tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353875138735331560.post2787669665193712928..comments2023-04-03T03:29:32.895+01:00Comments on The Desegregated Cyclist: False Courtesy and Rules of PriorityIan Brett Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144195897514392433noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353875138735331560.post-46068535115138254482013-01-12T10:21:35.330+00:002013-01-12T10:21:35.330+00:00Yes, of course she was! That's the whole point...Yes, of course she was! That's the whole point.<br /><br />Firstly, there's the obvious danger, which comes from the fact that, if I go against the rules of priority (right of way), both of us are disobeying the rules of the road. When the rules are broken, chaos reigns and chaos on the road leads to accidents.<br /><br />Then there's the potential for miscommunication. I hesitate, then I go, she goes, we collide and the collision is my fault because I failed to observe the rules of priority.<br /><br />Then there's the danger that comes from the pressure she's putting on me to go. When you are placed in a situation in which a person is being courteous on the road, you tend to want to please the person - there's a pressure to conform. This social pressure is a distraction and can cause you to be less vigilant.<br /><br />If she had simply taken her proper turn, all of these potential dangers would have been avoided. The road is no place for false courtesy or making up rules as you go along. The rules exist to keep us all safe.Ian Brett Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144195897514392433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353875138735331560.post-71748801787811191782013-01-12T08:18:15.671+00:002013-01-12T08:18:15.671+00:00I don't get it. Was she endangering you?I don't get it. Was she endangering you?Erik Sandblomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411108063216855210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353875138735331560.post-7333541743902711632013-01-08T20:02:28.926+00:002013-01-08T20:02:28.926+00:00Thanks for the comment. Yeah, cycling with my daug...Thanks for the comment. Yeah, cycling with my daughter probably has a lot to do with it. I think the problem is that drivers see us in the middle of the road and think my daughter would be safer if we got off the main road as fast as possible, and that's true to some extent. But the situation becomes a lot less safe when drivers mess about trying to get me to disobey the rules of priority. If nothing else, it just delays us needlessly.Ian Brett Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144195897514392433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353875138735331560.post-40044154654844765032013-01-08T15:58:38.013+00:002013-01-08T15:58:38.013+00:00This is extremely common here in Canada as well. E...This is extremely common here in Canada as well. Especially when travelling with children. My kids and I often go through elaborate rituals of drinking water, checking lights etc. while waiting for traffic, because if we even look like we're planning a move, a car will slam on the brakes to wave us into traffic. No thanks dude.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05684487852752008887noreply@blogger.com