I think we need to have a discussion about left turns at intersections and who has the right of way, because over the past few years I've been seeing more and more evidence that people simply don't understand right of way in these situations, which is incredible to me. 1/
Feb 4, 2026 16:39At intersections with traffic lights that do not have turn signals, I'm seeing the motorists who are turning try to cut in front of opposing traffic at the light, as if they get to go first.
I'm also seeing opposing traffic WAVE the turning vehicles though.
This is insane behavior. 2/
Just the other night, while riding in the traffic lane (sharrowed street with no bike lane), I had a car turn left right in front of me, so suddenly that I ended up going over my handlebars trying to stop.
When the driver stopped and got out, they were completely baffled as to why I was upset. 3/
"There was a stop sign!"
Yes, for cross traffic. You turned in front of me. Neither of us had a stop sign. So I had the right of way.
"But I had my signal on."
I was going straight and didn't have a stop sign. What was I supposed to do when you cut in front of me?
(blank stare)
4/
Similarly, last week I had a driver stop at a green light to let someone turn in front of them. I was in the bike lane and thankfully the turning motorist saw me and waited.
At the next light, I asked the guy who stopped - a white haired dude - why he did that.
"they wanted to turn"
5/
Social contracts, unspoken rules, and so many other things have been breaking down over the past decade that it's hard to focus on any one issue. And there are certainly more important issues right now. But GOOD LORD the solipsism of motorists is on another level entirely. /fin
