Originally Posted by
rebeccaC
i always stop or slow down and proceed only when it's safe no matter the intersection so i don't have to worry about who has the right of way. Being legally right but in the hospital isn't something i need. There are lots of ways to get involved in an accident but being overly cautious can sometimes help in avoiding one...at least that has worked so far for me
This is me. My DH says I am overly cautious, and he always seems to make it through intersections while I wait on the other side. But I'd rather err on the side of safety than get somewhere a teeny bit quicker.
I do understand what Oak and Crankin are saying too, though -- we are often dealing with drivers who are just "too nice" and don't understand that sometimes that niceness in waving us across or in front of them is actually unwelcome. Once we have stopped and put a foot down, for example, we'd just as soon they go on ahead than have to wait for us to get going again, especially on a hill or anywhere where someone might be coming on in another lane so that we can't safely cross anyway. We especially encountered this over-niceness when we lived (briefly) in Prairie Village, KS and rode in that area (Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, etc.) Drivers were just *too* nice for anyone's own good at times!
Emily
2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow