the Finger Of Doom – when to use it?

[ShawnoftheDread]

I don’t have an answer to your question, but Finger of Doom is awesome. I move that it be added to the official Forum Canon.

[GuyContinental]

Agreed, FODoom is awesome- in fact I just gave one for a driver leaning on their horn behind a car that had kindly stopped for me on Sterling Blvd…

For me it’s for really over the top rude behavior when others are being good kindergarteners.

[arlrider]

While I am sympathetic to the plight of those affected by cars parked too close to intersections (personally, I think most jurisdictions around here allow the street parking to end WAY too close to intersections, hence blocking the line of sight), the clear fact of the matter appears to be that you “gunned it” and nearly killed a cyclist. I do not think a finger point was unwarranted.

[Rootchopper]

This is the same problem at the Rosslyn Circle of Certain Death. The bridge over I66 on Lynn Street has railings on it that obstruct the view of right turners on red. They have to creep into the crosswalk then they get stuck there. Today, a sedan with CT plates was in the crosswalk and was looking left as I came from his right. He started to move and I – and the panhandler on the far side of the crosswalk – yelled at him and he stopped. (Which reminds me, I gotta give the panhandler some $$$.)

[Rootchopper]

I usually wear mittens. The finger of doom becomes a tomahawk chop. Instead of feeling admonished, drivers probably think I am a Braves fan.

[consularrider]

@Rootchopper 40347 wrote:

This is the same problem at the Rosslyn Circle of Certain Death. The bridge over I66 on Lynn Street has railings on it that obstruct the view of right turners on red. They have to creep into the crosswalk then they get stuck there. Today, a sedan with CT plates was in the crosswalk and was looking left as I came from his right. He started to move and I – and the panhandler on the far side of the crosswalk – yelled at him and he stopped. (Which reminds me, I gotta give the panhandler some $$$.)

I’m sure Tony will appreciate it. This is an intersection that screams for no right turn on red!

[PeteD]

This?

[jnva]

I’ve done it

http://youtu.be/VN29X2HCKpU

[Terpfan]

@Overtone 40333 wrote:

Yesterday morning I had to commute in by car (it happens once in a while). I got the Finger Of Doom from a cyclist – which is not the bird, it’s steadily pointing at the driver as you go by with a stern look, meaning “you screwed up and you had better shape up in the future” – just like an elementary school teacher does. I don’t think it was justified.

Pre-sunrise, coming off a stop sign to cross a through road which has a marked bike lane, visibility to the left was poor due to cars parked close to the intersection. I looked through the windows, saw a car’s headlight just far enough away to get past, and gunned it. As I started to clear the parked cars I then saw the bicyclist coming along the lane who had been hidden by the cars, and whose headlight was not strong enough to shine through their windows. I stomped on the brake and stopped short of his line of travel.

The geometry at this intersection (windsor ave at commonwealth in Del Ray, heading westbound, if anyone knows it) is such that to get a clear view down the bike lane, I would have had to creep out so far into the intersection that my hood was well out into the car travel lane, which is problematic given the oncoming traffic.

What are the responsibilities in a situation like this? Was he justified in giving the FODoom?

It’s hard as a cyclist to judge when someone is mistaking an honest mistake from when they’re simply selecting his or herself as the most important vehicle on the road. Imagine if you’re the cyclist in this scenario, you’re adhering to the bike lane on a road with a relatively low speed limit and low-to-medium traffic and a vehice guns it out right in front of you. It may evoke some emotions within you too.

So to answer your question, you’re the vehicle attempting to enter into the larger roadway, therefore you have the responsibility to ensure such entry is safe and that the lanes are free of any traffic, including bicycles. In that stretch of roadway, I have always crept out when driving. Actually, come to think of it, I have generally crept out at all intersections in Del Ray; the speed limits are low and the traffic is often relatively light (with exceptons of course).

I think your bigger faux pas from going was probably gunning it out. In my honest impression, there really isn’t a need for that at that intersection or any in Del Ray. That’s not to say I have never done it in my life, it’s just to answer your question.

Alternatively, I think any cyclist riding on the street in the dark without an adequate light is insane. It’s almost begging for a collision and ignorant toward a driver’s perspective. I don’t pretend to think when I’m cycling that I will win any battle with anything other than about earthworms and field mice that may enter the road. So even when I have the right-of-way, I try to expect the worse and make sure I’m visible to those in front, behind and approaching me from the side.

