Originally Posted by jppe
I'm getting worse and worse at stopping at stop signs, traffic signals, etc. I've gotten into a terrible, terrible habit of just not taking enough time at intersections...
SNIP...
Sorry for the long winded monologue but I need to change this habit and change it the next time I ride. Hopefully this will raise my own self-awareness to provoke change.
Please don't delay! Enough riders gettin wacked recently, lets not add ourselves to that awful tally.
I'm hardly the guy to be staunchly observant of the law; but being on roads with many distracted, unthinking cagers means I not gonna push the risk envelope. Even on those early morning Sunday rides when roads are clear and most people are barely rollin out of the rack; I still stop for ALL red and will slow to a crawl when proceeding thru stop signs. Its easier to not even stress out and look for the opening. Better to do the simple thing and proceed when its obviously clear and signaled.
It may be just me, but I can't believe how often, over the years, that a cop or trooper was sittin somewhat concealed, but with a clear view of the intersection.
We're particularly lucky, out here, to have a long standing Saturday spirited ride (I 1st rode it when I moved out here in '89) with a strong tradition of stopping for All lights and choosin to procede with caution at the few stop signs that the ride encounters. Often while at race pace, we will brake hard for yellow to red lights, then piss and moan alot while we wait for the green. Then we're quickly off again when the light becomes green. Its a long tradition of doin the right thing that helps keep some riders in the group from putting themselves at great risk. And it also fosters the right thinking that blowin thru a light proves nothing.
As I see it, as cycling continues to build, the best thing riders with lots of years of riding experience can do is foster sensible street riding techniques, pass on the skills to include riding a predicitable line in a group, fostering and constantly using obvious hand signals to communicate rather than confusing vocalizations. As I see it, its our obligation to pass on what we were shown by the experienced oldtimers when we were noobs.
Nothing speaks to me of higher 'class' than a rider who gives extra clearance for more leisurely paced riders, especially youngsters and families. Riders who enthusiastically welcome noobs and visiting riders. Riders who, by their well prepared and foresightful riding show they can still think with their heads rather than their legs, under the pressure of a brisk pace.
The oppposite also speaks clearly to me.