How so?
IMO, if you would expect a car to stop, then you should too. And I for one would most definitely expect a car to stop at a red ped crossing, even if there was no-one around.
Caught by the fuzz
- Thread starter karlos_the_jackal
- Start date
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How so?
IMO, if you would expect a car to stop, then you should too. And I for one would most definitely expect a car to stop at a red ped crossing, even if there was no-one around.
campbellab
Senior Member
- Location
- Swindon
There's no dilemma about the law
That said, if you are at traffic lights that aren't working properly you are advised to proceed with extreme caution.
If you are at a ped crossing with no peds, are they working properly?
alasdairgf
New Member
- Location
- Liverpool
I decided a little while ago that I'd just stop questioning whether I could break this or that traffic law. It was mainly as a driver that I decided this, and initially it was just about whether or not I could get away with speeding, but before long I just started applying it to all road rules on bike as well as car.
And what a relief! I hadn't realised how much background tension I'd be carrying around with me, questioning myself each time the needle crept over 30, wondering whether I should bother slowing down to 20 in a school zone during school holidays, etc etc etc. Nowadays, I just do what the sign tells me. It's so much easier!
When I started cycling again earlier this year, it was pretty simple to carry over practice from car to bike. Red light = stop: so just stop, don't question it, don't get caught up in knots about whether you'll get away with it, if you look like a dick stopped at a ped Xing with no peds about, don't wonder if it makes sense or not to obey the light... I promise a 90% drop in RLJ-related tension or your money back.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
[QUOTE 1189580"]
I'm pretty certain as well that those who you caught up with could not care less about being overtaken. As the reasoning behind the vast majority of RLJing is not to get somewhere quicker.
[/quote]
I'm pretty certain that is why they jumped the red lights. Why not wait if you are not in a rush?
I'm pretty certain as well that those who you caught up with could not care less about being overtaken. As the reasoning behind the vast majority of RLJing is not to get somewhere quicker.
[/quote]
I'm pretty certain that is why they jumped the red lights. Why not wait if you are not in a rush?
Not if they are a zebra.
Pity so many have been degraded into controlled crossings. Disbenefit to the pedestrian, cyclist and about everybody other than cars, vans & lorries. What a surprise!
To a certain extent I agree with Lee here. Quite often the RLJ'ers are dawdling along. I think there is almost a loss of some imagined street cred if you stop at a light. The 'I'm not stopping at a red light, I'll look stupid' attitude. Of course there are always those that see running red lights as a their, right, being on a bike. Unfortunately attitudes like that do exist.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
[QUOTE 1189584"]
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.
Believe when I say that people who RLJ are not in a rush. Except if you are a Courier of course.
[/quote]
90% of the people I see rljing don't have clip in's and barely travel faster than walking pace. Hence why they always get overtaken again. No doubt they aren't going as fast as they can. But they don't stop because they want to keep moving and get to where they want faster.
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.
Believe when I say that people who RLJ are not in a rush. Except if you are a Courier of course.
[/quote]
90% of the people I see rljing don't have clip in's and barely travel faster than walking pace. Hence why they always get overtaken again. No doubt they aren't going as fast as they can. But they don't stop because they want to keep moving and get to where they want faster.
[QUOTE 1189584"]
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.
Believe when I say that people who RLJ are not in a rush. Except if you are a Courier of course.
[/quote]
You could always learn to trackstand
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.
Believe when I say that people who RLJ are not in a rush. Except if you are a Courier of course.
[/quote]
You could always learn to trackstand
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
[QUOTE 1189586"]
I wouldn't say that travelling at 'barely faster then walking pace' is the goal of someone wanted to get somewhere quicker.
Your last sentence proves my previous post, it is an inconvenience to stop and then accelerate back up to speed.
[/quote]
I'm not saying it isn't an inconvenience.
But it is linked into why they don't stop, because they don't want to wait / stop
I wouldn't say that travelling at 'barely faster then walking pace' is the goal of someone wanted to get somewhere quicker.
Your last sentence proves my previous post, it is an inconvenience to stop and then accelerate back up to speed.
[/quote]
I'm not saying it isn't an inconvenience.
But it is linked into why they don't stop, because they don't want to wait / stop
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
[QUOTE 1189584"]
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.[/quote]
What would you think of a lorry driver who said: "Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, engage neutral, apply handbrake, sit there, then select first, disengage handbrake and accelerate back up to speed through the gears"?
Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, unclip, sit there, then accelerate back up to speed and clip back in.[/quote]
What would you think of a lorry driver who said: "Because it's a PITA and inconvenience having to brake, engage neutral, apply handbrake, sit there, then select first, disengage handbrake and accelerate back up to speed through the gears"?
Alembicbassman
Confused.com
I only RLJ when the bus lane I am in has sensor lights that won't change to green when my 13st bulk runs over the patch on the road.
I am not going to wait there until a bus runs me over.
I am not going to wait there until a bus runs me over.
Someone will be along to make a more qualified reply, but I understand this is fine as technically the light is 'faulty'?
I wonder if it is worth reporting such lights? Not sure how they work, but there are sensor lights I use which work very well with bikes (especially on the bit of bike path around a major 4 lane a-road roundabout where it turns the lights RED for you to cross as you approach!) which appear to be indicated by odd diagonal black lines on the surface. Is it a big job to fix? I guess it's always worth asking - they certainly won't fix it if you don't.
As Easy As Riding A Bike
Well-Known Member
There's a large traffic light-controlled junction in my town, and I have waited there for ages for the lights to change. As soon as a car pulls up behind me, they go green.
I'm certainly not tempted to RLJ it though, because people scream through the junction.
I might head up there this late this evening when there's no traffic about - see how long (if at all) it takes to change while I'm waiting on a bike. Shows how bored I am this evening
hackbike 666
Guest
Not really...it's simple...most cars stop and if we want to be treated like traffic not law breakers all the time I think we should stop....
