Z
Zeldabee
Guest
"Matt O'Toole" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Hunrobe" <[email protected]> wrote...
> > >zeldabee [email protected] wrote:
>
> > >And just when they're right behind you is often when, helpfully, the driver decides to honk
> > >her/his horn, just to let you know s/he's there.
>
> > The short honk of the horn is misguided but I can live with it.
>
> In most of the world, a short honk is interpreted as a friendly warning, or even a hello. This is
> helpful, considerate, and friendly communication that enhances safety. It's unfortunate that in
> much of the US, any use of the horn is interpreted as an angry gesture. This is stupid.
The trouble is, the honk just as the car is right behind you can have a tendency to startle. The
approaching car has the responsibility to pass only when it's safe. The warning is unnecessary. I
don't interperet the honk as angry, it is just, IMO, stupid. Unthinking.
> Perhaps we need a public education campaign like the one underway now in the Southeast, for using
> headlights to say "please" and "thank you," and most importantly, "I'm sorry."
I agree, if by that you mean a public education campaign to teach people not to honk at cyclists
(unless the cyclist is doing something obviously dangerous or stupid). For that matter, a campaign
to educate both motorists and cyclists about the rules of the road and common courtesy wouldn't be a
bad idea, either.
--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m http://NewsReader.Com/
> "Hunrobe" <[email protected]> wrote...
> > >zeldabee [email protected] wrote:
>
> > >And just when they're right behind you is often when, helpfully, the driver decides to honk
> > >her/his horn, just to let you know s/he's there.
>
> > The short honk of the horn is misguided but I can live with it.
>
> In most of the world, a short honk is interpreted as a friendly warning, or even a hello. This is
> helpful, considerate, and friendly communication that enhances safety. It's unfortunate that in
> much of the US, any use of the horn is interpreted as an angry gesture. This is stupid.
The trouble is, the honk just as the car is right behind you can have a tendency to startle. The
approaching car has the responsibility to pass only when it's safe. The warning is unnecessary. I
don't interperet the honk as angry, it is just, IMO, stupid. Unthinking.
> Perhaps we need a public education campaign like the one underway now in the Southeast, for using
> headlights to say "please" and "thank you," and most importantly, "I'm sorry."
I agree, if by that you mean a public education campaign to teach people not to honk at cyclists
(unless the cyclist is doing something obviously dangerous or stupid). For that matter, a campaign
to educate both motorists and cyclists about the rules of the road and common courtesy wouldn't be a
bad idea, either.
--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m http://NewsReader.Com/