Missed connection

[consularrider]

Well, I’ve taken to waving drivers through at four way stops just to flaunt my superiority.

[dkel]

I like to wave at cyclists when I’m in my car, but it’s always a “hello” kind of wave (I do like cyclists, after all), and never a “you go ahead” kind of wave. When I was learning to drive, my father told me not to direct people to proceed, because if they get run into by someone else, they might blame me for indicating that they should proceed (and thereby implying that it was safe for them to proceed). Maybe if you could wave someone through with an implicit waiver of liability, I’d do it.

[jrenaut]

@dkel 91483 wrote:

I like to wave at cyclists when I’m in my car, but it’s always a “hello” kind of wave (I do like cyclists, after all), and never a “you go ahead” kind of wave. When I was learning to drive, my father told me not to direct people to proceed, because if they get run into by someone else, they might blame me for indicating that they should proceed (and thereby implying that it was safe for them to proceed). Maybe if you could wave someone through with an implicit waiver of liability, I’d do it.

Ahh, yes, I distinctly remember my mother warning me about “courtesy accidents” when I was learning to drive.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@jrenaut 91484 wrote:

Ahh, yes, I distinctly remember my mother warning me about “courtesy accidents” when I was learning to drive.

Never forget the insipid danger of Helpy McHelperton.

[Drewdane]

@jrenaut 91419 wrote:

No, waving your arms and yelling ineffectually inside your metal box does NOT entitle you to turn right from the center lane of Thomas Circle.

Wait – what?

That’s crazy talk!

[Sunyata]

You: The female cyclist on George Mason Drive headed north this morning.

Me: The female cyclist about half a block behind you that watched you not only give cyclists a bad name (especially female cyclists), but you almost caused an accident!

The issue: This particular cyclist not only ran the first red light at the intersection of George Mason and Route 50, only to have to stop at the second red light, but attempted multiple times to run the second red light having to emergency stop as a car came through. The last time she tried to run it, she succeeded, but nearly caused an accident as a car coming off Route 50 had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting her, causing the car behind it to come about 2 inches from rear ending it.

Irony: The light changed to green about 15 seconds later and I caught up to her at the next light. :confused:

[bobco85]

@cyclingfool 91472 wrote:

I feel like just making proper eye contact and maybe a nod of the head would be more appropriate. I’m probably being oversensitive, and I actually don’t care that much, it’s just one of those things that’s compounded over time to the point that I had to say something about it. Obviously, I’d rather they wave me through than run me over. But, OTOH, I see the waving someone through as a gesture appropriate in cases where either: who has ROW is unclear OR you have ROW, but you have decided to forego it for whatever reason and want to communicate that to someone else. The times I see it and am complaining about is when there is absolutely no doubt I have ROW, in which case waving me through feels paternalistic or as if the drivers in question somehow have the right to decide whether or not they are going to stop and wait for me to pass. This feeling is magnified when there’s no one else around and the intersection is not busy at the time, like this morning.

I agree with making eye contact and giving nothing but maybe a head nod if the person didn’t have ROW to begin with. Sometimes, I will also make an “Okay, crazy person” look of concern on my face and/or mumble an awkward “Okayyy” as I continue on my way.

I don’t worry about the paternalism, as I feel like that driver is thinking to themselves: “Well, I sped 15 mph above the speed limit, ran a few red lights, and rolled through that other stop sign, but at least I went out of my way to give this cyclist ROW. I’ve done a good job today!” and it makes me laugh and want to cynically genuflect as I pass my oh-so-generous benefactor.

[bobco85]

@Sunyata 91565 wrote:

You: The female cyclist on George Mason Drive headed north this morning.

Me: The female cyclist about half a block behind you that watched you not only give cyclists a bad name (especially female cyclists), but you almost caused an accident!

The issue: This particular cyclist not only ran the first red light at the intersection of George Mason and Route 50, only to have to stop at the second red light, but attempted multiple times to run the second red light having to emergency stop as a car came through. The last time she tried to run it, she succeeded, but nearly caused an accident as a car coming off Route 50 had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting her, causing the car behind it to come about 2 inches from rear ending it.

Irony: The light changed to green about 15 seconds later and I caught up to her at the next light. :confused:

I believe you had a Dickie moment! http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2783-Forum-Dictionary/page6

[KelOnWheels]

You: Person in car in the right lane peacefully waiting to make the left from Valley onto West Glebe.

Me: Not-awake cyclist in the left lane that actually wanted to be in the right lane and meandered in front of you as we started turning left. Sorry about that. Thanks for not running me over.

[Emm]

As payback for my mildly snarky response yesterday to drivers waving bikers through intersections, last night when stopped at a 4 way stop in Del Ray waiting for my turn to proceed straight through, a driver at the stop sign going perpendicular to my direction honked at me repeatedly to tell me to go through the intersection, even though it was his turn.

