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When to honk at a bicyclist
Dear fellow Bellevue residents:
I ride every day through our city to and from work. Despite what some Seattleites say, this is a great place to ride. But lately, Bellevue motorists have been honking at me. I'm not quite sure why this has happened -- maybe the election is getting people worked up? Anyway, I think I need to review with you all when to honk, and when not to honk, at a bicyclist. When not to honk: 1. When you just happen to be passing by the bicyclist. Believe me, I was aware of your Esclanade a long time before you even thought about honking. 2. When I am at or in the intersection. Initially, I can accelerate faster than a motor vehicle in an intersection. I am not slowing you down any more than if I were in a car. So chill. 3. When I am going approximately at or above the speed limit. Yes, you might want to go 40 mph down the hill by Phantom Lake, but the speed limit is 30. If I am descending the hill at 32 mph, I am going to be in front of you. You wouldn't honk at a car more or less obeying the speed limit, would you? So why honk at a bike? 4. When I am going the same speed as the rest of traffic. So, we're going down Eastgate Way at 30 mph and the speed limit is 35. So you honk at me. But LOOK, there's a Metro bus in front of me. The reason why you and I are both going 30 mph is because the bus is going 30 mph. Even if I somehow miraculously vaporized at your honking, the Metro bus is still going to be in front of you going 30, and you aren't going to going any faster. Got that? When to honk: 1. When someone is facing imminent death, and you think that honking might somehow avert a fatal accident. 2. When you're my good friend, and you want to catch my attention so we can wave at each other. (Hi Kathy!) 3. When you want me and probably everyone in the immediate vicinity to know that you are a complete, brain-dead, total, doofus. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope to never hear from you (except those good friends -- you may continue to tootle so we can wave at each other) again. -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
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