Today was packed around the Amazon HQ in South Lake Union.

There were many people riding bicycles and far more drivers than usual. The amount of people, assuming many employees of Amazon, seemed to be in a fairly good mood around 5:30 PM when the atmosphere was of sunshine and live music.

However, I did have to make multiple emergency left turns in order to avoid collisions.

Around 9:45 AM this morning, I was commuting in downtown Seattle using the 8th Ave bike lanes which now have a solid concrete curb barrier that separates the riders from the parked cars.

A person can easily get a false sense of security in these bike lanes because there is far more protection than basic white lines and plastic bollards typical of the area. However, there is a car opening midway through the block when all of a sudden a vehicle can turn left into the parking garage. It can be difficult to see traffic in the street because of the tightly parked parallel parked cars.

I think I was going a bit fast and not very well considering the street traffic which was running parallel to me at the time. So I was caught off guard and for a moment considered accelerating forward in an attempt to clear the path, but each moment brought more impending danger as the car encroached on the path.

The way to save myself today would be to make a quick left turn onto the sidewalk. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians around the immediate area. The driver did seem surprised, and we moved on without incident.

Delivery driver running a red light on 3rd Ave during bus hours.

I learned that it is best not to assume that a driver will stop at a red light, even if they are in an official vehicle.

As I was attempting to cross 3rd Ave on Pine street, I noticed a white delivery vehicle about to plow through the intersection even though I had just gotten a green light.

The same thought process went into my head — Can I make it through?

No, the driver wasn’t slowing down at this point. So I will have to do another emergency left turn. This time towards 3rd Ave going south which is a restricted street for buses. After completing the turn and after releasing a deep breath of air, I turned my head around to get a visual on the driver.

The driver raised both hands, showing palms in the air and so it was easy to receive my forgiveness.

I wasn’t mad.

We can easily just move on without incident. Besides, I had places to be.

Despite all of that, I recognize my own actions had a role in this. If I do not sleep long or well enough the previous night, then my decision making may be altered or delayed which makes a big difference when every millisecond counts.

Additionally, I could ride slower considering I still arrived at my destination ten minutes early.

My future self should learn to be more aware and not bomb as much.