3 ms·
Why I pull in front of the line of cars stopped at the red light on my bike is because otherwise a car will clobber me. It's not a matter of if but when and the
by mzs 13y ago
Why I pull in front of the line of cars stopped at the red light on my bike is because otherwise a car will clobber me. It's not a matter of if but when and the consequences will be severe for my family and me. On my commute I am minimally wearing a bright neon green penny over my clothing. When I have stopped in the line of cars at the light I have had cars almost rear end me. Also when I get to the intersection drivers do not seem to notice me there and turn right directly in front of me or a car from the oncoming lane decides to turn into me. So I crawl to the front. And do you know what happened here a handful of time? Even when I make eye contact with an oncoming car, the moment the light turned green, the driver forget I was there and tried to turn left as I was crossing on the green. So for my safety on this particular intersection on my commute I crawl to the front, wait for the light for the cross traffic to turn red and verify that all the cars are slowing, then I book it across before the light turns green for me and the other people barely awake behind the wheel. In this way I am not there anymore when another car starts going. I know it's illegal, but it is the only way I have found to get to and from work safely as it is the only entrance. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know why I do that. Some people that do not ride bicycles enough just don't have the experience to appreciate what other things might be going on when not in a car.
- stanleydrew 13y agoThis is absurd. Your solution to the mere possibility of being rear-ended while waiting in the line of cars at an intersection is to "book it" across an intersection before the light is fully turned. And you somehow think this is safer?
- mzs 13y agoI agree Stanley that it is absurd that what I do is safer, but sadly more than an dozen years of experience with this intersection and what I have witnessed there makes it clearly the case based on the level of care taken by too many of the motorists I share that part of the road with, good road to you as well Mr. Drew.
- grkvlt 13y agoIn the UK this is actually enforced, and we have ASLs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_stop_line https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_stop_line) allowing cyclists to move in front of other traffic at junctions, and start ahead of them. Is this sort of thing not part of the road system i9n the US?
- mzs 13y agoIt's quite rare here in US, I've only encountered it sporadically near some universities. I think they make a lot of sense and wish they were common. Typically here there is enough room for a bicycle and then some ahead of the stopped cars, so it makes little sense to me why the extra markings are not painted on the road - possibly lack of familiarity?