1. 

   biophile87
   

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   Where I come from, there are many two-laned roads with space for only one car. There are many hills with hairpin curves. There are many drivers. There are also relatively few accidents on these blind, congested one-car wide roads. Why? There is hill etiquette.

   In my retrograde land, we always defer to the uphill driver. Cars can stall, blocking the road. Thus, you let them maintain momentum and make it up the hill first. If you reach opposite sides of the hill at the same time, you defer to the uphill driver. If you, the downhill driver, see the uphill driver coming, but he's 10 seconds away, you defer to the uphill driver. I thought this was universal etiquette, but here, in Seattle, where there are many two-laned roads with space for only one car, and hills, this seems to be a novel idea. Do people really not know this?

   Today I got the finger from an older gentleman with a gray beard -- very elegantly-aging-metro in his European navy station wagon -- I think because I beat him to the strip of street and I was going uphill. I gave a thank you wave, and as a reward I got the bird. The finger? Really? So beneath your dignified groomed beard, man. I'm quite appalled.

   Please enlighten me. Do people not practice this uphill etiquette? Please tell me if I'm being unreasonable / unrealistic. Have at it.

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   bambooboy
   

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   etiquette? This day and age? Most people wouldn't even be able to spell it let alone follow it. I have found that in most situations it's the first one in to the narrow spot, who gains the right of way, but I do agree with your uphill car theory

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Edog
   

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   This is a great example of how cluseless drivers in this town are. Its not etiquette or a theory, its that law that on narrow mountain roads the downhill driver yeilds the right of way to the person going up the hill.

   I know the roads are narrow in our part of town, but just what mountain were you traversing?

   ----EDIT---
   I was haughty and I was wrong! Apparently in Washington State the only law that addresses this covers going downhill on logging roads. See we are all idiots!

   http://www.trafficsafetyinfo.net/html/traffic_q___a.html#Hills

   I live in a neighborhood with a hill and lots of cars parked on either side of the road. Who has the right of way when one car is going down hill, one is going up hill, and these parked cars are in the way?

   That’s an interesting question, and our county has several streets that could fit that scenario at times. However, Washington State Law does not have a statute that addresses that specific situation, and even public opinion differs on who might have right-of-way. On logging roads the truck going down hill has priority, but that’s more of a practical braking consideration rather than a traffic laws. Search on-line and you’ll find a variety of thoughts on who should do what, but none of them cite any legal basis. What it comes down to is that when you encounter a problem that is not specifically addressed in our traffic law, default to the general obligation to use care and caution in your driving. Drivers who find themselves stuck going up or down a hill with cars on both sides will have to figure out a solution that is safe and works. I know that doesn’t exactly answer the question, but unless a legislator takes up your cause and drafts a new law, this is what we have to work with.

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   biophile87
   

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   I was traversing the mountain road that goes east-to-west, just north of the Greenwood Library. All third-world one-car wide roads over there.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   Edog
   

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   Here is my answer, if the guy was driving a Volvo, you know he was wrong. If he was driving an Audi, mercedes or BMW his car came with an option package the germans call "automatisch Vorfahrt" which means he paid for automatic right of way, and you were wrong.

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   BuffaloHawk
   

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   What if he was driving a Prius?

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   Edog
   

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   In that case he is just an a*shole with a slow car that has a linear power band that prevents a driver from yielding once he gets it up to speed.

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   great idea
   

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   I don't know about driving, but when I'm running on a hilly trail, I always give the person running uphill the right of way.

   this has nothing to do with stalling, but just a modest acknowledgement that someone fighting gravity deserves to go first.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   Cheese
   

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   GI: I would hate that! When I'm running uphill I relish any excuse to catch my breath and you would take that excuse away, harrummph! :-)

   As far as driving I tend to see if there are any extenuating circumstances (like the other car is blocking cross traffic etc.), if not and I get there first I go first no matter up or downhill, that way we minimize the time spent waiting.

   But that doesn't mean the other guy will look at it that way, as you found out. In fact, he probably would have given you the finger if you had waited - he would have found some reason....

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    teigyr
    

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    I'm with Cheese :) Perhaps I'm the sloth runner but I'll take any chance I can get as long as it's not me determining that I'm stopping so lights? I'm good with them. Yielding to people? That too.

    The hill thing is common sense in driving, esp if there is a chance of snow or ice. Uphill always takes priority.

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    Edog
    

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    Teiyr, you need to pay attention. Its not always! On logging roads downhill gets the right of way!

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    teigyr
    

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    Damn. It's that logging road question I always get wrong on the driving test.

    Posted 4 months ago #
13. 

    bambooboy
    

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    this post, in fact a lot of the posts on the whole forum are just like watching Seinfeld

    Posted 4 months ago #
14. 

    biophile87
    

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    Bambooboy, I fear you have called me on my first-world bored rhetoric. What now?

    So far today, I drove, which got me the bird. I posted, which did not provide as much entertainment as I'd hoped (slow day, Ballard). I made all sorts of appointments, and I successfully avoided grading for one more day.

    If I can't complain about my banal life today, I'll actually have to be productive. :oP

    Posted 4 months ago #
15. 

    bambooboy
    

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    Well I for one actually liked it. it picked up my day

    Posted 4 months ago #
16. 

    biophile87
    

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    You're sweet.

    And unhelfully inspiring me to post some other Seinfeldy story tomorrow, Thus sucking up my day just by reading forum posts. Begone, Satan.

    Posted 4 months ago #
17. 

    great idea
    

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    you only got the bird, bio.

    while running this morning, under the same birds perched in the same tree on the South side of the Locks I pass unscathed daily, I was BARRAGED with bird poo.
    it was like white shrapnel coming out of the sky!

    I took it as a sign from god that I've been a jerk lately and deserved to be shat upon.

    Posted 4 months ago #
18. 

    biophile87
    

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    GI, bird poop is good luck. Thus you shall be blessed for the entire year. Unless it's gull poop. That shit doesn't come off.

    Posted 4 months ago #
19. 

    great idea
    

    online

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    I think it was cormorant poo. I'll take that as good luck!

    Posted 4 months ago #

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