right looks like he's wondering if I'm gonna cross or what.

I mean, its nice that they give me the right of way even though they have it, but I just want drivers to consider me as another vehicle on the road! It seems that people don't know that's what I am.

rustybrown

At least they see and acknowledge you. That's a good thing. Rules of the road, be damned.

fuji86

That would be a veritable bicycle Utopia in 2010 ? I had long since believed such places ceased to exist sometime in the 1960's or 1970's ?

damnpoor

They're so used to all the prick riders or amateurs who dart in front of them that they're not sure what to do when a bike actually obeys the law.

coma061

I honestly can't believe when that kind of stuff happens! I would be happy waiting my turn at the 4-way stop, then they make me feel awkward for not just blasting through! Then I almost get run down while in the straightest road's bike lane!

hpmcardle

I get all of this too...while it's really quite nice of the drivers I almost feel as if things would be safer if bikes, mopeds and cars treated each other similarly. The rules of the road aren't perfect for bikes, but if the bicyclist follows them as if they're in any other vehicle, they will be as safe as any car out there. Unless he/she is an idiot and takes the bike out on the freeway. Derp smash derp.

Cglenny

Do bicycle utopias have bike lanes on just about every road and nicely new paved roads and nice drivers and bike racks at just about every place of business?

But yeah, it seems like most riders don't know the rules of the road, or that there are rules to begin with. Like riding at night without lights. Or riding the wrong direction. But there are the few that actually follow the rules, and the ones I've seen ride road bikes, ride on the road and their tires are inflated properly

dbwoi

Sounds like Davis. Bicyclists and pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. And we have bike lanes almost as wide as the street...on every street.

dsh

this
that

...and so I kinda help perpetuate things by blowing through stop signs if I can tell they're gonna sit there and be awkward, because otherwise they end up sitting there even longer trying to decide who should go first. If I blow the stop sign, I'm gone by the time they'd be moving along anyway.

coma061

Only time I blow through intersections is when there is no one around. I agree that drivers are very "nice". But we are expected to follow the rules of the road, like a car, so why not take turns? The same actually happens to me when I'm on my motorcycle!! Yes, it's nice, but also a bit awkward.

fuji86

Just my own personal rules of the road, the most vulnerable & at risk get right of way, even if I arrive moments earlier. It saves getting the police involved when I'm driving a car. Riding a bike with a pedestrian, same thing, those on foot get to go first, I can hurt them, myself and damage a bike when world's collide. Just easier to let the more vulnerable go first. Basically I treat any situation as if there were a police officer directing traffic and the officer has hand signaled a car to stop and allow pedestrian and bike traffic to cross the street sidewalk to sidewalk, pedestrian, bike, car in order of priority.

FastJake

Maybe I'm weird, but I don't think pedestrians should have any right-of-way over cars/bikes (unless they're disabled.) If I'm walking, I'd rather wait half a second for a car to go by than make them stop to watch me walk in front of them. Same goes for when I'm in a car: I don't want people slowing me down.

I think a bicycle utopia would have bike only streets. Some of these streets would have "car lanes."

Philasteve

haha dude this a great! I notice this allllll the time but never wrote about it but it gets frustrating sometimes makes me feel like im doing something wrong.

leed

I know this is too much to ask for a driver, shoot, it may even be too much to ask of myself. But I wish all drivers were to act the same. Sometimes drivers will get there first, and wait, but then other drivers will get there after you and still go first, even if you've already started to move. So I never know what to do, but it always seems that they go when I go, and don't when I don't. And then people yell at you to get on the sidewalk, and then they yell at you to get on the road.

People these days.

ConradNaff

It seems like every time a motorist tries to be nice and "help" me while I'm on a bike, it ends up being awkward. Half the time someone ends up being inconvenienced, and sometimes things aren't as safe because of their actions.

Dear Motorist,

Instead of stopping and waving me on when it is your right of way to begin with then frowning at me when I don't cross because there is a potentially dangerous situation of other cars coming around you that you don't notice because you have blind spots and aren't paying attention, just keep going and treat me like you would if I was a car.

At least they see me. That puts them ahead of about 70% of drivers around here.

