Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

When Nice Drivers Cause Problems

01.10.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 10 Comments

Just the other day, I mentioned that sometimes when drivers are nice to cyclists (it does happen!), it can cause safety problems. Sure enough, on our club ride Sunday, we ran into that very situation — twice.

One of my favorite routes is Fitzhugh Road. It’s in the Hill Country west of Austin, but not too far west. In fact, it’s only about a 10-mile ride to get there, and then the rider can go for as long as 30 miles, on some challenging rolling hills. We didn’t go that far Sunday — in fact, we went only about five miles on Fitzhugh before we turned back.

But here’s the tricky part. When Fitzhugh ends at U.S. 290, we have to make a left turn onto the highway. At this point, 290 is four lanes wide with a center lane. Cyclists take the center lane, because in just about 200 yards, we’re going to make another left turn — and being in the center lane is safer, believe it or not, than trying to ride an iffy shoulder, then cut across traffic lanes to get into position to make a left.

Most of the time, it’s an easy maneuver. Because of the way stoplights are timed along 290, we often can make our left turn from the center lane without dealing with oncoming traffic. But that wasn’t the case this time. We were in a tightly-packed group of 10. The oncoming traffic was as heavy as I’ve ever seen it. We reached the left turn, and had to stop.

But one of the oncoming cars decided to do us a favor. He stopped, and waited for us to turn in front of him. We all stayed put, and signaled him to keep going. After all, he had the right of way. But one of our group decided to take him up on his generous offer, and started to make the turn. The car, responding to the group’s gestures, started up again. Then, more cars headed in his direction caught up. Our cyclist friend could have been t-boned, and the result would not have been pretty.

Later, just yards from the end of our ride, we were in the left turn lane of a four-lane divided road. We were about to turn into the shopping area where our Starbucks meeting place is situated. The traffic spaced out enough that some riders opted to proceed across the oncoming lanes. Others of us weren’t quick enough in our reactions, and stayed in the left turn lane, waiting for all the traffic to pass. But one car decided to be a nice guy. He stopped — in the middle of a 50 mph suburban arterial — to let us make our turn. Other traffic was closing the gap. We had to decide quickly what to do. We all made it across, waving at the guy as we did.

We get enough static from bike-hating drivers that it’s a pleasant change of pace to see someone who’s looking out for bikers. But when their generosity has the potential of causing worse traffic hazards, I’d just as soon have them be less nice.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related

Categories // Safety Tags // Safety

Comments

  1. chromatonic says

    January 10, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    The lesson is: ANY event that messes with the flow of traffic can create a life-threatening hazard, whether that event is yielding when it’s your turn to go, ‘taking the lane’, blowing a stop-sign (with bad timing, against traffic), or whatever. When I see cars try to yield to me when they have the right of way, I’ll go out of my way NOT to take advantage of the situation – even turning in the opposite direction (if it’s safe), just so that I’m not part of the imminent collision the ‘courteous’ driver is about to precipitate. Courteous doesn’t count if it’s inappropriate to the traffic flow.

    Reply
    • Tim says

      January 11, 2012 at 7:32 am

      Nothing wrong with “taking the lane” as long as it is done when you have right of way and don’t impose on other vehicle right of way. Taking the lane may change the speed of traffic but it does not mess with “flow.”

      Reply
  2. Tim says

    January 11, 2012 at 7:30 am

    I’ve never run into that situation but I can imagine how some drivers would react that way. They really don’t understand the rules of the road and the concepts of right of way, superior/inferior roads, etc.

    I have seen dolts that don’t understand the flow at a four way stop. Very frustrating to put my foot down at the stop (thus signalling to the car that I’m acknowledging right of way) and have them sit there and stare at me. The confusion it causes other people at the stop would be comical were it not a source of danger.

    Reply
  3. formerslug says

    January 11, 2012 at 9:36 am

    There are a few tricky interchanges near me and I see this sort of stuff all the time. The other day, I was waiting to cross and one person did the nice thing and stopped. But there was another lane of traffic still moving on the other side of him. He kept waving me on and I could see he was getting frustrated that I wasn’t acting on his generosity. I pointed to the other lane and waved him on. He threw up his hands as if to say, this is what I get for being nice, and went. I’m sure if he stopped to think about it he’d see I had no choice, but I’m also sure this was a negative reinforcement

    Reply
  4. Jeff says

    January 11, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    Happens a lot around here. And yes, frequently the driver gets exasperated, wondering why we’re ignoring their “kind” gesture. Think there should be some bicycle education on driver’s tests so that everyone understands the rules of the road and what they should and shouldn’t do. As it stands now, a lot of drivers have no clue as to the rights of cyclists, and a lot of cyclists forget to act like drivers.

    Reply
    • Bike Noob says

      January 11, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      I absolutely agree about the driver’s test idea. It would also be nice if we could get all bikers to take some kind of biking skills course, too.

      Reply
  5. Steve says

    January 11, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    I find that when I am waiting at a red light, cars behind me will give me a great deal of space – so much so that they do not trip the light sensor and we are now permanently stuck at a red light. When I gesture for them to move up, they are confused. When I move back to them to explain, they get nervous about my intentions. Good times.

    Reply
  6. J-Dub says

    January 11, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Noob,
    Great post. I find that there is safety in consistency and predictability. We’re safe(r) when we, as cyclists, obey the rules, and when motorists do the same. While I always appreciate the kind gesture of a driver of a car waving me through an intersection, it’d just be safer (and probably quicker) for all road users to behave as if the vehicles on the road were all vehicles.

    Reply
  7. B.J. says

    January 14, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    Totally agree, although it’s nice, I cringe thinking the good driver is going to be hit from behind by the bozo paying no attention! Here in CO. , cars are suppose to STOP at crosswalks for peds, etc. in the crosswalk, 95% don’t pay any attention and cruize on through, the few that obey the law are just minutes from being rear ended by the morons! SIGH. 🙁

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d