When you surprise passed me this morning, announcing yourself just as you came up next to me, my first thought was, *Damn I’m slow*, as I watched you ride on past. Then I thought maybe I could pick up the pace a bit to see if I could keep your blinking red rear light in sight. Not sure I agree with the blinking by the way. I think when it’s dark your rear light is supposed to be solid, then flip it to blinking during daylight hours. Anyway, there are lots of ways we could be going this morning but surprise we seem to be going the same way. You’re maybe 100 yards ahead of me now and I’m not closing the gap.
You [exit](https://goo.gl/maps/GcxrE7xCHA3V1dhu7) the creek trail and S across the Laguna Canyon then start salmoning down the left side of Barranca. Still going my way it seems but I’m not sure about your choice here. My habit is to come out on Laguna Canyon then get in the left hand turn at the intersection. Not too much traffic this early in the morning so as soon as it’s clear I’ll generally run the red and make my left onto Barranca. Salmoning down the left side of Barranca as you’ve chosen just isn’t worth it in my view. Anyway, I do my thing and sure enough you cross the Barranca mid-block to get on the right hand side. Still ahead of me.
The light is red at [Sand Canyon](https://goo.gl/maps/ceW8RNREmJNsjg4TA) and you make a right. This is my move too when the light is red, taking Sand Canyon until traffic is clear then cutting across to the bike path that parallels Sand Canyon. I see you push over into the [right-hand turning lane](https://goo.gl/maps/tzc9sXsAFMBXscKC6) before moving back left into the bike lane. Hmmm. My brother. You’re sending mixed signals here. I know the bike lane is kinda scary but cars seeing you take the right-hand turning lane are going to assume you’re turning right and not going straight.
Anyway, sure enough, you cut across Sand Canyon at the first opportunity to take the [paralleling bike path](https://goo.gl/maps/MDWTGN19jNv4sv1P8). I do the same. Then you catch the red and I catch up. You cheerfully note that I caught up and apologize for surprise passing me back there. I brush it off telling you I used to do that all the time to people then I got a bell. I use the opportunity to ring my bell. You say you have a bell too but didn’t use it (for some reason I couldn’t make out because the way had cleared and we were riding again).
Once again I’m trailing you at 50ish yards when we’re coming up on another red. I figure I’m going to catch up again but to my surprise [you cross](https://goo.gl/maps/oLJgGy19rr88dsjH7). Now I’m no Dudley Do-Right. I run reds regularly when there’s not a lot of traffic. But what you did was run the red when there were quite a few cars, and in particular, when there were cars turning right who had the right of way that had to wait for you. My brother! Don’t trust that these cars will see you. Especially in the early morning hours.
Well, you make it. I wait at the light and cross when traffic clears. You’re still going the same way as me, but you’re a good quarter mile ahead now. It’s nice seeing other commuters out. Enjoy the rest of your ride. Maybe think about some of your choices though. Brother.
by TelescopeFeed