bikes, not bombs, though sometimes a hand grenade is tempting

[topaz]

Bangor was lovely, though we really didn't spend enough time hanging out up there.  Zipped up on Wednesday night after work, all-day workshop on Thursday, and careened back down to Boston immediately afterwards.  I am now certified as having passed the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's bike safety instruction course, which at the moment is "close enough" as far as the state of Massachusetts is concerned, at least until MassBike develops a full Massachusetts-specific curriculum.

This morning on my commute I had a hysterical encounter with a truck driver.  At one point on my route I have to turn left from Massachusetts Avenue, which usually requires waiting for a green arrow while other cars go straight through.  (This is Porter Square for you locals.)  I usually position myself on the left-hand side of the middle lane, so that I'm not holding up traffic that's moving straight through the intersection but can still turn left safely when the light changes.

Apparently that's not good enough!  This morning, while I was waiting for the light, a truck driver pulled up next to me, stuck his head out of the window and yelled, "Come on!  You're riding a BIKE!  Why aren't you just going through?"

Feeling a little bit like I might be on Candid Camera, or possibly the Daily Show, I pointed out that the light was red.  My friend shook his head angrily and waved in front of him, apparently to indicate that he would prefer I just ran the red light.  I started to point out that I was still subject to the same traffic laws that govern cars, but just then the light turned green and we both were off and running.  I got a picture of his truck but I think it's too grainy to make out the license plate.

So there you have it, folks.  Why are bicyclists constantly flouting traffic laws?  Apparently because PEOPLE WANT THEM TO.  Or something.  Sheesh.

Comments

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

My car was hit by a kid on a bike the other week. I was pulling out of a parking lot with the green light, and the kid slammed into the left side of my car against his red light.

He then had the audacity to call me some choice names and ask "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

I took that as an indication that he was in sufficient health for me to just plain leave.

I do not want you to break the law, your jaw, your spine, or anything else.

But hey, this is Massachusetts. Traffic is stupid. Wear armor.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you get so accustomed to widespread violations of the law that it completely throws you when someone actually follows the rules. For instance, I'm used to figuring out whether or not I can safely jaywalk on the basis of certain estimates of automobile speed, so when someone comes along doing the actual speed limit, it fucks me up. I'm like, Will you just hurry up and get out of my goddamn way so I can cross before traffic starts up again in the other direction? I've also seen crazy standoffs where someone starts crossing with the idea of passing right behind an oncoming car, but the driver sees them and slows down. The pedestrian isn't expecting this, so he stands stunned or tries to wave the car forward, and the whole interaction takes several times as long as if the driver had been more oblivious.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced this is behind a great deal of what people complain about Boston driving. People get so hopelessly confused trying to figure out who has the right of way that they just yield it at completely random times.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

People get so hopelessly confused trying to figure out who has the right of way

And whether the other person is going to yield if they don't have it.

[ghislaine.livejournal.com]

Thank you for following the traffic laws. You set a good example and, well, I like your brain intact!

[crouchback.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the certification! What are you goin to do with it?

I've come to think that they should build bicycle only streets. This would require tearing down things (except for the spots where they can reuse old rail junctions) but I think it would be worth it. I look forward to the day when the median of a few expressways contains bike lanes.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

How about "Because if I get killed I'll be late to work"?