Unpredictably courteous drivers...
 

Yesterday something happened that put me in an awkward situation and I'm curious how other cyclists view this:

We were heading north waiting at an intersection to proceed through - we have a stop sign and we're on the road patiently waiting for a break in traffic. However, a driver heading east stopped in the inside lane. I tried to wave her on but she remained stopped. This resulted in the car in the outside eastbound lane stopping. Westbound traffic was far enough away so... What would you do?

The intuitive option is to proceed and thank the driver on the way. However, it's a bit confusing. If I'm a vehicle as the law is here for bicycles I am supposed to follow the rules like any other vehicle. If I'm a pedestrian, the drivers response was indeed correct in allowing a pedestrian to cross.

yeah, drivers who do mean well do strange things. I'm especially (not) fond of those who slow down and shadow me just a few feet behind on my 7-o'clock. I try to wave them on past...

I hate that.

A more common and somewhat less dangerous form of this is the 4 way stop. Some people will not take their right of way. I used to get really annoyed and wait and wave them through. I finally gave up. When it's clear that they won't go, I go, even though it's their right of way. I don't like doing it but I'm just too sick of the stand off to keep doing it.

I've had people that figure since I'm a bike, I don't get a turn :rolleyes: .


As for drivers who stop for you, this can lead to extremely dangerous situations. Unless you are absolutely certain that it is safe, its better to just wave them past. There is a 4 lane road near a school where this happens to me almost every day. Visibility is often obstructed by large vehicles so there is no way to tell if people are stopping in all of the lanes.

Last winter a person stopped for me on a narrower road and the person behind them pulled into the curb lane and blew past them on the right at full speed. I would have been creamed had I followed the first driver's wave to proceed.

If you get hit, you will be at fault for not waiting for traffic to clear properly.

I've started shaking my head "no" at 4-way stops, and other scenarios where a "do-gooder" driver wants me to go out-of-turn. This seems to get them to scoot along out of my way quicker.
YMMV.

When I drive, if I shadow a cyclist in that manner, it is because I want to avoid right hooking the cyclist. But of course I also use turn signals to indicate my intention.

So few motorists seem to understand what a turn signal is.

True. When I put my signal light on many other motorists seem to think it means they have to accellerate. I'm told that's one reason many put their signal light on as their turning the wheel, if at all.

While it is courteous of a motorist to do that, I don't trust ANYONE behind the wheel. So I would insist that they go first AND, I won't budge until they have gone first.

They could either get rear-ended waiting for me to proceed through the intersection or, they could accidentally step on the gas as I proceed through the intersection.

I get on their 6 and leave plenty of distance between me and them. The law requires motorists to move as far right as practicable before a right turn, so I do that. I don't want the bicyclist to be afraid that I'm going to try and pass and turn in front of them. Also, by doing this, I get drivers behind me to to do the same. It's the lemming effect.

Twice in the last few weeks I've had right turning vehicles stopping and waving me through in the bike lane. Each time I very demonstrably put my foot on the ground and shake my head "No". I'm not going to intentionally ride in front of a right turning vehicle, even if they're waving me through, trying to be nice or something.

I don't see how it does anyone any good anyway. Just make your turn. We'll both get through the intersection faster.

People may be well meaning, but should just follow the rules of the road. Rather than try to interpret someone's intent I'd rather have a minimum expectation of everyone just following the rules. Waving any vehicle on when it does not have the right of way is a recipe for eventual disaster.

I agree, I've had that happen more than once and it's very frustrating. It's even worse when they wait until the last second to turn on their right hand turn signal to make a right hand turn.