Confession time: I pulled a seriously boneheaded move this evening, just one day after I called out a fellow cyclist. I was crossing a parking lot entrance that is opposite a street, and there was a Fedex truck who was proceeding from the street into the entrance. I blew through the stop sign/ crosswalk without stopping, and without considering that he might be going straight across because "no one ever does" - I felt like such a jerk. A reminder to myself that I need to not get complacent. Just because 98% of the cars will be turning onto the street, not entering the driveway, it doesn't mean I don't need to give due consideration to the 2%.
Originally Posted by
tractorlegs
Who's the Whistle Guy??!? Every morning I lock my bike on a bike rack in front of a busy Albertson's, then walk over and sit for about 10 minutes waiting for the bus. I give myself 10 minutes just in case I flat and need a quick tube change to continue the trip. Every morning while sitting at the bus stop, this guy rides by about a block or so away: looks like a big urban bicycle, and he has a trailer attached - always loaded. He has lots of lighting (pro level stuff like Dinotte and NR) and he has a whistle, just like NFL refs have, that he blows while crossing the intersection. Some day I'm gonna ride down there on a weekday off and meet him.
I was wondering about whistles just the other day -- I seem to recall lots of bike couriers use them when riding in traffic, and I suspect they might be useful for getting the attention of the sleeping motorist who is drifting into the bike lane without looking, or other stupid motorist moves. I just can't figure out how to keep it close without keeping it in my mouth, and I think that would get old fast.