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Old July 24th 19, 09:14 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
Frank Krygowski[_4_]
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Posts: 10,538
Default AG: Four-way stops

On 7/14/2019 12:02 AM, Joy Beeson wrote:

I was in a discussion once that included a guy who couldn't wrap his
head around the notion of four-way stops. No matter how we explained
it, he replied, "But nobody can ever go because everybody else has to
go first!"

....

And it's very simple:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

At *every* stop sign, you stop and wait until it's your turn.

That's it. You wait until it's your turn.

At the intersection of a minor road and a major one, The person on the
minor road has his turn when nobody on the major road wants the
intersection.

At the intersection of two equal roads, where everybody has a stop
sign, it's your turn when all the vehicles that were there when you
arrived are gone.

When you aren't sure which vehicle arrived first, it's the turn of the
fellow who has the other guy on his left -- that is, yield to the guy
on your right. (I presume, with no evidence, that it's the other way
around where people drive on the left.)

When traffic is backed up, it's the turn of the vehicle to the right
of the vehicle that had the previous turn.

By the general rule that it's your turn when nobody else wants the bit
of road that you want to use, if you and the guy facing you both want
to go straight, when the turn comes to either, both may go.

Likewise, you may turn right after verifying that nobody is coming
from your left, and that nobody facing you wants to turn left.


Your guy's confusion is further evidence that driving is barely, barely
within the capabilities of many people.

The only bike-related thing I'll add to your instructions is this: I
find it very helpful to take charge. That is, when I see there may be
doubt, I'll wave or signal as appropriate. Yesterday, at one four-way
stop, I waved to the driver simultaneously approaching from the right,
telling him to go ahead of me. He waved thanks, and at that isolated
intersection neither of us actually had to do a complete stop.

Also yesterday, as I was in a little roundabout, a motorist approached
fast from the right and looked like he might not yield. I gave him the
policeman's "Halt" with my palm out toward him, and he slowed right down.

Motorists are easily confused. They're often confused by bicyclists. I
tell them what to do when it's helpful.

--
- Frank Krygowski
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