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Grateful call-out to garbage truck driver

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I wish I had bothered to notice what company’s truck they were driving. Heading north on SE 16th this morning, I was behind a garbage truck. I never want to be anywhere near a garbage truck for painfully good historical reasons. It pulled up to the intersection with Burnside, put on the right hand turn signal and waited… and waited. I was a full truck length behind it, reading the large sign on the rear saying both verbally and graphically “vehicle makes wide turns.” Two bicyclists were less patient, and went around me to the right. One was not too foolish, as she was making a right turn.

The other tried to go around the truck, to the right. Directly into the turn the driver was trying to make. The driver stopped.

By the time I screamed at the oblivious bicyclist, she was across Burnside and out of hearing range. As often as I mutter “natural selection in action,” I really don’t want to be a witness to it. I’m shaking just thinking about it again.

I’m about to see what company has that area’s residential pickup and put in a commendation.

People, please don’t be stupid. Enough of us get killed while doing everything right.

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