“No, you go!”

This happens to me at least once a day. A car is stopped at a four-way stop as I approach on my bike. The driver, probably assuming I’m going to blow through the stop sign, does not proceed through the intersection. I come to a complete stop – like I’m supposed to. The driver waves me on. I shake my head to say “no.” He waves me on with more fervor. I shake my head more. This goes on until the driver finally proceeds – usually speeding off in a huff.

Is the driver upset because I waved off his offer to let me go when it was clearly his turn?

Should I interpret the gesture as a simple courtesy, a thanks for not blowing the stop sign, an attempt to appease his guilt for not being on a bike or, perhaps, some combination of all three?

The truth is I’m never going to accept the wave-on for two reasons:

1. It would completely shatter the point I’m trying to make that some cyclists do obey the rules;

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2. In the time we’ve spent playing the You Go. No, You Go! game, another driver could decide to go. I’m distracted by Driver 1 and Driver 2 takes me out instead. Uhhh, no thanks.

I don’t mean to be rude, but the whole process flows so much smoother when everyone follows the rules. That includes not blowing stop signs and not letting cyclists cut to the front of the line.

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