I think I know why it annoys me when...

...drivers wave me through a 4-way stop out of turn (i.e., when I am supposed to yield to them).  When they do this, my gut reaction is to pretend I can't see them, put my feet down, fold my arms and wait for them to go first.

Clearly drivers who do this think they are being polite.  What they may not realize is that it might not be safe for the biker to go out of turn - just because one driver waves you on does not mean everyone else at the intersection understands and agrees or even notices the little hand signal.

But I don't think this is what really bothers me so much.  I think it's really the notion that by using the little hand signals, the driver is (perhaps unconsciously) presuming that they (rather than the rules of the road) have the authority to determine when a biker can pass.

Does anybody else react like me?

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by David on October 25, 2011 at 5:25am

I don't react like you.  Sometimes I go forward through the intersection and wave to the driver as I pass.   Sometimes it isn't safe so I stop, put my feet down, and wave the driver forward.  In all cases, I think the driver is being nice rather than presumptuous.

 

As far as "presuming that they have the authority", in most of these cases the car driver has the right-of-way and is voluntarily surrendering it to the cyclist with a hand signal.  I think that's a nice thing to do.  Even if I have the right of way, I appreciate the hand signal as an extra bit of acknowledgement that the car driver has seen me.   4-way stops tend to be confusing, and I think any extra signalling we can give each other is very useful.

 

Given all that happens on Chicago streets, I find this to be a very strange thing to be annoyed at.

 

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on October 25, 2011 at 5:33am
Jeff, I feel the same way.  Although the gesture may be a nice thing to do and that's great, (I actually think it's because they feel safer proceeding once we have gone through the intersection), I think the temporary suspension of the rule has the capacity of creating confusion or worse, a dangerous misunderstanding.
Permalink Reply by Elliot Bennett on October 25, 2011 at 6:35am

Jeff -

I know what you mean. The Annoying Samaritan Syndrome: http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2010/03/dictionary-of-bike-commu...

 

Permalink Reply by Davo on October 25, 2011 at 6:52am
+1

David said:

I don't react like you.  Sometimes I go forward through the intersection and wave to the driver as I pass.   Sometimes it isn't safe so I stop, put my feet down, and wave the driver forward.  In all cases, I think the driver is being nice rather than presumptuous.

 

As far as "presuming that they have the authority", in most of these cases the car driver has the right-of-way and is voluntarily surrendering it to the cyclist with a hand signal.  I think that's a nice thing to do.  Even if I have the right of way, I appreciate the hand signal as an extra bit of acknowledgement that the car driver has seen me.   4-way stops tend to be confusing, and I think any extra signalling we can give each other is very useful.

 

Given all that happens on Chicago streets, I find this to be a very strange thing to be annoyed at.

 

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on October 25, 2011 at 8:04am

I do get annoyed by this I'm sorry to say. I realize they've got darling intentions and everything but it just throws me the hell off and seems less safe. They don't know how well I can see them in their car, or if I'm looking at them vs looking at their vehicle, I don't know how long they're going to wait before deciding to go anyway, and once I've stopped at an intersection my momentum is already lost and they aren't doing me any favors.

 

I mean I'm nice about it and everything but it is one of those petty annoyances. There's loads worse to worry about, sure.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on October 25, 2011 at 8:49am
+2

Davo said:
+1

David said:

I don't react like you.  Sometimes I go forward through the intersection and wave to the driver as I pass.   Sometimes it isn't safe so I stop, put my feet down, and wave the driver forward.  In all cases, I think the driver is being nice rather than presumptuous.

 

As far as "presuming that they have the authority", in most of these cases the car driver has the right-of-way and is voluntarily surrendering it to the cyclist with a hand signal.  I think that's a nice thing to do.  Even if I have the right of way, I appreciate the hand signal as an extra bit of acknowledgement that the car driver has seen me.   4-way stops tend to be confusing, and I think any extra signalling we can give each other is very useful.

 

Given all that happens on Chicago streets, I find this to be a very strange thing to be annoyed at.

 

Permalink Reply by koala on October 25, 2011 at 9:18am
The only time it really gets to me is when the motorist reaches the intersection well before me and waits. I'm slowing and obviously yielding, just go already! But the motorist waits until I give up all my momentum, come to a complete stop and put my feet down. And then the motorist waves me through.

That's when I put my head down until the car goes away.
Permalink Reply by Carl on October 25, 2011 at 10:28am

Actually, I strictly stick to the 'order of arrival' at intersections, just like when I'm driving. I always wave the car through when they get there first, just like you're supposed to, and they expect you to. 

 

I often wave them through when neither of us seem sure who was first, because that's what I always did in the car.

 

Ignoring other vehicles at intersections seems rude and suicidal.

 

 

Permalink Reply by nik was here on October 25, 2011 at 11:49am
In regards to order of operations at intersections, remember, if two people show up to the intersection at the same time, the person to the right has the right-of-way.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on October 25, 2011 at 12:31pm

Are these the same people who give a honk while passing you on the left then turning right?

I'm all for courtesy but you're supposed to know the rules of the road and just because you're driving doesn't give you any more or less right to it.

Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on October 25, 2011 at 12:31pm

+1

Carl said:

Actually, I strictly stick to the 'order of arrival' at intersections, just like when I'm driving. I always wave the car through when they get there first, just like you're supposed to, and they expect you to. 

 

I often wave them through when neither of us seem sure who was first, because that's what I always did in the car.

 

Ignoring other vehicles at intersections seems rude and suicidal.

 

 

Permalink Reply by David P. on October 25, 2011 at 3:42pm
In a sense, they do 'have the authority to determine when a biker can pass.' When a vehicle has the right of way, it does not necessarily have to take it, even if in almost all cases it does. There is no reason one cannot cede one's right of way to someone else.

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