I don't see this too often. The Left turners that drive me nuts are the ones who don't get their butts out into the intersection, especially when there's not a left turn signal, and so will sit through 3 red-lights waiting for a space large enough to turn that damn semi through!
Oh yeah, this one gets me too. If I'm in a car with someone who is hesitant to pull out here, I will remind them that they're actually supposed to pull forward and then clear traffic, not to wait for a new light cycle.
One thing that I've never really looked into is that I had a friend who said the safest way to take turns on a motorcyle is to accelerate into them. Having never ridden a motorcycle I neither understood this counterintuitive approach nor really had much reason to follow-through on it. Any ideas?
It seems like it has to do with accelerating causing the weight of the bike to shift to the rear wheel. There's also the gyroscopic force you can feel if you're like spinning a wheel with your arms and then try to turn it - the torque makes it hard to do. That same effect means that if the wheels of the bike are spinning fast enough, they have that sort of stabilizing effect on the bike.
Someone who rides regularly can correct the details, but I think that's the physics nutshell.
Thanks for pointing this out Andrew. I see it all the time and it’s incredibly unnecessary and dangerous! Great to channel that through curiosity. Curiosity really is magic in that sense
‘Use your goddam directionals!’ I was off somewhere with my friends when we saw some old dude scream that out literally shaking his fist. Ever since it’s become part of our lexicon. He was so angry! Have you seen the Australian road trains where they’ve got 84 wheelers?
When I was a kid, my neighbor was getting old and senile and every evening he would walk outside my bedroom window (I was up on the 2nd floor so he couldn’t see me) and make sure his car was locked up for the night. As he checked the lock on every door he would grumble loudly ‘goddam sons of bitches.’ I loved that guy and yes my old ass will be him soon enough
I would definitely disagree that the primary concern for race car drivers isn't the safety of their fellow drivers. My long-time creative partner is a former race car driver and he always emphasizes that safety is first. No ethical driver would consciously risk the life of a fellow driver to win a race. (unethical ones, that's a whole other deal)
It's more that when sharing a track with professional drivers, the rules are different than when sharing the road with the rest of us.
I don't see this too often. The Left turners that drive me nuts are the ones who don't get their butts out into the intersection, especially when there's not a left turn signal, and so will sit through 3 red-lights waiting for a space large enough to turn that damn semi through!
And wow, I was both your first ❤️ and your first comment. I even beat Daniel!
You've crossed me for the last time, Michael. You've made a very mild enemy here today.
A very mild enemy. I love it. You've got a reputation now.
Wasn't sure you'd see this far down, but that's a pretty compelling reason to try AI. AI sees all!
Why Try AI? The question answers itself.
Oh yeah, this one gets me too. If I'm in a car with someone who is hesitant to pull out here, I will remind them that they're actually supposed to pull forward and then clear traffic, not to wait for a new light cycle.
Cars cannot drive themselves fast enough.
So, ironically, when that happens, I've been known to veer to the right, move around that car, and take a left turn...
Oh, I meant if I'm a passenger and the driver I'm with is hesitant.
I'm tracking that. Just saying, I've been known to veer to the right myself to make a left around someone who won't.
Trust Andrew to successfully channel his own road rage into a constructive Substack post.
It's way more fun to get curious than to get mad!
One thing that I've never really looked into is that I had a friend who said the safest way to take turns on a motorcyle is to accelerate into them. Having never ridden a motorcycle I neither understood this counterintuitive approach nor really had much reason to follow-through on it. Any ideas?
That's a good one.
It seems like it has to do with accelerating causing the weight of the bike to shift to the rear wheel. There's also the gyroscopic force you can feel if you're like spinning a wheel with your arms and then try to turn it - the torque makes it hard to do. That same effect means that if the wheels of the bike are spinning fast enough, they have that sort of stabilizing effect on the bike.
Someone who rides regularly can correct the details, but I think that's the physics nutshell.
Thanks for pointing this out Andrew. I see it all the time and it’s incredibly unnecessary and dangerous! Great to channel that through curiosity. Curiosity really is magic in that sense
I love finding wonder in the mundane, you know? It's out there.
‘Use your goddam directionals!’ I was off somewhere with my friends when we saw some old dude scream that out literally shaking his fist. Ever since it’s become part of our lexicon. He was so angry! Have you seen the Australian road trains where they’ve got 84 wheelers?
I haven't seen those yet!
I also feel like the classic "old man yells at cloud." That old man is me.
When I was a kid, my neighbor was getting old and senile and every evening he would walk outside my bedroom window (I was up on the 2nd floor so he couldn’t see me) and make sure his car was locked up for the night. As he checked the lock on every door he would grumble loudly ‘goddam sons of bitches.’ I loved that guy and yes my old ass will be him soon enough
Well, in fairness... you really do have to keep the goddam sons of bitches out!
You do. Old man energy
I would definitely disagree that the primary concern for race car drivers isn't the safety of their fellow drivers. My long-time creative partner is a former race car driver and he always emphasizes that safety is first. No ethical driver would consciously risk the life of a fellow driver to win a race. (unethical ones, that's a whole other deal)
It's more that when sharing a track with professional drivers, the rules are different than when sharing the road with the rest of us.