Surprise assistance from motorist
 

Crossing the intersection shown in the video sometimes adds as much as 10 minutes to my commute home. There is an almost incessant stream of traffic one way or the other (or both) with few drivers that are courteous enough to allow a sufficient gap for side road traffic to go. Anyhow, I was prepared to defer to the left turning motorist opposing me but:


You can't see it in the video, but there was a truck bearing down quickly from my right.

There's someone who was paying attention to his/her surroundings.:thumb:

That's really what we're asking--be engaged with your surroundings.

Yikes, 10 minutes to cross an intersection? That's rough. Glad you were paying attention and didn't get run over!

Whew, what a pain.

It looks like it is not easy for cars to get across either, and the car driver obviously knew this. Perhaps they also ride a bike sometimes.

How many road crossings are like that? Maybe it is time for traffic signals. Bridges/Underpasses? Bikes and pedestrians could go through really big culverts, but it wouldn't help cars.

Small cul de sac roads entering or crossing a major road are no fun for those who live on them. But realistically, they're no different than a driveway entering, except that they're a driveway shared bu a number of homes.

Depending on the number of affected homes, there's not much to be done, because the numbers affected don't justify it. If there are enough affected, then a traffic light activated by an induction loop could be installed, but thre aren't cheap, and would require pressure by the homeowners to happen.

I agree that 10 minutes is a long time, but IMO this kind of situation really calls for more driver courtesy, rather than a mechanical fix.

I had a road cyclist call me a dumba$$ one day when I tried to give him an assist in a similar way with my vehicle. I guess he misunderstood that I was using my vehicle to protect his person, not in fact, being a poor motorist and/or resenting his presence on the road. It really hurt my feelings. :(

You know, I've noticed that drivers will stop for pedestrians when they won't for bicyclists. Next time, try walking your bike across, see if that helps.

BITD in the early days of women's lib, I was exiting the subway and held the swinging door for the person behind as I always did, and still do. It happened to be a woman, and possibly I held it a moment longer than I might have for a man, but as she passed through she turned and called me a male chauvinistic pig.

I was so-o-o-o tempted to swing it back into her.

You don't have to tip people who try to do you a favor, but there's no reason to insult them either. Take it as an act of good faith, even if you neither need nor want it.

When I see a car or truck with a business logo extend a courtesy to me, another cyclist, a pedestrian or another motorist I try to contact the company and express my appreciation. It doesn't always work as some large companies don't seem to be able to handle positive comments. I once had to withdraw my compliment because the customer service agent said if she entered any comment it would count against the driver.

That coming from a New Yorker? :lol::roflmao::lol:

I have had cars stop for me. But, it is a complex issue. Perhaps just crosswalk paint or cobblestones would help define it as a place for bikes to cross.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to stop 3 or 4 lanes of traffic going both ways. One can't go if just one car stops. Perhaps walk out in front of that car, and hope the next gets the idea.

If in town, then sometimes one can take a sidewalk to a traffic controlled intersection, or one finds that some places to cross the same street seem easier than others.

Despite out public image, the reality is that our high density makes it impossible to coexist without courtesy.

If you scroll the forum looking for motorist/bike antagonism, I'll venture that in both numbers and degree you'll find the worst to be from less crowded areas where people tend to feel more entitles to free space, and intolerant of those they consider to be intruding into it.

There's also a cultural difference. New Yorkers and residents of other large cities are used to "controversy" and we tend to get by with a few loud words, along with gestures, then forgetting about it entirely within seconds. If we didn't develop out thick skins we couldn't function because we'd be fighting all he time.

Another option:
Turn right, ride with traffic a bit, merge into the lane, then signal your intent to turn left into the next road or driveway.

Make your turn and head back to the intersection. Then turn right.

That traffic is moving slowly enough to make this easier than waiting a few minutes. It's possibly safer as well.

Tried, doesn't help - only takes more time to dodge through the available opening. Interestingly enough, many drivers will stop for golf carts to cross 200 yards to the left of this intersection.

I have done this in the past, but there are no good opportunities to turn as you suggest, and it would end up taking more time as well as increasing my risk. I have resigned myself to wait for a window to cross. Some days are difficult, but some days I arrive at the intersection just as a window opens up. And some days (like in the video) I get some help from motorists.

This is the right answer. It's a situation, and you won't change it, so you just need to deal with it one way or another.

One approach (from a New Yorker, where we have to do this), is to be more assertive. Wait for an adequate gap in the near lane, and head out. If you're not sure, be ready to jump back. Once you have your side of the road secure, you can wait for a gap on the far side and complete the crossing. In most cases, once drivers in the far lane see you're already in the road, they'll stop and let you cross.

Of course some motorists won't be happy waiting while you block their lane, but it won't be long, and they'll forget about it momentarily when they catch back up to the the guy ahead of them. (ie. no actual time lost)

Oh well, worth a shot.