Arguement about a Cyclist.

[nethalus]

How this came about was that me and my other half were standing taking bus photos near Eastgate Roundabout in Leeds city centre. Now this particular roundabout is traffic light controlled, except for the exit coming out of Eastgate itself.
A cyclist had come round the roundabout, probably from the A61, just as the lights holding traffic at the St Peter's Street changed to green. First over the stop line was a hackney taxi, who blasted his horn angrily at the Cyclist as he passed the exit. Now how the argument went, since the cyclist was coming from the right of the taxi, should the taxi have given way. Or being a traffic light controlled roundabout, did the taxi have every right to beep angrily at the cyclist. It is possible that the cyclist jumped a red light, or perhaps amber gambled or simply didn't pedal fast enough to get round in time before the next set of lights changed.
I was thinking more towards the taxi giving way side, but my other half was adament the cyclist was in the wrong, and the taxi did not need to give way to him and was right to honk, as his traffic light was green.
Here's a map of the roundabout.

 

[tdr1nka]

The taxi should have given way IMO.

 

[nethalus]

The taxi should have given way IMO.

Aye that's what I was thinking like. But was wondering does the fact that it's traffic light controlled mean the priorities change like? Don't think it does but not sure, I mean I think he should have given way like even if the cyclist was perhaps naughty and may have jumped a red light like, he was still coming from the right.

 

[gavintc]

The traffic light only gives access to the roundabout and will have been installed to regulate flow. IMO, once the taxi arrived at the start of the roundabout, the normal traffic priorities of a roundabout apply. But, it is a moot point. Personally, I if was the cyclist, I would be cycling with a little more awareness of the situation and would have been inclined to give way to the taxi.

 

[nethalus]

The traffic light only gives access to the roundabout and will have been installed to regulate flow. IMO, once the taxi arrived at the start of the roundabout, the normal traffic priorities of a roundabout apply. But, it is a moot point. Personally, I if was the cyclist, I would be cycling with a little more awareness of the situation and would have been inclined to give way to the taxi.

Mind you it didn't help his cause that he had a big pair of earphones on while cycling. Well at least he probably didn't hear the taxi tooting him!

 

[Tynan]

bikes can be slower through big junctions even if they do obey the lights, a good driver should allow for that

 

[fossyant]

me and my other half were standing taking bus photos

Why ?

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

I thought a green light means you can proceed with caution – it doesn’t give anyone the “right” to drive at another road user.

I’ve had this sort of thing happen to me before, at temporary traffic lights when half of our road was dug up. They were for the contraflow – I went through a green light, got quite near the end of the contraflow when the lights must have changed in favour for the oncoming traffic (they were obviously set for cars doing 30mph) – so the driver at the front simply sounded his horn and started driving towards me – with nowhere to go I just stopped right in the middle of the lane and looked at him – he soon backed down, and in the end, it took him much longer to get where he was going – I’ve got no time for people who just sound the horn and drive at other people – regardless of what colour the lights are.

 

[nethalus]

Why ?

I enjoy doing it!

 

[magnatom]

As twickenham cyclist has said, green means proceed with caution, i.e. if safe to do so. If it is not you wait until it is. It sounds like the cyclist probably held the taxi up for 3-5 seconds. Does that really require anger and the tooting of a horn (which would make no difference anyway).

Of course we can't be sure why the cyclist was there, from what you said, it is possible that the cyclist may have jumped a red, but we don't know. Irrespective of what the cyclist did, I know of no passage in the highway code that says you should use your horn in anger to get another road user to move out of your way.

Is your husband still completely bigoted against cyclists? Say hi for me (I don't suppose he reads the Guardian does he.....)


P.S. I hope you are keeping well...

 

[Nerazzurri]

According to the highway code, a green light means "you may go on IF the way is clear." So regardless of the colour of signal the cyclist went through on, the car should have given way.

 

[HLaB]

I enjoy doing it!

I've got a colleague whose that way inclined, trains too. This is his site, if your in to those sort of things.

 

[Riding in Circles]

I enjoy doing it!

So you drive a bus and your hobby is taking photo's of busses?

Do you go on bus mans holidays as well?

 

[Cab]

Green light doesn't mean that the other guy can just vanish; if for whatever reason your way is not clear to safely go, then you do not go. This ain't rocket science, tell your husband he's a divvy.

 

[bonj2]

too many people use the horn to chastise, its purpose should be to warn.
People who think that a green light means they have the 'right' to press their accelerator down to the floor are small minded bigots.