Keep your head up
10-02-19, 09:43 AM
#26
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Of course they would. And do. But the key point is that the first line (if there is one) delineates the pedestrian crosswalk which is (usually) not a motorists first priority. Nearly all will stop at the stop sign (first line), however, if pedestrians are spotted. If, being the operative word. In most areas of this country, even in fair sized metro centers, pedestrian traffic is low. Stopping for pedestrians is a sometimes thing. Well past the stop sign, at the precipice of the intersection itself is where things get interesting for most drivers and that is where they are going to apply their powers of observation. And they do! Do not be misled by all the blather. If the vast majority of motorists (and cyclists!!!!!!) did not ever check for cross traffic before entering active intersections there would literally be hundreds of thousands of fatal accidents per year instead of the several 10,000's of such accidents. "oh s/he just blew through the intersection without looking!!!". Seriously? That only works in action movies. Blast through an active intersection against your light and you WILL be hit. No one does that except very rarely and when they do ... BLAM! That cyclist that just sailed through the standing red light CHECKED that there was no cross traffic. It does not look like it to an observer but the observer being well aware of the absolute impossibility of themselves doing such a thing should know better than to think that anyone else can do so.
10-02-19, 10:38 AM
#27
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Another reason to incorporate bike lessons and on-road bike experience as a requirement for a driver's licence.
"Are most avid/experienced cyclists knowledgeable of laws, safety practices?"
If one is over 16, then it is likely one holds a drivers license. So according to the authorities, that person is aware of traffic laws.
However, as we see on a daily basis, being aware of the law and practicing within the law are different.Bicyclists and motorists are not that much different from each other except that when violating the law, one puts himself in danger while the other puts everybody else in danger.
If one is over 16, then it is likely one holds a drivers license. So according to the authorities, that person is aware of traffic laws.
However, as we see on a daily basis, being aware of the law and practicing within the law are different.Bicyclists and motorists are not that much different from each other except that when violating the law, one puts himself in danger while the other puts everybody else in danger.
”When YOU are the Motorist”
As a cyclist, I always look particularly hard for cyclists, making me a more cautious driver than usual, especially in Boston….
My worst transgression(s) have been since a bike lane was positioned in front of our condo, outside the parking lane. At the beginninng I was lax to look for oncoming cyclists, but no incidents.
As a cyclist, I always look particularly hard for cyclists, making me a more cautious driver than usual, especially in Boston….
My worst transgression(s) have been since a bike lane was positioned in front of our condo, outside the parking lane. At the beginninng I was lax to look for oncoming cyclists, but no incidents.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-02-19 at 06:31 PM.
10-03-19, 12:45 PM
#29
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I suspect that if anyone with an attitude of antagonism toward motorists displayed on BF by the zealots with an anti-motorist ideological bent were to gratuitously "remind" drivers of anything related to driving, no matter what it was, would receive more than a lot of dislikes and downvotes.
10-03-19, 02:08 PM
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Well, it is this motorist's first priority. Stop at the line and move forward when, based on this motorist's observations, it's safe, for all, to do so. Don't over think this, and yes, I encounter some drivers who don't and they p!ss me off.
