B
bob syr
Guest
Hi Group - it's been a long time.
Been riding bicycle about a year, less the winter. It's getting good;
I'm getting better going up upgrades and riding in high gear more
(more strength in legs). I plan on putting a couple of pannier
baskets on the back and use the bike for grocery shopping. The store
is about a mile away and the route has a few hills I can't quite make
yet, but I will, I hope, before the month is out.
Anyway, I've been having this problem with automobile drivers.
Sometimes drivers think it's fun to blow their horn or make other
noise when they pass. And there are others who "flip you the bird"
for some reason I'm not generally aware of. Well, fortunately these
drivers are in the minority. Annoying as these drivers may be, they
are NOT the ones I'm having a problem with.
Some . . in fact many . . auto drivers are overly polite, especially
at 4-way stop signs. I should mention I'm an older guy, lower '60s,
so maybe that's why they're doubly polite, and I'm grateful. I still
sometimes have a problem starting to pedal from a full stop, so I like
the intersection to be empty of traffic while I take off to cross on
the bike. I'm happy to wait.
Today this guy waved me to cross in front of him while other cars were
stopped at the stop sign. Well, I did everything I could to indicate
I wanted HIM to go first. I took my hands of the handle bar and
folded my arms. That didn't work. I then started to fiddle with my
gloves hoping he would go, but he didn't. I then DISMOUNTED and stood
next to the bike. It became a kind of a grudge match. He insisted I
cross in front of him so finally I let him win and walked my bike in
front of his car and across the intersection.
He had kids in the car with him, so maybe he was showing the kids how
to be courteous to your elders and bike riders. Or maybe, as a car
driver, he figured HE ought to be in charge of the roadways and direct
all of us guest bicyclists as to how to proceed.
This is becoming a real problem; I suppose I should be thankful that
these folks and making an effort to be polite, but I am starting to
dread approaching intersections with all-way stop signs. Is there
some way we can advertise to auto drivers that their politeness is
welcome, but let's not be ridiculous with it?
Bob Syr
Been riding bicycle about a year, less the winter. It's getting good;
I'm getting better going up upgrades and riding in high gear more
(more strength in legs). I plan on putting a couple of pannier
baskets on the back and use the bike for grocery shopping. The store
is about a mile away and the route has a few hills I can't quite make
yet, but I will, I hope, before the month is out.
Anyway, I've been having this problem with automobile drivers.
Sometimes drivers think it's fun to blow their horn or make other
noise when they pass. And there are others who "flip you the bird"
for some reason I'm not generally aware of. Well, fortunately these
drivers are in the minority. Annoying as these drivers may be, they
are NOT the ones I'm having a problem with.
Some . . in fact many . . auto drivers are overly polite, especially
at 4-way stop signs. I should mention I'm an older guy, lower '60s,
so maybe that's why they're doubly polite, and I'm grateful. I still
sometimes have a problem starting to pedal from a full stop, so I like
the intersection to be empty of traffic while I take off to cross on
the bike. I'm happy to wait.
Today this guy waved me to cross in front of him while other cars were
stopped at the stop sign. Well, I did everything I could to indicate
I wanted HIM to go first. I took my hands of the handle bar and
folded my arms. That didn't work. I then started to fiddle with my
gloves hoping he would go, but he didn't. I then DISMOUNTED and stood
next to the bike. It became a kind of a grudge match. He insisted I
cross in front of him so finally I let him win and walked my bike in
front of his car and across the intersection.
He had kids in the car with him, so maybe he was showing the kids how
to be courteous to your elders and bike riders. Or maybe, as a car
driver, he figured HE ought to be in charge of the roadways and direct
all of us guest bicyclists as to how to proceed.
This is becoming a real problem; I suppose I should be thankful that
these folks and making an effort to be polite, but I am starting to
dread approaching intersections with all-way stop signs. Is there
some way we can advertise to auto drivers that their politeness is
welcome, but let's not be ridiculous with it?
Bob Syr