Pet Peeves
04/10/08 16:53 Filed in: Family &
Friends
Blogging is often a place where people vent (I know I
have). I've started a page where I'll list my
pet peeves, if only to
have them written down somewhere (I was recently
asked to list some for an intern survey and
couldn't think of any off the top of my head,
even though I know I have tons). Here's the
first:
When bicyclists don't follow traffic rules
We bike, but are not daily riders anymore now that we have two kids and live a bit farther from the hospital. I like to support people who bike by giving them plenty of space on the road and making sure I look out for them when I need to make a right turn. But more often than not, I see cyclists who not only disobey basic rules, but go as far as making really deliberate and blatantly dangerous decisions. Knowing that a driver would prefer to avoid a collision gives some people the gall to ride where- and whenever they want to, even if it means running a stoplight or stop sign. It really messes up the traffic dynamic for drivers who actually follow the rules. I've heard people say that cars don't look out for bikes and that you have to be aggressive, but that only perpetuates the problem. Let's all try to be better at sharing the road.
I rarely see a cyclist stop at a stop sign, which really annoys me, because if it's a four-way stop, and there are cars waiting their turns, a bicyclist who doesn't stop really messes up the dynamic. Frankly, I think it's selfish and those riders are giving the other cyclists a bad rap. I literally see cocky bicyclists halt four-way traffic at major intersections because they ride right into them. Of course, many drivers honk, but there's really not much that can be done (unless the police are around). And it's only a matter of time before a tragedy happens.
If you are on the street, you follow traffic rules. If you are on the sidewalk, you follow pedestrian rules. And while I'm not your mother, wear a helmet please!
When bicyclists don't follow traffic rules
We bike, but are not daily riders anymore now that we have two kids and live a bit farther from the hospital. I like to support people who bike by giving them plenty of space on the road and making sure I look out for them when I need to make a right turn. But more often than not, I see cyclists who not only disobey basic rules, but go as far as making really deliberate and blatantly dangerous decisions. Knowing that a driver would prefer to avoid a collision gives some people the gall to ride where- and whenever they want to, even if it means running a stoplight or stop sign. It really messes up the traffic dynamic for drivers who actually follow the rules. I've heard people say that cars don't look out for bikes and that you have to be aggressive, but that only perpetuates the problem. Let's all try to be better at sharing the road.
I rarely see a cyclist stop at a stop sign, which really annoys me, because if it's a four-way stop, and there are cars waiting their turns, a bicyclist who doesn't stop really messes up the dynamic. Frankly, I think it's selfish and those riders are giving the other cyclists a bad rap. I literally see cocky bicyclists halt four-way traffic at major intersections because they ride right into them. Of course, many drivers honk, but there's really not much that can be done (unless the police are around). And it's only a matter of time before a tragedy happens.
If you are on the street, you follow traffic rules. If you are on the sidewalk, you follow pedestrian rules. And while I'm not your mother, wear a helmet please!
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