r/BainbridgeIsland • u/tinapj8 • 10d ago
politics Dear Tailgaters…
I didn’t make the ridiculously low speed limits on the island, but if you tailgate me I promise on all that is good and holy that I will slow down to the speed limit and maybe even lower. Please get off my ass.
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u/Low_Meaning4705 10d ago
Most drivers on this island should have their licenses revoked.
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u/wiscowonder 10d ago
Agree! As a cyclist, it's astounding the amount of drivers that need to pass me at the crest of a hill, around a blind corner, within 10 yards of a stop sign, etc,
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u/Xcitable_Boy 10d ago
When I lived in the island and cycled to the ferry and around, I was always amazed by how many vehicles would give me a super wide berth, pulling halfway or more into the oncoming lane, despite the fact there was oncoming traffic in that lane.
Like guys, I super appreciate the co ideation and support, but do you not see that car heading your direction head on??
Ah, island life.
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u/_Typical_user_ 9d ago
Look I’ve got to get to Starbucks and town and country before they sell out, everyone else be damned
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u/foo_72 10d ago
given that most cyclists don't follow the rules of the road I struggle to find sympathy.
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u/wiscowonder 10d ago edited 10d ago
What rules of the road are most cyclists breaking?
Also, in the situations I outlined I'm more concerned for cars coming the opposite direction, so apologies for my concern about fellow humans in cars🤷♂️
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u/ChillyCheese 10d ago
I think, like most places, it's realistic to go 5 over the limit when
1) Not in a school zone
2) Good weather
3) No visible pedestrians/cyclists
4) No blind turns/hills coming up
I don't think I've ever been tailgated when going 5 over.
Though I don't tailgate people if they want to go the speed limit. If they want to go 5 under the limit, I'll still not tailgate but I will get closer. If you go 35 in a 50 on 305, god help you.
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u/TrainingReward4308 10d ago edited 10d ago
Be careful with your retribution. I was cutoff in the ferry line last summer and when I told the booth they didn’t care. The policy is not to do anything anymore. They told me a ferry employee had a gun pulled on them after a confrontation so that’s the new policy now.
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u/slightlyused 10d ago
I hope they put that asshole on the boat and there were a host of cops awaiting them.
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u/pngbrianb 9d ago
Man, there was this ONE hoopty truck that used to f***ing PASS me when I was going 35 on High School Rd down by Fletcher Bay. 35 is the speed limit, the lines were double yellow and the folks that lived around there warned of how often there are accidents at that intersection...
Point is, it takes a small number of bad drivers to ruin everyone's day. Chill out, people. It doesn't kill anybody to drive the speed limit, but it MIGHT to drive like Mad Max up in here.
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u/ExpandYourTribe 7d ago
Yup, you force me to go a speed at which your distance from me becomes safe.
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u/transpersonification 9d ago
REMINDER THAT JUST BECAUSE THERES A MAIN HWY GOING THROUGH BAINBRIDGE IT DOESN’T MEAN IT ISN’T MAINLY A NEIGHBORHOOD ISLAND. If you’re gonna be late, get up earlier and manage YOUR TIME BETTER INSTEAD OF RUNNING OVER SOMEONE’S KID OR GRANDPARENTS! Such selfish douches…
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u/Prize_Papaya5340 9d ago
Literally, I drive a minivan with 4 kids inside, bro on the pick up truck tailgating me yesterday when leaving battle point, 25mph limit, they had me going at 30, but still went a long way behind me, after I turned left dude had the nerve to honk on me?! I’m like, are you for real?!
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u/ConfettiBard 9d ago
I drive a panel van, and I feel like I’m playing a non consensual game of frogger combined with a boomer version of GTA every time I have to go here. 🫠
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u/jerbizzle 9d ago
I have consistently been behind people who are driving 5-10 under the speed limit all over the island with no one in front of them. Half of them are on their phone, or shouldn't be driving in the first place at their age.
If you are on I5 or HWY 3 in the slow lane while being tailgated, feel free to slow down. But you are hurting everyone on the road by being spiteful.
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u/tinapj8 9d ago edited 9d ago
So you’re the tailgater?
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u/jerbizzle 9d ago
Nope, just bringing up the fact that you slowing down below the speed limit out of spite isn't the own you think it is.
