This week, Dropping In will try to answer common questions about driving in Bend and Central Oregon, known for its outdoor amenities, microbreweries, dispensaries and affinity for white cars.

Is it true that the roundabouts in Bend used to have 15 mph signs?

Yes! At least the ones we remember (dimly) from 20-something years ago did. According to Sheila Miller, Bend Police communications manager, the recommended speed limit is 15 to 20 mph. There’s not a set speed limit per se, she said, “If you’re driving too fast for the roundabout, you could be cited for Violation of the Basic Speed Rule, which is basically driving too fast for what’s reasonable/prudent.”

If that’s the case, why do some people drive through them as though they are trying to win a rally race?

We think it’s because they are terrified wimps who are trying to get through the experience as quickly as possible. That, or they’re just jerks who think their destination is the most important one.

Would it be helpful if I yielded to other drivers trying to enter the roundabout I am currently circling?

No. Do not under any circumstances do this, unless you like being honked at. The yield signs are for BEFORE you enter the roundabout.

Do I have to signal left while in a roundabout? 

Great question! No you do not. In fact, please don’t. Increasingly, we see people with their left blinkers on as they navigate their way around Central Oregon’s many roundabouts. Also, please don’t send us an email telling us how you think you should signal left. Dude. Everyone already knows you’re going (vaguely) left! It’s your roundabout exit plan and rightward turn we’re actually wondering about. That’s the signal you should use. As BPD’s Miller put it, “I would beg people to signal out of roundabouts, because it helps keep traffic moving.”

What are those strange apparatuses people seem to have on their SUV hoods around here?

Ah, yes. Those things that look like periscopes. However, according to the Internet, which never lies, they are called snorkel intakes, or just snorkels, and help keep air coming into the intake manifold when the vehicle is driving in deep water or mud.

Did you just cobble that answer together from AI and Reddit? 

Yes, and it still sounds to us like these drivers might find a periscope useful on their amphibious journeys.

Is it OK to apply stickers directly to my vehicle, or are they permitted only on Yakima and Thule-type gear boxes atop the roof of my vehicle? 

We don’t blame you for asking one bit. We here at Dropping In think you should put stickers wherever you’d like on your vehicle. Heck, you could refuse to conform and put them anywhere but your rooftop toy box. And if you really want to stand out, you should get a “Be mean, you’re in Bend” sticker.

Why is there so much daytime traffic in Bend, and not just at rush hour?

Welcome to the land of tourists and the leisure class, grasshopper. You’ve much to learn.

Wait, you think traffic is bad in Bend? You should see traffic in L.A.! 

For those who have lived here, oh, 15 years or more, yes, we do think traffic can be bad. Is it bad compared to large cities such as Portland, Los Angeles or Seattle? Of course not. So if you can’t resist saying things like, “Lol if you think this is bad, you should try driving in L.A.” when someone complains about Bend traffic: Thanks for setting us all straight! We had nooo idea it could be worse in major cities! Please, enlighten us further! It is we who have much to learn! And later on, we can teach you about sarcasm.

What are your feelings about e-bikes as alternatives to automobiles?

They’re neat and we want one, mostly because there are so many hills in Bend and our legs are tired from skateboarding. However, Dropping In’s kids are still in college. Maybe after they graduate and find gainful employment, we can get an e-bike. In the meantime, out of envy, we reserve the right to judge the people who aren’t pedaling even just a little for show as they pass by us stuck in traffic in our sticker-covered, dented minivan.

Do some people drive with mountain bikes permanently affixed to their cars?

It sure seems like it. But their bikes may prove handy if they ever get a flat tire from the many errant nails and screws in the roadways of Central Oregon or they want to get across town on Greenwood Avenue within their given lifetime.

Are there really a lot of white cars in Bend?

Yes! We have always believed it, and a year and a half back, iSeeCars.com confirmed it in a study. We can’t unsee the white-car phenomenon, and now you won’t be able to when you’re driving around, either. You’re welcome.

Happy driving! If you take nothing else from this, please, for the love of humanity, signal — with your right blinker — whenever exiting roundabouts.