To the lady who stopped on Lacewood Drive yesterday to allow me to make a left turn on my bike – and to all similarly considerate drivers: Thank you. I know you mean well, and I appreciate the thought. However, traffic flows more smoothly if those who have the right of way take it, and those who don’t have the right of way yield. That is the natural order of things, and when you try to reverse that order, confusion ensues. I hesitate to take advantage of your courtesy, because who knows what the guy behind you is going to do? I’ve had motorists stop to let me turn, only to have the impatient driver behind whip around them and head straight at me! It’s safer and easier if everyone just follows the established rules.
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 6, 2008.
what is this, sane traffic rant day?anyway, I do agree with you OP: I’ve noticed this in the maritimes before, involving cyclists and basically every other way people can be curteous to others. Sometimes it’s just safer to follow the rules, even if it means being rude.
I also agree with the OP. For all the bitching and moaning, I find Halifax drivers to be extremely accomodating to cyclists who respect the rules of the road. Almost every day, as I slow down and signal to turn left, or wait at a stop sign to enter the stream of traffic, some well meaning motorist will stop and wait for me to do my thing. I appreciate the gesture, but it’s confusing, both to me and to other drivers. I don’t mind waiting another 20 or 30 seconds for a chance to merge into traffic. If I was in that much of a hurry, I’d buy a car.
I’ve lived a lot of places in my time… If I hate to rate it; Nova Scotia and Maryland have the WORST drivers. I cannot stand to be a passenger, and sometimes hate crossing the street. Two of the scariest, irresponsible things drivers consitantly do here – switching lanes while passing through an intersection! HOLY holy…. wtf are you thinking about? Not as bad but still pretty dumb, even with the good intentions… DO NOT STOP IN AN INTERSECTION BOX – honestly, I do appreciate the courtesy, but you are endangering you, endagering me, and the moron who will T-bone or rear-end you someday. Thanks but keep in your slot, move when you should and or roads will be better. Or you can save us all – give me your car, mail me the insurance dollars you save, and call me when you need a ride.p.s. Ever look at the parking lot on the corner of Victoria, and Portland? EVERY single slot has a dent in the aluminum siding on the wall – jesus christ monkey balls!
and it’s rare to see motorists here use their turn signals, they just make the turn at that last minute, without signalling… it drives me nuts!