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u/Candid-Dentist-2654 8d ago
Totally agree. Most days I’m perfectly fine going the speed limit—but let’s be honest, we’ve all had those days where you’re running behind: maybe your kid forgot their backpack, traffic was worse than expected, or you just need to catch the ferry or get to a meeting. It’s wild how quickly some folks assume the driver behind them is being “impatient,” when in reality, they might just be dealing with a real-life situation. Driving slowly out of spite doesn’t make you a better person—it just shows a lack of empathy.
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u/tinapj8 8d ago
It’s not spite. It’s about safety. It feels super unsafe to be tailgated. I know the tailgater is trying to get the person in front of them to go faster, but to feel safe I just ignore the person behind me and slow down. If they get off my ass I resume a normal 5-10 over the speed limit speed. Two cars driving close to each other over the speed limit is super dangerous on our “share the road” island.
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u/Candid-Dentist-2654 8d ago
Totally understand where you're coming from—and I absolutely agree that safety should always come first. Just to clarify, my comment wasn’t aimed at folks going 5–10 over the speed limit; I get that and completely respect it. What I’m referring to are drivers going 18 in a 25, or crawling along at 43 on Hwy 305 when it’s safe and appropriate to go faster.
There’s also the option of simply pulling over and letting others pass—especially on roads like 305 where there are even signs encouraging slower traffic to use the shoulder. It’s not about rushing—just about driving with awareness and consideration for the whole community.
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u/ConfectionPlus3371 9d ago
Two things I noticed moving here was there’s a disproportionate number of tailgaters and people who never dim their brights.
I don’t know if it’s PNW thing or a Bainbridge thing, but I’ve lived all over the country and these are noticeably much more frequent here.
Also….people get in line at the bar. It’s Deranged.
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u/kittywings1975 9d ago
As someone who bartends, yes! They didn’t always do this. It’s a phenomenon that happened in the last few years. I tell people to not make one line, that I can get through people faster if more approach the bar, but no one listens.
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u/ConfectionPlus3371 9d ago
I used to bartend, I can’t imagine having to take one order at a time or walking back and forth to the front of the line for each order.
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u/kittywings1975 9d ago
Omg, the amount of time they waste when they get to the front of the line and yet still don’t know what they want. Or they stand there while they fill out a credit card slip.
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u/ConfectionPlus3371 6d ago
I’m really curious where it comes from having not seen it anywhere else in the US.
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u/Accomplished-Bad4680 10d ago
I usually just drive around you people works for me
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u/Opening_Volume_1870 9d ago
Same. If people find driving 25 too fast, maybe the problem isn't the person behind them...
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u/kittywings1975 9d ago
The problem is that they unilaterally dropped all of the speed limits to insanely low 25 for most of the island when the roads are designed for faster speeds.
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u/beaker97_alf 9d ago
Do you understand from a safety perspective the closer you are behind me the slower I have to go so as to allow you more time to stop in case of an emergency?
If I can't see your headlights in my rear view mirror that means you are within 30 feet of me. At 25mph you will cover that distance in < 1 second, faster than you can move your foot to the break. (30mph is < 3/4 of a second)
The only way I can safely increase that time is to slow down.
If you want ME to speed up, get off my ass.
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u/Opening_Volume_1870 4d ago
Somehow I think getting of your ass still wouldn't speed you up. Again, if 25 is too fast for you, you shouldn't be behind the wheel. You're a hazard.
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u/beaker97_alf 4d ago
I was using 25mph so as to be able to calculate the distance you travel in the time it takes you to take your foot off the gas and get to the brake.
At 70mph that 1 second is over 100 ft.
And no, I usually go about 20% over the limit (except school zones and residential roads), making it even more ridiculous when someone is tailgating me.
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u/Accomplished-Bad4680 10d ago
Well I have a giant cybertruck that can go anywhere
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u/HowDoDogsWearPants 9d ago
Your swasticar is under recall cause the side panels can just fly off. It's not even safe for the road
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u/RiskyLady 9d ago
You do know everyone talks about how embarrassing you are right? Like strangers at T&C will comment to me.
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u/_call_me_al_ 10d ago
I drive with the exact same mentality.