What’s more rare than honks in Springfield? Two honk reports within a fortnight and two honks in a day.
So I rode to the transportation meeting this morning. It was cool and crisp — a really nice ride straight down Fremont then left onto Briar (becomes Kissick) to the entrance to Lake Springfield — about 6.5 miles. Our meeting was held at the Boathouse where I found four lollipop racks waiting for me 
Fremont is a residential collector street near where I live. It becomes a secondary artery south of Sunshine outside the urban core. It’s a 3-or 4-lane road most of the way. South of Republic it becomes a 2-lane country road, as are Briar and Kissick (narrow, no shoulders).
Coming home was not quite as pleasant. Still sunny, but a stiff breeze in my face going uphill.
Shortly after I exited Lake Springfield, a couple of cars piled up behind me. Traffic there can get heavy because this road is an alternative route between the town of Ozark and the southern part of Springfield. The driver of the second car lost his patience immediately and began honking even before the other driver began to pass. I think I must have been responsible for his being 15 seconds late for something really really important.
The second honk of the trip occurred on Fremont just a few blocks south of Battlefield. It’s a 3-lane road there, and a guy was in the center lane trying to make a left across my path. If I hadn’t been there, he would have had a gap. But I was there, so he had to wait an extra few second before he could turn. If I’d taken any longer (against a stiff headwind), I suppose the world would have come to and end.
I’ll have a meeting report tomorrow.
Comments 5
I find Fremont to be very unfriendly. Especially down near and Battlefield.
I have a honk report for you–very bizarre. I was up near OTC at Central and National. I was stopped at the red light on Central heading straight. It was a beautiful day and I was having a great time. On National, heading north, in the inside lane (so not adjacent to me, thank goodness) was a white truck. He laid on his horn to get my attention, and when I looked, he flipped me off. I started laughing. And waved (with all five fingers). I laughed all the way until he was out of sight.
I don’t know what I could have possibly done to annoy him, besides just exist.
I find, as an aside, that the vast majority of drivers who pass close, rev their engines or honk are drivers of trucks. Coincidence?
Posted 08 Apr 2010 at 3:41 pm ¶Kelly… Re: trucks Yeah, they are the ones burning the most of their income in gas. Poor buggers are frustrated
Yes, Fremont gets a little less friendly south of Battlefield. I don’t go down there much, but I find the lane width and general road conditions to my liking.
I’m afraid I was less charitable than you with my first honker this afternoon. I try to stick to a no-response response. So I’m batting .500 for the day.
Posted 08 Apr 2010 at 4:55 pm ¶I got a nasty honk today. And not from a goose, either. Somehow such honks seem more irritating in the Land Rover than if I were on my bike. It would have made a lousy alternate bike commute route anyway.
Posted 08 Apr 2010 at 5:20 pm ¶My own blog commenters claim they are not only drivers of trucks, but are drivers of WHITE pickup trucks. Personally, I think that is merely cyclist prejudice…
Posted 08 Apr 2010 at 8:24 pm ¶Most of my recent incivility encounters have been with the drivers of cars (some of the meanest were in luxury cars).
Posted 12 Apr 2010 at 7:47 am ¶