TheBikeRollsOn 

This happens to me a lot, and while I understand it could be a lot worse. But it's really annoying.

Actually tonight I rode downtown with a friend because he wanted to get a pita. On the way back we pulled up to a 4 way stop sign, waiting at the stop sign was an SUV, who had been stopped there for some time, even before we pulled up. So my friend and I rolled to almost a complete stop, more than a yield but not quite a complete stop, so we were trying to figure out what the car was going to do. The car just sits there so I assume it's not going anywhere and we roll on through, as I pass I waved and said thanks. In return I get this response "THAT WAS A STOP SIGN, BIKERS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD TOO!" At this point I was too far gone to bother responding. While at first it annoyed me because I don't think I did anything wrong, especially considering the car still didn't go after we passed, not to mention the fact that we both had lights on and I was wearing a helmet. But after thinking about it I was just happy the guy shouted something that I agree with (even if it didn't really apply to me at the time).

six30nine

I hate when a car comes up from behind, then creeps along for blocks without passing. Then all of a sudden, they sweep really wide & kick in the afterburners to shoot past you. It's better than getting too close & running you into the curb or a parked car, but it's still unnerving and annoying.

Corwings

My opinion, because sometimes there are cars that will try to out gun you no matter what, is that the ones who stop and wave you on even though you're already waving them on are the ones who have almost hit bicycles / motorcycles and are very afraid to finally do it.

Or perhaps they're cyclists themselves? My drive to and from work is along a bike path and most cars drive halfway in while I'm as far from the bike lane as possible. It hurts me watching people cut the entire lane at this one corner

aMull

Not weird, just dumb. If drivers knew pedestrians didnt have the right of way you'd have a lot of people getting run over. And why should they wait when you're much fast than they are? They should be first to go because they're walking, you're sitting on your ass pressing the pedal.

If you don't want people slowing you down, go live in the forest.

ph4nt0mf1ng3rs

Haha. I only blow through intersections (stop signed not traffic lighted) when there are no body around.

I rarely run red lights. Its just stupid. Maybe the boys from Monster Track can do that, but I value mylife to much.

Haha. But yeah. For the most part, bicyclists in my area are good about following laws (except the one about riding with a helmet, or about riding on the road and not the sidewalk, and riding the correct direction, and riding at night with lights, and making good signals.......)

Cglenny

This makes sense to me, as long as you aren't stopping in the middle of the road with cars coming up behind you or creating some sort of other safety hazard. But still, like other's have said, it is awkward. Bike laws should be incorporated in drivers ed testing I thinks!

So I'm just going to go with it, since I can't really change everybody. That or I'll scream "IT'S YOUR TURN! GOOOOO!" As loud as I can.

T_R_O_N

If you ride DC then you know how crazy drivers can be there....

being a prick to them is almost mandatory. ( to stay alive)

Columbia Heights is a death trap during rush hour traffic, I sometimes feel as if the drivers are actually out to get me. For instance, one time some jackass thought it would be a good idea to swerve into the lane i was riding in nearly clipping my back wheel. Now, at first I'm thinking "well, dude just needed to change lanes", but i look back and the jackass is laughing while i have this bewildered look on my face because the mofo almost caused a really messy accident.

Cglenny

The Northwest is a forest, he should move here!

dsh

Only time I've hit a car was on Rhode Island in Shaw, sprinting away from a light in the left lane because there were cars behind and I was turning left in a block. Car in the right lane flies past wide open, cuts me off, and then slams on the brakes. At 28 mph a car stops a lot faster than a bike.

After I clip the bumper and go down, he squeals tires and turns right at the next block.

For the most part, though, I haven't noticed drivers actively trying to wreck you, just lots of angry/misinformed honking and yelling.

crispyblunts

I live in a primarily Asian neighborhood and most of the drivers just feel scared to death of the possibility of being near anything that has wheels. So when I hit a 4-way stop its a lot of confusion. It basically forces me to stop and wave the person past because if i don't stop completely they think I'm about to ride in front of them. Worst part about it is I'm not great at track standing and my pedals and clips are super difficult to get back on once i take them off. The nylon strap is super floppy and the pedal is always at a stupid angle so i cant just slip my foot in there.