[bobco85]

@Overtone 40333 wrote:

Pre-sunrise, coming off a stop sign to cross a through road which has a marked bike lane, visibility to the left was poor due to cars parked close to the intersection. I looked through the windows, saw a car’s headlight just far enough away to get past, and gunned it. As I started to clear the parked cars I then saw the bicyclist coming along the lane who had been hidden by the cars, and whose headlight was not strong enough to shine through their windows. I stomped on the brake and stopped short of his line of travel.

The geometry at this intersection (windsor ave at commonwealth in Del Ray, heading westbound, if anyone knows it) is such that to get a clear view down the bike lane, I would have had to creep out so far into the intersection that my hood was well out into the car travel lane, which is problematic given the oncoming traffic.

What are the responsibilities in a situation like this? Was he justified in giving the FODoom?

The intersection in question: http://goo.gl/maps/ZiVU2

I bike through there fairly often, and I have given many people a watchful eye on the cross streets because people creep a lot (but they aren’t creepy, save for the occasional person) at the intersections. No Fingers of Doom, though.

As far as responsibilities go, because of the stop sign you do not have right-of-way, so you must yield to pretty much everyone. I understand that it’s a terrible spot for anyone on Windsor trying to cross Commonwealth because the stop sign is so far back that it forces drivers to creep forward across the crosswalk in order to even attempt to see traffic, but you didn’t creep forward. You gunned it.

As far as justification for getting the Finger of Doom, put yourself in the cyclist’s shoes (or do we say saddle?). In this case, I think it was justified, but that cyclist would do well to have a brighter light.

[KLizotte]

I agree with TerpFan. If you have an obstructed view, it is incumbent upon the driver (irrespective of whether there is a bike lane) to creep forward slowly until he can see all lof the lanes adequately; gunning it is particularly bad. Yeah, I understand the parked cars screw everything up (Arlandria – please fix this!) but at least by poking your head out, so to speak, the cyclist would have seen you and been able to take appropriate evasive action. A regular bike commuter along this route should be acutely aware that there are obstructed intersections and slow down accordingly before proceeding; unfortunately, the parked cars can make it unsafe for cyclists unfamiliar with the route because they can’t see the intersection until they are on top of it. Perhaps a nice note is warranted to the appropriate officials to convince them to take out a few parking spots for the betterment of all mankind?

At least both parties in this instance were unhurt and probably learned a good lesson too.

Be careful out there!

[Certifried]

@Overtone 40333 wrote:

What are the responsibilities in a situation like this? Was he justified in giving the FODoom?

I think everyone has a responsibility to try and be a P.A.L. (predictable, alert, lawful) no matter what vehicle you’re utilizing. I’m not going to get in to whether you or he were in any sort of right or wrong. I just want to say that, from my point of view when I’m on a bike, EVERYONE is out to kill me.

[krazygl00]

Just to throw my $0.02 in, you didn’t deserve it. You stopped short of his line of travel so any offense or infringement was averted, so no need to get all wadded up over it. This kind of thing has happened to all of us before; if I see a conciliatory expression from the would-be offender I usually give a “hey, it’s no problem” wave or nod. I only get indignant or righteous toward the wantonly careless or self-entitled.

[acc]

You may have been well within your stopping limits but you startled a cyclist. Anytime my heart rate jumps because a car does something unexpected, I think it’s reasonable for me to connect with the driver in a “hey, what the hell are you doing?” gesture. It’s a lot nicer than another gesture I’d use. I save that one for cyclists who do stupid stuff. It’s all in the family then and I figure I get some latitude.

PS – My apologies to the cyclist on the W&OD in Vienna at dusk last night to whom I waved at with great enthusiasm while I was running. I thought you were someone I knew. I was not soliciting you. From the way you took off at a dead sprint I believe that’s what you were thinking.

[Overtone]

Thanks everyone for the insightful discussion.

I admit I’ve been tempted to sneak out there in the night and put up a “no parking here to corner” signpost that knocks out the last two parking spots. Alternately a mirror on the grassy median giving left visibility.

John

[Author]

Posts