cop has right-of-way, but yields anyway
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People do it to me frequently. I've had cops do it. So I wave and go.
I wish they'd just follow standard right of way convention, but they're trying to be nice and there's a shortage of that these days so I'm not going to fault it.
I wish they'd just follow standard right of way convention, but they're trying to be nice and there's a shortage of that these days so I'm not going to fault it.
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#27
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Have this happen to me a fair amount while out pedaling. A lot of times, those that wave me through end up pulling behind me.
When(If) I have the opportunity I'll tell them "Thanks for being courteous but next time it'll be best if you go on ahead of me"
When(If) I have the opportunity I'll tell them "Thanks for being courteous but next time it'll be best if you go on ahead of me"
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And, I didn't say that I think that this is the correct behavior at stop signs, nor that this is the way I proceed at stop signs. I was merely describing the way that the majority of cyclists act in my area.
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I never said I was counting on it. As I said, the cyclists slow to see if the car is going, then they proceed if it isn't. Does this sometimes result in the driver going anyway? Yes, of course. Usually this results in the driver suddenly braking and the cyclist either braking or swerving around the car, or both (the shouted obscenities on both sides are, of course de rigueur).
And, I didn't say that I think that this is the correct behavior at stop signs, nor that this is the way I proceed at stop signs. I was merely describing the way that the majority of cyclists act in my area.
And, I didn't say that I think that this is the correct behavior at stop signs, nor that this is the way I proceed at stop signs. I was merely describing the way that the majority of cyclists act in my area.
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If a LEO waves me through, that's fine - cop has a legal right (and training) to direct traffic...though I still will make sure, to my own satisfaction, that it's clear.
When civilians wave me through instead of taking their ROW, it irritates me - just follow the friggin' rules, people, and no one will get hurt! But every now and then, a motorist will wave me through while I am hanging out, waiting to turn, in the middle of a busy road, and for that I am grateful.
When civilians wave me through instead of taking their ROW, it irritates me - just follow the friggin' rules, people, and no one will get hurt! But every now and then, a motorist will wave me through while I am hanging out, waiting to turn, in the middle of a busy road, and for that I am grateful.
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Let's clear up one thing. Waving is not yielding. It is not any kind of traffic signal. It does not yield the right of way. Waving is not directing traffic.
Waving is someone telling you what they would like you to do. That's all it is.
My policy, the best defensive policy, is to ignore it as much as possible. You can't feasibly ignore traffic cops, but if they're sitting in a crossroad for no particular reason, or playing sneaky-cop following you around, or doing anything else suspicious, it's not a good idea to assume they're intending to be decent. Don't give them a reason to stop you.
Waving is someone telling you what they would like you to do. That's all it is.
My policy, the best defensive policy, is to ignore it as much as possible. You can't feasibly ignore traffic cops, but if they're sitting in a crossroad for no particular reason, or playing sneaky-cop following you around, or doing anything else suspicious, it's not a good idea to assume they're intending to be decent. Don't give them a reason to stop you.
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I have decided life is too short to insist on waiting when I'm waved through and there is no other vehicle at or near the intersection. I had a few stand-offs where my shaking my head no was not enough for them to get the message, and I'm just not bothering with it anymore. If I really don't think it endangers my safety, I'm not out there to make a point.
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Around here the police station shares a short bit of road with the entrance to the park where lots of road bikers start or finish their rides. Pretty common for the police to wave you through if you meet them at a junction. I'd just assumed that they're in as much of a hurry to get to work as I am...
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Not just feasibly, you ought not.
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
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#38
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Related, with RARE EXCEPTIONS, NOBODY has the right of way. (In Massachusetts, first responders responding to an emergency with lights and sirens have the right of way, period. Even so, they can't blindly place other people in danger, that includes people in cars, people on foot, people on bikes, etc....)
The rules of the road says when to YIELD the right of way. Other than that, anyone, for any reason, can yield at any time, including for no reason at all.
For those who this fact blows up their minds, just get a life. Please.
-mr. bill
The rules of the road says when to YIELD the right of way. Other than that, anyone, for any reason, can yield at any time, including for no reason at all.
For those who this fact blows up their minds, just get a life. Please.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-26-20 at 01:29 PM.
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#39
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Related, with RARE EXCEPTIONS, NOBODY has the right of way. (In Massachusetts, first responders responding to an emergency with lights and sirens have the right of way, period. Even so, they can't blindly place other people in danger, that includes people in cars, people on foot, people on bikes, etc....)
The rules of the road says when to YIELD the right of way. Other than that, anyone, for any reason, can yield at any time, including for no reason at all.
For those who this fact blows up their minds, just get a life. Please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2hO2tALgCY
-mr. bill
The rules of the road says when to YIELD the right of way. Other than that, anyone, for any reason, can yield at any time, including for no reason at all.
For those who this fact blows up their minds, just get a life. Please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2hO2tALgCY
-mr. bill
I haven't actually counted, but I would guess that 90% of the time, the offer of courtesy to me poses no hazard whatsoever. I'm not going where there's two lanes, for example, so I can't tell if someone behind them is being screened, but most times this is not the case.