Problem? There was a group of pedestrians crossing in the crosswalk across the street from me, blocking my route on the road and bike path. I just pointed at them and shrugged. He kept honking and waving me through until the pedestrians cleared and I went. I spent the last 5 min of my ride trying to analyze what on earth he was thinking…

[dasgeh]

@Emm 91570 wrote:

I spent the last 5 min of my ride trying to analyze what on earth he was thinking…

As I was errand-ing yesterday, I ended up on E St NW near the Building Museum. There was a crosswalk midblock, and another 200 feet away at the end of the block. Half way between the two crosswalks, a lady jaywalks in that annoying “I’m walking fast, no I’m stopping to let traffic through, no I’m walking fast” sort of way. The car that had just respectfully passed me with plenty of space stopped for her. I slow rolled, but somehow she managed to walk-stop at just the right speed that I had to stop to avoid hitting her as I came up on the car’s right. Then she starts yelling at me that “you guys are the worst”, clearly meaning cyclists. I’ve spent far too long trying to think of a better response than what I said “only one person here is actually breaking the law, and it’s you”, but seriously, sometimes you have to chalk crazy up to crazy.

[bobco85]

Had a couple of missed connections from yesterday evening:

#1
You: Definitely-looking-inexperienced cyclist flying around on the outside (your left, my right) of the concrete curve headed from the MVT to 4MR
Me: Approaching from 4MR about 20 feet from the bottom of that curve
I saw you come flying around the curve and braked because you were riding adjacent to the metal railing. You barely were able to slow down and almost crashed either into me or the railing because your tires slipped on some sand on the trail. You apologized and I acknowledged it, but please be careful when entering a downhill blind curve like that and realize that it is 2-way.

#2
You: a couple of pedestrians walking (and not always in a straight line) in the M Street cycletrack who got mad at me because I dinged my bell or said “Excuse me” (in a nice not cynical tone) to avoid any collisions.
If you would quit looking down at your phones and being oblivious to the world, you’d realize that you were walking where you’re not supposed to be (this was on sections where there was a sidewalk).

#3
You: 2 cyclists on 15th St heading north near the Washington Monument chatting away
Me: Cyclist riding in front of you who stopped at the red light at Madison
You: Continued chatting as you run the red at Madison, somehow dodging through the group of pedestrians that were crossing
Me: Embarrassed at your actions, trying to avoid eye contact with some of the pedestrians who then stared daggers at me as they appeared to be reaffirming their negative stereotypes of cyclists
You: Continuing your conversation, filter on both sides of cars waiting at the red light at Constitution and then run the red to save 10 “precious” seconds
Me: Sighs, thinking, “At least they’re consistent.”

[sjclaeys]

#1
You: Definitely-looking-inexperienced cyclist flying around on the outside (your left, my right) of the concrete curve headed from the MVT to 4MR
Me: Approaching from 4MR about 20 feet from the bottom of that curve
I saw you come flying around the curve and braked because you were riding adjacent to the metal railing. You barely were able to slow down and almost crashed either into me or the railing because your tires slipped on some sand on the trail. You apologized and I acknowledged it, but please be careful when entering a downhill blind curve like that and realize that it is 2-way.

I had that happen to me awhile ago, but it did not end up as well. I have the trip to the emergency room and two inch scar on my forearm to prove it. Seems as if a lot of cyclists now think that they have x-ray vision and can see around blind curves.

[PeteD]

Me: Riding two abreast with DKel on the downhill ramp to difficult run.
You: Couple of riders in succession that didn’t call your passes.

Oh wait, DKel heard you and I didn’t.

Me: I should probably get a bell. I must be going deaf.
Dkel: Vocal calls are difficult to hear sometimes. And I probably should have said to your deaf comment, What?

Sorry to the folks that called their passes that I didn’t hear. I will work on getting the cotton out of my ears.

[bobco85]

@bobco85 91628 wrote:

Had a couple of missed connections from yesterday evening:

#1
You: Definitely-looking-inexperienced cyclist flying around on the outside (your left, my right) of the concrete curve headed from the MVT to 4MR
Me: Approaching from 4MR about 20 feet from the bottom of that curve
I saw you come flying around the curve and braked because you were riding adjacent to the metal railing. You barely were able to slow down and almost crashed either into me or the railing because your tires slipped on some sand on the trail. You apologized and I acknowledged it, but please be careful when entering a downhill blind curve like that and realize that it is 2-way.

@sjclaeys 91643 wrote:

I had that happen to me awhile ago, but it did not end up as well. I have the trip to the emergency room and two inch scar on my forearm to prove it. Seems as if a lot of cyclists now think that they have x-ray vision and can see around blind curves.

That sucks that it happened to you, man. Considering the situation, I probably would have been the one dialing 9-1-1 due to my size/weight advantage or because he could have gone over his handlebars (he was wearing a helmet, at least).

I think they need to have a stripe painted on that section to remind users to stay on their side of the path since it’s so easy to just pick up speed without looking for oncoming traffic.

[Author]

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