Correct answer to question/suggestion on brake lights for bikes?

[caesar]

On my Brompton this morning, heading up towards Bank after turning right after Blackfriars Bridge. Two lanes, traffic in the right but none ahead in the left , I was in primary in the left lane. I was doing no more than ~15mph, moving towards secondary as I had passed a parked lorry blocking the left lane. A pedestrian had crossed the right hand lane and was in the middle, and as the traffic light about 15 -20 metres further on was on red, I braked (not particularly sharply and not to a standstill) and waved him across.

At the red light a mopedophile said something like "You don't have brake lights on bikes. I nearly went into the back of you". I asked if he meant when I stopped for the ped and he said yes. As I wasn't 100% sure, my response was "Oh well". Having thought about it, I know believe it should have been "well you would have been in a world of trouble wouldn't you?".

Am I correct in thinking that a mopedophile ramming a Bromptoneer heading towards a red light, who was slowing to let a ped cross would be frowned upon my the law, or would my lack of brake lights be seen as a contributing factor (even thought there is no legal requirement) and lead to him being treated more leniently? Surely he is legally obliged to give enough space to avoid a bike ahead even if I had emergency stopped from 30mph?

 

[gaz]

You don't make it sound as if it was a sudden stop.
So it can't be your fault if he doesn't read the road or if he is too close.

The appeal of the bicycle is that it is mostly fairly simple. Add in brake lights etc.. And things complicate, prices increase and cycling will decrease.

 

[jefmcg]

Still, if you are making a controlled stop, I think it's a nice courtesy to do a hand signal.

I've taken to doing this in London when approaching a red light. Reduces the chance of another cyclist hitting me in the arse.

Emergency stops, i'm not letting go of the brakes, of course.

 

[corshamjim]

The moped rider of course should leave sufficient stopping distance between himself and the vehicle in front.

I'm always wary of waving anyone across - if they assume I've checked for all hazards and I haven't they could blithely continue in to the path of an accident. Indeed this morning a car had stopped to allow another car out on to the main road (but would have been in to my path ). Thankfully the driver saw me ok and stopped so no harm done.

 

[Davidc]

I'm reasonably sure that the driver or rider of any vehicle (including a bike) is responsible for not hitting any vehicle in front of them, almost irrespective of what that vehicle does.

I had an interesting time dealing with the consequences of a another car reversing into mine when I was stationary at a roundabout some years ago because of this.

 

[Tynan]

This has never occurred to me before

It fairly obvious when a cyclist is slowing/stopping if you pay any attention to them, pedals stop, body changes shape and heaven forbid the bike slows down, anyone with a problem i suspect is too close and too fast and not reading the road

Cars going faster and slowing quicker need every signal going

 

[downfader]

This has never occurred to me before

It fairly obvious when a cyclist is slowing/stopping if you pay any attention to them, pedals stop, body changes shape and heaven forbid the bike slows down, anyone with a problem i suspect is too close and too fast and not reading the road

Cars going faster and slowing quicker need every signal going

Well said. The cyclist has body-signals.

 

[abo]

When I'm driving I give just as much attention to what is going on up the road ahead as I do to what the vehicle in front is doing. Sometimes I read it enough so that I know what the car in front is (probably...) going to do before even they do e.g. brake hard, swerve or whatever. Same when I'm on the bike.

It shouldn't be unnatural! Trouble is too many people drive seemingly without looking past the end of their own bonnet, or eyes glued to the brakelights of the car in front. All their driving is reactive!

I think the moped guy falls into one or both camps, they need to pay more attention to the overall environment, not just the vehicle in front of them. That way he'd have read the situation and realised the OP was going to brake...

Driving properly is actually a complicated skill. Pity there are so many morons around who cannot do it, and I genuinely wonder why society finds it acceptable!

 

[Dan B]

When I'm driving I give just as much attention to what is going on up the road ahead as I do to what the vehicle in front is doing. Sometimes I read it enough so that I know what the car in front is (probably...) going to do before even they do e

It stuns me that this behaviour should be considered in any way unusual. Isn't it just part of ordinary driving (and/or cycling)?

 

[Night Train]

I do have a brake light on the back of my Ratrike though more because I could then for a great need.


Any road user should be aware that some vehicles have brake lights and some don't and that some may have faulty ones, and so drive in that knowledge taking due care and paying full attention to the road, and users, ahead.

Any road user there should have seen that there was a traffic light ahead and a cyclist and a pedestrian wanting to cross away from a crossing and anticipated needed to stop in good time regardless of the actions of the cyclist or the pedestrian. Anything less is careless at least.

Had the moped rider done a hazard perception test then it should (whether or not is does) prepare the rider to expect such potential hazards and act accordingly.

 

[Lurker]

Very poor driving by the motorist - who then by the sound of it implied that your bicycle (and by extension, you) were the agent at fault....

 

[Jezston]

What is the hand signal for slowing down? Is it the flapping arm thing?

1. Not easy to do whilst braking.
2. How many other road users are going to understand what you are trying to communicate with it?

 

[jefmcg]

Not me. Turns out the hand single I learned growing up in Australia isn't the same one shown in the highway code

I'll stop doing it.

 

[gaz]

That's what it is in the highway code.
But cyclists generally put a hand down to there side with the palm facing backwards, maybe moving it forward and backward.

 

[cyberknight]

Very poor driving by the motorist - who then by the sound of it implied that your bicycle (and by extension, you) were the agent at fault....

Usual tripe when someone is in the wrong and tries to pass the blame so they do not have to admit they they were at fault.

Brake lights are not required on cycles, tell the to RTFM .

Besides which if you had a brake light it is liable to be confused with just another rear light and would probably be to small to be noticed be another vehicle , assuming they were even looking for one .....