Here’s a trail etiquette question for ya all.

[CCrew]

Ran into this on the ride in. I generally try not to be a fool out there.

Got behind a cyclist at a W&OD intersection today. He was stopped at the stop. I stopped behind him. Cars came and went. Enough times that he certainly had multiple chances to cross and he didn’t. We’re talking wanting to ask him if he was waiting for a written invitation to cross waiting. Well, he was. Wouldn’t cross until traffic in both directions stopped for him.

Would you have gone around him? I was *this close* to pulling left and going around, but I resisted.

Topic

[DismalScientist]

Yes. Why not? Too much opposing traffic in the opposite lane? As long as everyone is given adequate room, there is no reason the person in front should be the first to pull out.

[5555624]

Probably.

If I know someone is behind me and they seem impatient, I’ll tell them to go ahead. There’s a nimrod who works near me and I occasionally run into on the way home; he just pulls out or crosses in front of cars and expects them to stop for him. (He also runs red lights and Stop signs.) I just refuse to ride near him.

[CCrew]

@DismalScientist 6605 wrote:

Yes. Why not? Too much opposing traffic in the opposite lane? As long as everyone is given adequate room, there is no reason the person in front should be the first to pull out.

Traffic oncoming actually, but I’ve found it rude when stopping at a stop only to have someone come up alongside and cut you off, only so that you have to drop them in 50 more feet. That’s annoying too.

[eminva]

May I ask, what intersection? At the intersection of Shreve Road I often wait for cars to stop (or at least a driver giving me a signal to go), given the angle/poor sight lines coming over the hill, the heavy traffic on that road at rush hour and the speed at which the cars are moving.

(That said, if that was the intersection you are referring to, it wasn’t me holding you up this morning because I had one of those rare days where the intersection was completely clear when I went through this a.m.).

Otherwise, I can’t say this has happened to me often, but I guess I would wait a little while, then pull up next to them, then go when it was clear, according to my definition of “clear.”

Liz

[DismalScientist]

I’ld treat it as a normal passing situation, just from a complete stop. I wouldn’t pass anyone if it were clear that he would just pass me later on. Sometimes I can be fooled, like when I accidentally take Tim Kelly when he’s wearing flip-flops, riding a mountain bike with a child seat on the back.:rolleyes:

[CCrew]

@eminva 6609 wrote:

May I ask, what intersection? At the intersection of Shreve Road

BINGO!

But it was at about 11:00am. Traffic was pretty sparse. Lots of opportunities to cross.

[txgoonie]

Hmm, that is a tough intersection, so I truly do understand the hesitation. However, at some point you just gotta bite the bullet and go. I don’t think you ever feel 100% confident going across there. I might just say as politely as possible, “mind if I go?” If I were the person waiting I would probably prefer that than feeling rushed.

[acc]

I just say, “Hey, you mind?” Then I go. Others have done the same to me, I don’t mind. What I’m willing to risk is generally less than the people around me. I say it in a friendly manner and I mean nothing by it. I certainly don’t want to force someone into traffic.

ann

[Author]

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