Here's something you might be interested in.
Based on counting the number of times I've been nearly t-boned by drivers blasting through stop signs, or doing an exaggerated "California-stop", I have determined that 6pm-9pm is the WORST time to be on two wheels in PB.
It usually starts when I come home for work a little later after 6pm. A quick check of the balboa exit usually shows cars backed up for miles and if I don't see a clear opening closer to the exit I just cruise right on through to Clairemont and flip back to Grand Ave. Either way, when I hit the Balboa/Grand/Lamont intersection It's always a trip trying to avoid the red-light speeders trying to make it through that intersection on one try (which never works out). From there it's the cross traffic trying to do what I consider the most dangerous thing of crossing Grand Ave at an intersection with no red light. I can count over 1/2 dozen times in the past month when I've had someone pull out in front and stop just in time, or floor it through the intersection and giving me a panic moment.
Whew, home safe... Time to trade a motor bike for a pedal bike and go get some food. From here it's a pretend-nobody-can-see-me-game, because I swear no driver even looks left or right when they approach any intersection in PB, stop signs or not. I chalk it up to just a hard days work and sick of sitting in their cars. To that I recommend you get a bike - it is truly an enjoyable commute for once. Maybe these people are running off to the store trying to beat the crowds, maybe they are coming in from out of town and trying to get good parking for Taco Tuesday. Anyway you look at it , I'm invisible to them and can't do anything about it but continuing to play the game.
The weekday mornings are no where near as bad as the evenings. Weekends are debatable but since the booze-ban, things have been quite pleasant!
Think! Look twice... slow down... and use your signals!
Based on counting the number of times I've been nearly t-boned by drivers blasting through stop signs, or doing an exaggerated "California-stop", I have determined that 6pm-9pm is the WORST time to be on two wheels in PB.
It usually starts when I come home for work a little later after 6pm. A quick check of the balboa exit usually shows cars backed up for miles and if I don't see a clear opening closer to the exit I just cruise right on through to Clairemont and flip back to Grand Ave. Either way, when I hit the Balboa/Grand/Lamont intersection It's always a trip trying to avoid the red-light speeders trying to make it through that intersection on one try (which never works out). From there it's the cross traffic trying to do what I consider the most dangerous thing of crossing Grand Ave at an intersection with no red light. I can count over 1/2 dozen times in the past month when I've had someone pull out in front and stop just in time, or floor it through the intersection and giving me a panic moment.
Whew, home safe... Time to trade a motor bike for a pedal bike and go get some food. From here it's a pretend-nobody-can-see-me-game, because I swear no driver even looks left or right when they approach any intersection in PB, stop signs or not. I chalk it up to just a hard days work and sick of sitting in their cars. To that I recommend you get a bike - it is truly an enjoyable commute for once. Maybe these people are running off to the store trying to beat the crowds, maybe they are coming in from out of town and trying to get good parking for Taco Tuesday. Anyway you look at it , I'm invisible to them and can't do anything about it but continuing to play the game.
The weekday mornings are no where near as bad as the evenings. Weekends are debatable but since the booze-ban, things have been quite pleasant!
Think! Look twice... slow down... and use your signals!