mr_bill

Actually happens frequently around here.

Around Pittsburgh, it's usually resolved similar to the Pittsburgh left - after you. (Cooperative model.)

Around Boston, it's usually resolved the way many MA Holes resolve everything - after me. (Aggressively uncooperative model, first mover wins. More accurately, the person rolling the stop fastest wins. If still not resolved, the MA Hole with the most dents/oldest/crappiest vehicle wins. If still not resolved, more dents.)

Or they don't like their noses?

-mr. bill

wphamilton

Except that someone sitting at an intersection hasn't yielded until you go, and he doesn't hit you. You may think he intends to yield, and most often he will, but sitting there is not yielding, Waving at you is not yielding.

When someone is sitting there out of turn, and you go, and then he hits you guess what? You failed to yield. "But Officer, he waved me to go" The officer will tell you that's irrelevant - the other driver cannot direct traffic, his gesture is not a valid traffic signal, and it (and his sitting there) does not constitute yielding the right of way. He can cite you for failure to yield, and your own insurance will take a hit.

That's why it's always an act of trust to proceed out of turn. Even with a police officer. sitting in his patrol car. He may think he's directing traffic, but he could be waving at a gnat for all you know. He has a loud speaker. He can get out of his car and direct traffic in the lawful manner. And yet it's not feasible to argue with him about it, because it will be trouble for you and just an ego trip for him. But after you proceed, if he wants to and if he's a low sort, he can pull out behind you, flash his lights and cite you for failure to yield. It still comes down to you, trusting him.

I'd take it situationally. If the cop looks like he's engrossed in his donut, smartphone, smoking a joint or whatever I'd just go. If he's on his radio or otherwise suspicious, I'll turn right instead of crossing him.

njkayaker

Not completely different than stopped cars at stop lights.

The problem with surmising intent.

It's an "act of trust" to be on the roadways (not just when "out of turn").

=================

There are times when not going when people yield is (appears to be) the less safe option.

Drivers might be choosing to yield because they have no idea what the cyclist is going to do.

njkayaker

It might look like it but all 4 arriving at "exactly" the same time is likely still rare.

But when people think that it happens, they either have to cooperate or yield to the most apparently assertive driver.

jon c. 

Can't get this song out of my head when reading this thread:

mr_bill

After You, Christopher Cordingley, Siggraph Electronic Theater 2003


-mr. bill

Tomm Willians

I’m calling BS here ....

Tomm Willians

Why not simply interpret it as an act of generosity and go on with your ride ? He/she halted their movement for your convenience, can’t see an issue here.

c_m_shooter

When I worked night shift (15 years) I got pulled over once a week going through small towns on the way home. It didn't matter if I did anything wrong or not. My wife works nights now. She has a cdl and drives 5-10mph under the speed limit (it pisses me off to ride in a car with her) at all times. Now she gets pulled over every week or so coming home from work. She didn't believe me until it started with her.

Unca_Sam

Sounds like typical sundowner towns. Whatever keeps the deputy from sleeping in the cruiser, i guess.

I-Like-To-Bike

Did any of these "pull overs" involve more than a pleasant conversation from the LEO? Any tickets or warnings issued or threatened?

Unca_Sam

I wouldn't care after the second time. It's fishing.

Notso_fastLane

Normally, I check to make sure there aren't any other hazards and proceed.

With a cop, I can't help thinking:
https://wompampsupport.azureedge.net...2Fitsatrap.jpg

SurferRosa

This kind of crap slows me down all the time. Sometimes, if it's just one car, I can slow way down and give the guy some incentive to go. 'Cause I don't want to unclip for anything. Sometimes, I don't argue. Just wave to the soccer mom and go. If they look sketchy in the slightest, I will turn right or something to get out of their way. Tonight, I noticed a real passive driver creeping along on my right towards a 4-way stop. I didn't stop. I turned right, pulled a quick u-turn, passed him on his right, and turned right again. He just sat there in a daze.

rydabent

Simple explanation. The policeman was on patrol. He was in no hurry, and just was being nice.

Lemond1985

Or he was being sneaky, and was "testing" you, to see what you'd do. Ignore him, "failure to follow a traffic officer's command". Go through, and it's "failure to yield." He has you either way.

livedarklions

Oh, come on. Getting pulled over is never a "pleasant conversation" and the threat of a ticket is implicit in the act of pulling one over.

No idea how often the poster was actually being pulled over, but if there is a pattern of it, that by itself is unnerving.