Q: Boy, inconsiderate driving/riding, even when legal, can trigger bad responses as I saw last Tuesday. A bicyclist was unnecessarily riding in the traffic lane and going slow. The car that came up behind the bike pulled into the well-marked bike lane and passed on the right of the bike. The car returned to the traffic lane without cutting off the bike. While the bike rider was more or less legal, that doesn’t always make you right, much less helpful.
David Russel
A: Yes, and the responses inconsiderate people create in others aren’t always bad ones. The situation you describe, however, could have been very dangerous.
Q: Caltrans has done a decent job on the overdue repairs and resurfacing of Highway 87. The only problem that I have is that the on- and off-ramps to Capitol Expressway leave something to be desired. They could be dangerous and they are leaving themselves open to lawsuits.
The approaches and on-ramp paving is more than 1 inch lower than the edges, creating a concealed lip. Also, the exit to Capitol Expressway has 2 lanes and one of them is almost 1½ inches lower than the other all the way down.
I’m just asking where the inspector is who approved this.
Jack Dyke
A: I checked with Victor-the-Caltrans-spokesman for Santa Clara County on this one. He said the current state of the ramps on isn’t their final condition. Repaving of the main roadway was done in late September and late October, and ramp work will be addressed within a week or two. More paving will also be done next year, as this is a significant rehabilitation project. For more information on the project, see https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-santa-clara-sr87-roadway-rehabilitation.
Q: As we get ready for shorter days when most are driving home from work after dark, I’d like to remind all the Toyota drivers out there that, just because your dash lights are on, your headlights and taillights are not necessarily on. This “feature” may not be limited to Toyotas, but a high percentage of the cars I see driving blind at night are Toyotas.
Larry Edson, Campbell
A: It is a good reminder for all drivers to make sure their headlights and taillights are on, whatever vehicle they drive. The California DMV Driver’s Handbook says that no vehicle may be driven with only parking lights on.
It also says you must turn on your headlights if you are driving:
- During the time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise
- If hazardous weather conditions require continuous use of windshield wipers
- When visibility is insufficient to be able to clearly see a person or vehicle for a distance of 1,000 feet
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
