Dissection and analysis of a busy urban intersection.

If a traffic signal turns red with you in the middle of the street, then there's some scuffling to do, and there's a better AND SAFER way to do it then just blowing straight through. There's a defensive, assertive, and considerate way to do it without endangering anyone.

This post illustrates cycling tactics in an environment where the rules of reality are always a little squishy. People jaywalk while on the cellphone, cops drive on the sidewalk, taxi doors fly open from all directions in any lane at all times, MUNI buses abruptly halt traffic when an overhead electric guide pole becomes detached, insane people dart out into the street for no apparent reason and then turn 180 to go the other way, novice boys and girls on the brake-free bikes that shall not be named materialize from nowhere and wedge in behind your right side, panhandlers scurry between stopped cars at red lights, giggling out-of-towners numb on shopping highs ALWAYS step into your path no matter what's going on, and on and on...all of this has nothing to do with right or wrong, legal or not legal, right of way or not. I've presented one possible method of reckoning with this from the point of view of a bicycle courier wishing to slice through layers of dense traffic like a sharp knife through warm chocolate cake. And now...

Dissection and analysis of a busy urban intersection from the viewpoint of a bicycle courier wishing to slice through layers of dense traffic like a sharp knife through warm chocolate cake.



A. The traffic light turned red while you were mid-intersection.

B. Oblivious pedestrians. BIG TROUBLE. Practiced city-walkers will look left before stepping into the street, but you're not likely to encounter them here. See the lady in front? She's looking up at some dumb billboard and daydreaming. The moment she snaps out of it and notices the walk signal, she's gonna bolt without looking. The others behind her are in conversation and WILL follow her thoughtlessly.

C. Check the bus. It's difficult to see in this picture, but up ahead there's a stampede waiting to board this bus. The bus driver hasn't signaled yet, but you know better. Stay away from the right side.

D. This driver probably poses the greatest danger to you. Oncoming traffic from the right will be approaching any moment, and you can count on this guy making a panicky hard right to clear the intersection. With limited visibility behind the delivery truck (and with you smack-dab in his blind spot), he's not gonna see the stopped bus on the right, and I guarantee you, he's gonna floor it to avoid getting swarmed by pedestrians in front of the crosswalk. Be ready.

Suggested trajectory: Get the peds' attention with a shout or a bell or something. When they see your ugly face barreling down, they'll stay put. Lay on a couple hard pumps to get on the wheel of that guy on the bike, but keep a close eye on the black car (D). Watch the front wheels and listen for the acceleration.