Missed connection

[dasgeh]

@creadinger 82626 wrote:

Thanks. I submitted a complaint, and it was worded much better now that my anger has subsided.

I think what pissed me off the most is that it is one of my pet peeves when any kind of driver decides at the last second to cut me off right before a stop sign/stop light. To fend people off, I sometimes move left so they can’t easily pass me, but this morning when the big ass bus barreled past me and the driver tooted the horn, it was pretty clear that he was going to cut me off no matter what I did and I had better get out of his way.

This pisses me off too. And I appreciate having this forum to blow off steam so I can Dirt when it comes to official complaints.

I do think WMATA is trying to, but needs to do better at, train its drivers to realize (1) the harm such behavior causes to others; (2) the tiny to non-existent cost of just behaving well; and (3) the huge risk they’re putting themselves in — imagine if they do hit and injure/kill a cyclist. They’d have that on their conscience for their entire life, they’d probably loose their job and they might go to jail. All for what? to pull up to a red light sooner?

[pfunkallstar]

You: Lady in blue Smart Car turning left onto 15th from Constitution this morning.

Me: The guy that clearly had the walk sign and was just….so…close to getting into work.

I appreciate that you have a nimble, albeit inefficient, vehicle that has probably earned you equal amounts of scorn and praise for its enviable parallel parking abilities. What I would like to bring to your attention is that I am not a parking space and that you should not, repeat not, attempt to park on top of me. While my yellow safety vest may give the impression of a curb, and my handlebars, viewed from an odd angle through what appeared to be your Grandma’s opera glasses, may appear to be a parking meter, I can assure you that I am not a parking space. I would also question the wisdom of driving so aggressively in a vehicle so ill-suited for the task. I recommend that you watch a documentary called Mad Max, about your people, in which you can learn more about the basics of “up armoring” your conveyance.

[culimerc]

Dear Drivers,

Putting your phone on “speaker” and holding it 6 inches from your head while conversing with someone while you are driving IS NOT HANDS FREE.

You not nearly as proficient at driving while using this particular technique as you probably think you are. PLEASE STOP.

Thank you

signed

Everyone else around you.

[cyclingfool]

@culimerc 82672 wrote:

Dear Drivers,

Putting your phone on “speaker” and holding it 6 inches from your head while conversing with someone while you are driving IS NOT HANDS FREE.

You not nearly as proficient at driving while using this particular technique as you probably think you are. PLEASE STOP.

Thank you

signed

Everyone else around you.

“But they do it all the time on just about every reality TV show ever made. That must mean it’s safe!”

PS-I hate reality TV.

[rcannon100]

[Steve O]

@creadinger 82597 wrote:

To the W4 bus driver who cut me off on Alabama Ave this morning. F-you! There were 50 yards between me and the stopped cars at the red light in front of me, and you just could not stand for being stopped behind a cyclist. After pulling up to a hard stop behind you I gave you the bird, you gave me the bird back. I guess that’s par for the course given that you’re an A-hole driving a 20-ton vehicle that you drive like a frickin Honda Civic. I hate you.

When this happens to me, and the offending vehicle is now stopped at the light, I just go around and get back in front of them – no cussing, no aviary gestures. Just roll on ahead as though nothing happened. With buses, you often have the opportunity to do this over and over, since they end up stopping at bus stops for passengers.

[83b]

@Steve O 82699 wrote:

When this happens to me, and the offending vehicle is now stopped at the light, I just go around and get back in front of them – no cussing, no aviary gestures. Just roll on ahead as though nothing happened. With buses, you often have the opportunity to do this over and over, since they end up stopping at bus stops for passengers.

Bonus points for riding ahead to the next stop and then boarding the bus after stowing your bike on the front rack. Disembark one stop later. Repeat as necessary.

[ShawnoftheDread]

^^ELITE level annoyance for the win.^^

[bobco85]

To the 2 cars who crashed at the intersection of Park Dr/Arlington Blvd this evening about 5 seconds after I crossed through there (I was on the side path):

I heard the crash, stopped to turn around, and sighed as I saw that the light had just turned red and that it was pretty clear what happened (one car had gone straight while the other was turning left). I’m glad no one looked to be injured, but you know, if only ONE of you had decided to wait instead of proceeding through the intersection on red like no one else was there, car #1 would still have its driver side mirror and car #2 would still have its front bumper! In the time it took for you to figure that mess out, I was able to bike to Seven Corners (errand), help some kids with directions around Lake Barcroft, get my bike checked at Baileys Crossroads, get groceries at Trader Joe’s, and return back through that intersection on my way home.

Side note: I didn’t witness the crash, but my guess is that car #1 (heading west on Route 50, facing directly into the setting sun) was partially blinded because the sun really shines in your face as you approach the intersection with Park Drive around that time of day and trying to make the light did not see car #2 (heading east on Route 50) attempting to make a left turn onto northbound Park Drive. Car #2 probably had entered the intersection for a left turn and assumed that because the light had turned red that oncoming traffic would stop (i.e., no one would try to run the red). The front driver side part of both cars collided, with car #1 losing the driver side mirror and car #2 losing the bumper.

[consularrider]

@ShawnoftheDread 82704 wrote:

^^ELITE level annoyance for the win.^^

I’m not sure it’s worth the fare money to me, but love the aggravation factor for an entitled driver.

[cvcalhoun]

I think you’d only be charged the fare ($1.60 with SmarTrip®) for the first trip from one stop to the next, and nothing after that if you use SmarTrip®. All the others would be treated as transfers, which are free with SmarTrip® within a 2-hour time frame. Two hours would be plenty of time to impose massive amounts of aggravation!

For me at least, the time spent would be more of a deterrent than the fare.

@consularrider 82747 wrote:

I’m not sure it’s worth the fare money to me, but love the aggravation factor for an entitled driver.

[DismalScientist]

Only works with Smartrip. You don’t get transfers with cash.

[cvcalhoun]

Ah, yes, you’re right. I’ve used Smartrip since it first started working on buses, so I’d forgotten they had eliminated the paper transfers.

@DismalScientist 82762 wrote:

Only works with Smartrip. You don’t get transfers with cash.

[guga31bb]

You:

Driving a Mercedes? ✔

Maryland plates? ✔

No turn signal? ✔

Turned onto Whitehurst Freeway from Key Br without even looking first? ✔

Me:

After slamming on my brakes, thinking that if I was playing bike-commute-bingo I think I would have won.

[PeteD]

You: Guy driving a red Pontiac Torrent.
Me: Coming to a stop at Maple Ave. In Vienna.

It was awesome that in rush hour traffic that you have ample enough time to turn left onto the W&OD, stopping at the bollard, gesticulating for me to pass by, then reversing and completing your 3 point U turn because you missed the parking lot for the Whole Foods. The Karma hound in me just had to shake its head that your stupidity was only witnessed by me and two other cyclists, and lucky for you that you impeded no other cars, as both lights were red. Cringetastic indeed.

[Author]

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