Stop at all intersections

Find myself sometimes slowing down and looking instead of stopping and looking, which is what I should do at all times, was exiting a gas station and slowed down to look and then bam here comes this car, did stop but should of been stopped in the first place, mentally it's easier to take that risk to go because your already moving, if that makes any sense. Said what I wanted to say, thanks for reading and hopefully this etches itself in this grey matter!!

You bring up a good point on why we should do these things at all times even out in the middle of no-where, It's practicing good habits. Even though there's no one to see you run a stop sign doesn't mean you should run it, because it breaks a good habit to where it can be done where it could matter.

That's a good policy to have, both on the bike and otherwise.  I don't ever assume people are going to do what they are supposed to do.  The other day at work, I'm waiting to cross a busy intersection here in downtown Atlanta.  My 'walk light' turns 'white' for me to cross.  I start to walk out, look to my right (it's a one-way street and it's my habit to always look even when I have the light) and there's a Honda flying down toward my intersection and I realize he's not going to stop.  I then realize he's not going to make it through that intersection without hitting something as cars are flying down the crossing street.  I turn to run and get out of the way but I'm still looking back (cause you gotta watch a train wreck right?).  I knew parts were going to be flying everywhere and I didn't want to get hit by flying debris.  He T-bones an Acura TL (which before that appeared to be very nice), totaled both cars.  The only reason I'm alive to tell about it is having that sense of being aware of what's going on around me at all times.

So your point is well taken, at least by me.   :smile:

Chuck

On a similar note.  Don't go on green.  Pause for a few seconds and look for the red light runner.

i think i know what you're getting at, but i also think it's a bit dangerous to equate a colloquial habit with safe practice.

here in holland, there's very few actual stop signs.  almost every intersection is a yield (or on smaller streets an implied yield based on the situation).  as a result, there's very little actual stopping and a lot of rolling through.  does that mean you're more likely to get hit (or hit someone) due to a slip of the mind? no.

i think the real issue here is state of mind.  if you roll up on an intersection lazily with the assumption that no one's going to be coming through... then you are at risk of not spotting a danger, whether you stop completely or not.  as with all other aspects of riding, we need to be alert and on the lookout for dangerous situations at all times.  for a lot of intersections, this means putting a foot down until you're sure.  in some cases (and in other driving environments), it's a triple check before merging, or crossing, or whatever you're doing.

and when you're tired, you need to force yourself to stay mentally aware and alert... if that's not possible, it's time to get off the bike and get some rest.

[image: View Post]superchode, on 27 April 2011 - 12:01 PM, said:

i think i know what you're getting at, but i also think it's a bit dangerous to equate a colloquial habit with safe practice.

here in holland, there's very few actual stop signs.  almost every intersection is a yield (or on smaller streets an implied yield based on the situation).  as a result, there's very little actual stopping and a lot of rolling through.  does that mean you're more likely to get hit (or hit someone) due to a slip of the mind? no.

i think the real issue here is state of mind.  if you roll up on an intersection lazily with the assumption that no one's going to be coming through... then you are at risk of not spotting a danger, whether you stop completely or not.  as with all other aspects of riding, we need to be alert and on the lookout for dangerous situations at all times.  for a lot of intersections, this means putting a foot down until you're sure.  in some cases (and in other driving environments), it's a triple check before merging, or crossing, or whatever you're doing.

and when you're tired, you need to force yourself to stay mentally aware and alert... if that's not possible, it's time to get off the bike and get some rest.

Was turning left, since I was rolling and turning left was pointed to the left at a 135 degree angle and then had to turn my head to check traffic on my right at 0 degrees, again while rolling. I should of stopped and then looked, period. Don't want to get into bad habits and be a statistic.

yeah. be safe out there.

[image: View Post]Conedodger, on 27 April 2011 - 11:58 AM, said:

On a similar note.  Don't go on green.  Pause for a few seconds and look for the red light runner.
+1 Doing this has kept me from getting nailed more than once.

on the flip side.. if you do this in DC you will reach the side of DC  in 10 years :laughing6-hehe:
really.. some of it has intersections 30 feet away..
GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Thomas Jefferson  could not have foreseen  the hell his design would create.

[image: View Post]gll429, on 27 April 2011 - 08:41 PM, said:

on the flip side.. if you do this in DC you will reach the side of DC  in 10 years :laughing6-hehe:
really.. some of it has intersections 30 feet away..
GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Thomas Jefferson  could not have foreseen  the hell is design would create.
To make it look like a wagon wheel? 'Course they were using them then.

[image: View Post]Conedodger, on 27 April 2011 - 11:58 AM, said:

On a similar note.  Don't go on green.  Pause for a few seconds and look for the red light runner.

Ditto. I was whacked a few years ago by a red light runner in my pickup. Knocked the cab 6 inches off the frame. I ALWAYS look both ways before heading out into the chaos.

I do this but but just thought of putting it to words from reading this. When I stop for a stop sign/light, I make it a practice to stay back about a car length or so, in case there is a crash I hope it will better my odds of getting caught up in collateral damage.(with a careful eye on the mirror)

I have developed a fool proof way of not coasting through stops. I don't look to either side until I come to a complete stop. That doesn't mean I am not aware as I pull up to a stop sign. I am aware of traffic as I pull up but peripherally then after I stop I do the good look 1 - 2 - 3 until its clear. 1 look into the lane I'm pulling into. 2 look into the other lane. 3 look again into the lane I'm pulling into as I pull out.

TEXAS DEPUTY SHERIFF vs. NEW YORK LAWYER Only in Texas my friends...Only in Texas .....Too bad...

A lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff's deputy. He thinks that he is smarter than the deputy because he is a lawyer from New York and is certain that he has a better education then any cop from Houston , TX . He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Texas deputy's expense.

The deputy says, 'License and registration, please.'

'What for?' says the lawyer...

The deputy says, 'You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign.'

Then the lawyer says, 'I slowed down, and no one was coming.'

'You still didn't come to a complete stop, Says the deputy. License and registration, please.'

The lawyer says, 'What's the difference?'

'The difference is you have to come to complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!' the Deputy repeats..

Lawyer says, 'If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration; and you give me the ticket... If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket.'

'That sounds fair. Please exit your vehicle, sir,' the deputy says.

At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating the shit out of the lawyer and says, 'Do you want me to stop, or just slow down?'

God Bless Texas ........