7 December 2007
3-part strategy for 4-way stops
Posted by todd under: Riding .
Every day on my ride, I come to a busy four-way-stop intersection near the University of Kentucky. I pull up to the sign, stop, and wait my turn. Like any traveler should.
Invariably, the drivers freeze. It is almost as if they can’t believe what they are witnessing. They are not used to seeing a 2-wheeler obeying a stop sign, perhaps. I find this somewhat understandable, but impractical.
They sit, and wait, and wait, and wait, for me to go through the intersection before them, even when they have the right-of-way.
I, meanwhile, am NOT pulling out there when it’s not my turn — right about then, the driver would decide, “OK, he’s not going, I’m gonna go, while talking on my cell phone, looking for the french fry I just dropped, and steering with my knee,” and guess who would pay for THAT mistake?
Not the person in the metal box.
Anyway, without doing too much overthinking here, if you’re like me and you are simply trying to get where you’re going in one piece while obeying the rules, here’s a three-step four-way-stop strategy to help drivers understand that you’re just doing things decently and in order, and when it’s your turn (but not before), you will make it through the intersection without special consideration:
- Time your arrival at the sign so you and a car don’t stop at the same time. This way, it’s easier to tell who’s next in the right-of-way rotation.
- Put your foot down. Look, I love a good track stand as much as anybody, but if you’re at a stop sign standing up on the pedals, even if you’re standing absolutely still, drivers are convinced you are going to dart in front of them at any second. They WILL watch you track-stand there all afternoon. I have decided to give up, and put one foot on the ground. This means, in their eyes, that I am stopped for sure. They must find it reassuring. And I can’t say that I blame them too much.
- Whatever you do, DON’T make eye contact. If you make eye contact with a driver who has the right-of-way, he will invariably try to persuade you, through facial expressions, hand motions, over-enunciated words and, finally, after about a half-hour, a few honks of the horn, that you MUST GO before him. I chalk this up to misdirected charity. “The poor fellow — he has to ride a bike. He must be poverty-stricken, or perhaps handicapped in some way. Please, sir — let me lighten your heaven burden by letting you precede me. No, I insist. I insist. No, REALLY …”
Do not look directly at the driver. Look at the hood of his car. After that hood has safely proceeded down the street, and not before, I will put my foot on the pedal, and take my rightful turn.
One Comment so far...
Joe Breeze Says:
10 December 2007 at 1:42 pm.
Todd,
Nice, humorous and encouraging advice to stop at stop signs. The only thing I would add, is to wave the other person through the intersection (when they have the right of way).
Gladly, more cyclists are seeing the light (or red octagon)…
In fact, I almost ALWAYS wear one (while riding a bike anyway). (On the other hand, if YOU don't want to wear a helmet, I have no problem with it.) I don't remember what happened on this particular day. Fortunately for all of us it makes for a less-nerdly picture. My exceptionally talented professional photographer friend Charles Bertram took this photo.
I asked my 6-year-old son, Caleb, an avid bicyclist and artist, to draw a bike for me. I think he did a great job!
