On our way to church each Sunday, we take back roads because it is the shortest route (and the most scenic). At one point, we have to get on a four lane highway, make a left turn, and go 200 feet before turning off on to the back roads again. So here is the problem - all these cyclists take the same route. When they get to this light, they block the whole road, which they are not supposed to do. Before the red light changes, they run the red light and start down the highway, which means we cannot pass them before they turn down the back road. Then we are stuck behind the group for the next mile, because they block the lane, and there isn't room to pass them. This is incredibly frustrating. I have gotten good at being calm about this, though.
4 comments:
Hi, Ken...We saw you in Newsday today with that great article about the stargazers! Your group photo jumped right out at me and I made sure that Will looked at it. As for this photo...it is so annoying to be behind cyclists! I dread having them surround me while driving to/from Youngs Farm, along that curvy Chicken Valley Road! They are the scourge of Long Island roads! I have spoken...! Babs and Will
A cyclist is just as entitled to the roadway as you are. The real problem you have is that you are intolerant to their slower speeds while you are in your vehicle, assuming a car of some kind.
You can change your situation if you'd acknowledge your own intolerance. You could take the less scenic route. You could use a different form of transport - bus, walk, taxi, carpool, bicycle. You could go do a different church. You could not go to church. You could go to church at a different time.
Or this: you could just relax and leave the cyclists alone since they are human beings just like you and are just out enjoying the scene.
Absolutely right - in fact starting a touch early (when they can see the light is changing due to their SIGNIFICANTLY greater visibility) is actually a tactic to get up to speed and safely out of the intersection as quickly as possible. The goal is to not impede traffic but the law and best practice on their side. Groups of bicyclists bike together because the only thing that kills them is cars. There is no obligation or requirement for cyclists to yield the lane to you (an equal roadway user) but they often do by moving to the side or allowing you to pass.
One can get very annoyed at the way these two wheeled idiots block traffic or ignore the Stop Signs and Traffic Signals and pay no attention to the traffic or wear headphones or Earbuds listening to whale calls and don't seem to be using their brains at all
Post a Comment