Cyclists, Pedestrians and Drivers

Alright, I've been writing a lot about politics, and while this series of posts (yes, there will be more with a similar name) will contain some political thoughts, it will definitely stray into the arena of common courtesy and thoughts about safety.

I live in Somerville, MA.  I've lived here for a while and have been a cyclist, a pedestrian, and a car driver.  It's a city, with city multi-modal problems.  First, a few quick tips to each mode.

A quick message to drivers:
Don't be idiots...  you know who you are, idiots.  Alright, let me give some examples:

• In Porter Sq., there's strip mall with a large parking lot.  Emptying out onto Elm St. are 2 different exits.  Facing Elm St., the exit on the left is exit-only and allows for 2 lanes (one to turn right, one to turn left) and the exit on the right has 1 lane to exit and 1 lane to enter.  Guess where you should go if you're going to turn left onto Elm St.  
1. The right one.  Because then you have to block traffic that's turning right which is an easier turn.... or ...
2. The left one.  Because you can get into a left-only lane that is almost always empty

That's right, idiots, you go to the left side exit... unfortunately, almost every time I use the right side exit to turn right, I find that some idiot, is trying to turn left and therefore takes forever to leave the parking lot.

• Whenever you're turning left onto street from a major street with people passing on your right, DON'T MOVE TO THE RIGHT FIRST.  I understand that when turning right you may move left first so as to make the turn a little tighter, that's fine and acceptable.... but for the love of all that is logical, why do you move right in order to turn left when you have a lane to go through so the turn doesn't have to be tight at all?!?!?
• Here's a more subtle one.  If you come to a cross street and won't make it across ... stop before the cross street.  Don't block traffic trying to make it through, even if there's no light at the intersection but one a block away.  Don't be the jerk that keeps traffic on that side street from moving forward because they aren't able to drive THROUGH YOUR CAR.
• And here's one that relates more with a later section of this post.  If you're on a one-lane one-way street with a bike lane, DON'T DRIVE IN THE BIKE LANE.  I don't care that you're turning right, so am I, and you're not getting by me cause you're NOT A BIKE so don't drive in the bike lane, IDIOT.

A quick message to bicyclists:

I know you want equal rights and you're more vulnerable and you hate everybody that's driving a car, but please be respectful and understand that you, too, sometimes are the problem as much as, if not more than, those of us driving or walking along.  O.k., a couple more things:

• Wear a helmet
• Respect the rules of the road
• Don't ride side by side down the road
• If you're turning left, don't block the road by standing in the middle of the lane so people driving down the street behind you can't turn right.

A quick message to pedestrians:

I know you can walk in front of a bicyclist or car and get hit and get hurt and don't care... but don't ask for it.  

• Walk across the street if people have stopped for you or if there's enough time, but don't just start walking across randomly.
• If there's a cross-walk 5 feet from you, I SWEAR, I'm more likely to stop for you if you go to the cross-walk than if you wait where you are.
• Don't step onto the street at a major intersection when you're still waiting for traffic... seriously, don't do it, just don't, just wait on the curb and don't step onto the street.