#40
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Not just feasibly, you ought not.
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
#41
Senior Member
There's really only two choices you can do:
1) thank him and move on;
2) stand your ground and don't move until you legally have your right-of-way.
1) thank him and move on;
2) stand your ground and don't move until you legally have your right-of-way.
#42
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Not just feasibly, you ought not.
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
From UVC:
"The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a police officer...."
Every state has an equivalent.
IF YOU IGNORE this officer, you are an idiot:
-mr. bill
You do have to cooperate with lawful orders, but clearly some people don't have any idea what is or isn't a lawful order.
(AT LEAST as relevant as your photo)
#43
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I don't interpret it as anything, because I don't pay any attention to it. But waving you through is exactly what they intend.
#44
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A police officer operating a vehicle is not a “traffic cop.”
A police officer sleeping in a vehicle is not a “traffic cop.”
I would think this doesn't need to be said, but with "some people...."
G’day.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-28-20 at 07:17 AM.
#45
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The issue is when people treat it as meaning that "it's safe to go".
Last edited by njkayaker; 09-28-20 at 05:35 AM.
#46
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That goes for me even more when driving than cycling.
#47
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Quiz time.
You are at a stop light going straight.
Does the traffic light turning green mean that it is safe to proceed?
Or does it mean you may proceed if it is safe to do so?
Traffic control devices are not omniscient. And a traffic officer is JUST a traffic control device.
Second, for the ignore all niceholes crowd. Any time you IGNORE something in your environment you are not situationally aware.
But clearly some of you who say you ignore niceholes clearly DON'T IGNORE them, you claim to always stand your ground. This strikes me as cutting off your nose to spite your face, but if it "works" for you....
Third, to the paranoid people who believe that the operator of a police vehicle is only waving you through to set a trap, take it to P&R.
To me, I am always amazed by small moments of grace:
Finally:
Four people riding bikes arrive at four legs of a four way stop simultaneously, all going straight. What next? Literally, you are ALL supposed to stop and yield to one another. If one or more of you doesn't think outside the box, you are all going to be standing at your bikes for the rest of your lives. Anywhere but A&S this is a trivially resolved "conundrum."
-mr. bill
You are at a stop light going straight.
Does the traffic light turning green mean that it is safe to proceed?
Or does it mean you may proceed if it is safe to do so?
Traffic control devices are not omniscient. And a traffic officer is JUST a traffic control device.
Second, for the ignore all niceholes crowd. Any time you IGNORE something in your environment you are not situationally aware.
But clearly some of you who say you ignore niceholes clearly DON'T IGNORE them, you claim to always stand your ground. This strikes me as cutting off your nose to spite your face, but if it "works" for you....
Third, to the paranoid people who believe that the operator of a police vehicle is only waving you through to set a trap, take it to P&R.
To me, I am always amazed by small moments of grace:
Out to Lexington to visit the dentist. At the construction in East Lexington, went to the head of the queue where I got waived through straight while everyone else got stuck behind people turning left. Had Mass Ave all to my lonesome all the way to the Munroe School.
Then to Cambridgeside Galleria to visit Apple.
Would be fixed around 2:00 so wandered to the Seaport District.
Got a video of the art on South Bay Harbor Trail - see below.
Then back to Apple, then to Harvard Square with the fix.
Finally back to the beginning.
All in all a good day to be out and about. Friday traffic seems to be an all day thing though.
Joyful Lines
-mr. bill
Then to Cambridgeside Galleria to visit Apple.
Would be fixed around 2:00 so wandered to the Seaport District.
Got a video of the art on South Bay Harbor Trail - see below.
Then back to Apple, then to Harvard Square with the fix.
Finally back to the beginning.
All in all a good day to be out and about. Friday traffic seems to be an all day thing though.
Joyful Lines
-mr. bill
Four people riding bikes arrive at four legs of a four way stop simultaneously, all going straight. What next? Literally, you are ALL supposed to stop and yield to one another. If one or more of you doesn't think outside the box, you are all going to be standing at your bikes for the rest of your lives. Anywhere but A&S this is a trivially resolved "conundrum."
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-28-20 at 08:33 AM.
#48
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Four people riding bikes arrive at four legs of a four way stop simultaneously, all going straight. What next? Literally, you are ALL supposed to stop and yield to one another. If one or more of you doesn't think outside the box, you are all going to be standing at your bikes for the rest of your lives. Anywhere but A&S this is a trivially resolved "conundrum."
Last edited by njkayaker; 09-28-20 at 12:58 PM.
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#50
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Though, the likelihood that people will arrive anywhere like exactly the same time is very, very low.
===================
In any case, sharing the roadways requires some amount of cooperation.
People yield right-of-way fairly regularly. The people here who are upset with it must be upset often.
Last edited by njkayaker; 09-28-20 at 09:41 AM.