What does it mean to "Share the Road" - long

[TxDoc]

Thank you Eden, this was interesting.

[Crankin]

Oak, I wish there was a way to get people in my state to understand what you said about 4 way stop signs. People here have no idea what to do. If one driver is approaching a 4 way stop and gets to the sign before another driver, s/he most often will come to a stop and instead of going on, as the law states, the driver will wait until the other driver has come to a complete stop. Sometimes, there are 4 cars at the intersection, just stopped, with the drivers all staring at each other, waving their hands, saying "you go." They think they are being nice, but it's dangerous. It's bad enough in a car. When you are on a bike, it's harder to tell what the drivers will do.
I live near a very busy 4 way stop sign. It's a pain to have to second guess everyone. This seemed to work automatically in AZ.

[Eden]

I guess I figured "take your turn when you have the right of way" was covered by behave predictably and follow the rules of the road - but yes - I so much agree and it probably does deserve a special call out, because it happens a fair amount and it does seem quite dangerous.

Just the other night a group of us had a guy stop at a *green* light while we were waiting in the turn lane to turn left..... (we had a yield on solid green sign) - I kept waiting for him to get rear ended or for someone to come around him because they couldn't figure out why in the world he was just stopped there looking a a green light...

[PamNY]

I would add something about cyclists being respectful to other cyclists, and watching out for vulnerable pedestrians (wheelchairs and the like). Cyclists are every bit as bad as auto drivers at being impatient with slower cyclists. The temptation to weave through crowds of pedestrians is greater for cyclists simply because bikes are smaller than cars.

Since riding on sidewalks is a big issue in some places, I'd give some thought to including that -- but technically, it doesn't fall under "sharing the road."

I'd suggest finding another way to express the idea the the cyclist decides what is safe. I know what you mean, but if New York City cyclists were suddenly put in charge of deciding what is safe, I'd never, under any circumstances, leave my home.

It depends on who your audience is, of course. But I don't think the average person would have any idea what that actually means. Having said that, though, I can't think of a better way to phrase it right now.

[smilingcat]

Thank you Eden!!

Very nicely said. Very thoughtful.

smilingcat

[Eden]

What I mean is that the person who is on the bike at that moment - the one who's neck is on the line has the right to decide - can I ride through that pothole or will it make me fall, is this shoulder too dirty, am I too close to these car doors, is this lane wide enough to share or do I need to take it, etc. No one else should get to decide that for you...

I have one to add (for both).... some people may not like this or agree with this one, but it is something I personally follow...

I will pay attention to what I'm doing. If I am on a bike I will keep my eyes *and* my ears open - no cell, no headphones. If I am driving I will not use even a hands free cell device and I certainly will NEVER text while driving.

[PamNY]

I have one to add (for both).... some people may not like this or agree with this one, but it is something I personally follow...

I will pay attention to what I'm doing. If I am on a bike I will keep my eyes *and* my ears open - no cell, no headphones. If I am driving I will not use even a hands free cell device and I certainly will NEVER text while driving.

I think adding cellphones/headphones is a good idea. Bikesnob had a photo of a Xootr rider today using a cellphone. While going the wrong way.

[Biciclista]

nice, Eden.
I too was very disturbed by that thread.
@Crankin re 4way stops in MA, it's probably because for so many years that was the only way people got through intersections. I can remember the same sort of thing in NJ 40+ years ago. "You go, no, it's okay, YOU go, no, really, go ahead!"
Out here in the west, perhaps we didn't have the volume before the 4 way signs appeared. On the east coast, you already had the volume of people having to decide by themselves when it was best to go.