More observations from a pedalphile

Here are a few more suggestions and observations from this biker to you motor vehicle drivers:

-Using your turn signals is not optional. If there are no cars around, use your turn signals anyway because a bicyclist might be relying on them.

-Stop signs are not suggestions.

-If your stop sign does not say "4-way" under it and I'm coming at a 90-degree angle to you, then it means I do NOT have a stop sign. Therefore, don't expect me to stop.

-If I hold up my left hand, it means I'm turning right. It doesn't mean I'm waving at you, so don't give me the finger.

-I will try to follow the rules of the road in general, but I will not follow them to the letter. If I followed the letter of the rules of the road, then I would either never get anywhere or would put myself in peril every time I tried to turn left. I will not be reckless or put myself in danger and I'll try not to unnerve you. You'll have to settle for that.

-Do not complain that I don't follow the rules of the road perfectly. You don't want me to do so. If I did, it would be as unnerving to you as it would be dangerous to me. If I want to turn left on a multilane road, then, according to the rules, I should get in the same turning lane as a car would get in to make the same turn. Do you really want me cutting across three lanes of heavy traffic? So if I do things that seem a little odd to you like briefly riding against traffic from time to time (so as to avoid cutting across lanes of traffic), you're welcome in advance.

-Don't holler at me to get on the sidewalk. Pedestrians yell at me to get OFF the sidewalk. Legally, I'm supposed to be in the road. Deal with it!


And my number one, most important piece of advice:

-You may not like it but this is a fact. If a biker next to you is going straight and you're trying to turn right, the biker has the right of way. It's in the Rules of the Road. Look it up!

Thank you for your cooperation.