Comments on: “Bike riders–get out of my way.” http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/ Because Every Bicyclist Needs a Good Lawyer. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:06:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Mindy http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 Mindy Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:00:07 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1642 After reading this sad, terrible story in the paper, I talked to my kids (both young drivers and one a bicyclist) about what all three people involved should have done differently. The cyclist should never have proceeded into the second lane, but he probably felt pressured to hurry up because a lane of traffic had already stopped. The first driver to stop should never have done so, and the guy who hit the cyclist should have observed that all traffic to his left had stopped, and wondered why. We've got to pay attention to our surroundings while driving. I'm sure both drivers feel horrible and I do sympathize with them, but the rest of us need to learn from this situation which has the potential to happen any time if everyone isn't careful. Mindy After reading this sad, terrible story in the paper, I talked to my kids (both young drivers and one a bicyclist) about what all three people involved should have done differently. The cyclist should never have proceeded into the second lane, but he probably felt pressured to hurry up because a lane of traffic had already stopped. The first driver to stop should never have done so, and the guy who hit the cyclist should have observed that all traffic to his left had stopped, and wondered why. We’ve got to pay attention to our surroundings while driving. I’m sure both drivers feel horrible and I do sympathize with them, but the rest of us need to learn from this situation which has the potential to happen any time if everyone isn’t careful.

Mindy

]]> By: Christian http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1638 Christian Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:59:53 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1638 The Tucson cycling community should think about respectfully dressing up as ghost riders on ghost bikes for the All Souls Procession. The Tucson cycling community should think about respectfully dressing up as ghost riders on ghost bikes for the All Souls Procession.

]]> By: Tony http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1634 Tony Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:26:51 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1634 Whether driving a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle, I find no excuse for a person that does not pay attention to what other people are doing around them, especially when their actions lead directly to the cause of death or serious injury to another person (or anything else alive for that matter). There is a common sense about looking around, watching, serving to remind people (as long as they do pay attention) that unexpected things happen all the time. A motorist that cannot cope with the reality of driving a vehicle on roads that are seeing increasing numbers of bicyclists, frankly should not be driving; who knows, maybe people will start car-pooling more often to avoid having to deal with the increasing 'nuisance' (as it seems to be for many) of bikes on our public streets. As far as I am concerned, courtesy is not a crime, rather more a common law. The drivers that did stop where doing a nice thing, whether the offer was accepted or not, the gesture was a polite on, and I do not favor the idea of these people (the stoppers) being ticketed. Whether driving a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle, I find no excuse for a person that does not pay attention to what other people are doing around them, especially when their actions lead directly to the cause of death or serious injury to another person (or anything else alive for that matter). There is a common sense about looking around, watching, serving to remind people (as long as they do pay attention) that unexpected things happen all the time. A motorist that cannot cope with the reality of driving a vehicle on roads that are seeing increasing numbers of bicyclists, frankly should not be driving; who knows, maybe people will start car-pooling more often to avoid having to deal with the increasing ‘nuisance’ (as it seems to be for many) of bikes on our public streets.

As far as I am concerned, courtesy is not a crime, rather more a common law. The drivers that did stop where doing a nice thing, whether the offer was accepted or not, the gesture was a polite on, and I do not favor the idea of these people (the stoppers) being ticketed.

]]> By: Maxwell http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1632 Maxwell Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:56:55 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1632 Apparently, when a cyclist holds his left hand out, it means "please stop for me," and when a cyclist holds his left hand up, it's some kind of salute. Motorists don't pay attention when they're told what these signals mean ... Apparently, when a cyclist holds his left hand out, it means “please stop for me,” and when a cyclist holds his left hand up, it’s some kind of salute. Motorists don’t pay attention when they’re told what these signals mean …

]]> By: anonymous http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1627 anonymous Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:33:39 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1627 What sort of violation could TPD issue in this instant, which I agree happens far too often? What sort of violation could TPD issue in this instant, which I agree happens far too often?

]]> By: Bicycle Mark http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Bicycle Mark Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:59:30 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1626 "...thinks I am a jerk for not accepting his favor." I do the same as Mickey, just stand and wait until the car with the right of way gets going. Often the driver will holler at me, "You're welcome, a-hole!!" “…thinks I am a jerk for not accepting his favor.” I do the same as Mickey, just stand and wait until the car with the right of way gets going. Often the driver will holler at me, “You’re welcome, a-hole!!”

]]> By: Mickey http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 Mickey Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:38:54 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1623 "Cars were backed up on Broadway and two lanes had left room for a driver coming across Broadway to pass in front of them. But the third lane was open and a car sped through and broadsided the driver that was crossing Broadway." This exact situation has happened to me before. Older woman in a mini-van pulls out through a blind left turn after some schmuck decides to let her through. Well instead of checking the additional lane for traffic before going, she just blasted through it, straight into the path of my car. So yeah, it pisses me off when motorists do that sort of thing. Just follow the same traffic rules that everyone else is doing and then maybe people around you can predict your path. As for cars stopping for you on a bike, it annoys me just as much, if not more. If a car stops for me to let me go, I will stand there for 5 minutes until they finally get the hint and I can pass through once the intersection is clear. Because I know the moment I start to move after the guy has stopped for me, he will think that I hesitated and then start moving. Which of course will cause me to stop moving. And then it turns into a game of chicken, where at best case, you get through the intersection slower than if he had not stopped for you at all, and at worst you get nailed by a driver. So instead I just stand there to start with, letting the driver go, who probably thinks I am a jerk for not accepting his favor. “Cars were backed up on Broadway and two lanes had left room for a driver coming across Broadway to pass in front of them. But the third lane was open and a car sped through and broadsided the driver that was crossing Broadway.”

This exact situation has happened to me before. Older woman in a mini-van pulls out through a blind left turn after some schmuck decides to let her through. Well instead of checking the additional lane for traffic before going, she just blasted through it, straight into the path of my car. So yeah, it pisses me off when motorists do that sort of thing. Just follow the same traffic rules that everyone else is doing and then maybe people around you can predict your path.

As for cars stopping for you on a bike, it annoys me just as much, if not more. If a car stops for me to let me go, I will stand there for 5 minutes until they finally get the hint and I can pass through once the intersection is clear. Because I know the moment I start to move after the guy has stopped for me, he will think that I hesitated and then start moving. Which of course will cause me to stop moving. And then it turns into a game of chicken, where at best case, you get through the intersection slower than if he had not stopped for you at all, and at worst you get nailed by a driver. So instead I just stand there to start with, letting the driver go, who probably thinks I am a jerk for not accepting his favor.

]]> By: Coghauler http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/bike-riders-get-out-of-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 Coghauler Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:21:33 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=494#comment-1622 I hate it when car drivers try to direct traffic! I know they think they are being courteous, but their direction is almost always against the rule of traffic laws. Laws should be followed so we can reasonably know what to expect from our fellow road users. Lesson to cyclists: NEVER NEVER NEVER rely on someone else's judgement out there. I hate it when car drivers try to direct traffic!
I know they think they are being courteous, but
their direction is almost always against the rule
of traffic laws.
Laws should be followed so we can reasonably know
what to expect from our fellow road users.
Lesson to cyclists: NEVER NEVER NEVER rely on someone
else’s judgement out there.

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