Cyclists allowed to jump red lights

[Hitchington]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33773868

Or more to the point, cyclists allowed to treat a red light as a give way sign, in Paris. Seems like a good idea to me. What say you?

 

[The Jogger]

I'm ahead of my time, I tried that at a pelican crossing at Olympia laat week, only to be pulled over by the boys in blue, it had just changed and it is something I don't normally do and won't again.

 

[Brandane]

Been doing it for years. Done with care, using common sense, and not getting in anyone else's way, it is not a problem as the authorities in Paris have finally realised (yes I do know it is technically illegal in the UK; so are a lot of things including not having reflectors on your pedals).

I don't expect the law to change in the UK any time soon as we are slaves to petty rules and regulations, and incapable of thinking for ourselves.

 

[MartinQ]

Sounds similar to the US where you can filter right on a red light in many states,
as I got politely reminded when I was sitting there like a tourist wondering why everyone was beeping ...

 

[Drago]

It would require proper research and experimentation before I'd want to see it here. Just because something works in Paris - legal RLJ, the guillotine, Vichy Nazi collaborators - is no indication that it will work in the UK. Especially pertinent as we drive on the other side of the road and the way our brains control our road behaviour thus works significantly differently.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Been doing it for years. Done with care, using common sense, and not getting in anyone else's way, it is not a problem as the authorities in Paris have finally realised (yes I do know it is technically illegal in the UK; so are a lot of things including not having reflectors on your pedals).

I don't expect the law to change in the UK any time soon as we are slaves to petty rules and regulations, and incapable of thinking for ourselves.

All my pedals have reflectors on them.

 

[Dan B]

What experiments would you like to see? Various studies have found that 10% of cyclists at any given junction will jump the light, and that RLJ is cited as a contributing factor in about 2% of accidents. So it already happens quite a lot, and it is rarely the cause of the accidents that do happen.

 

[PK99]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33773868

Or more to the point, cyclists allowed to treat a red light as a give way sign, in Paris. Seems like a good idea to me. What say you?

No they are not.The article linked says only at specific marked junctions.

Thes junctions being some Right turns (equivalent here to a "left on red") and across the head of some t-junctions (kerb hugging)
ie in neither case is the cyclist crossing a traffic flow.

Very different from carte blanche to "Jumping red lights" or "treating red light as give way"

For the UK: Seems a good idea but only at those Light controlled junctions that do not have a linked pedestrian crossing. If a pedestrian has a Green light ALL traffic must be required to stop.


Quote from linked article:
"It is important to note that the change only affects right turns or going straight on at a T-junction - in other words where the cyclist can hug the pavement.

At a crossroads, even if there is no traffic, bikes will still have to wait for the green to go straight on."

]

 

[Drago]

Some proper controlled observation, and proper controlled analysis of the results of that observation. The results of others peoples unscientific reviews of third party figures, themselves often of questionable provenance, may be suggestive but not something I would consider using as a basis for supporting legislation, most especially when the lives of a vulnerable class of road users could be at risk (or not, we simply do not know).

 

[Milkfloat]

For the UK: Seems a good idea but only at those Light controlled junctions that do not have a linked pedestrian crossing. If a pedestrian has a Green light ALL traffic must be required to stop.

Why? - other countries manage it perfectly well. In the US for example cars with a green traffic signal will have to give way to pedestrians crossing who are also crossing on a green signal - they seem to manage very well.

I see no point in slowing down traffic (vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian) for no good reason, there will be many times when a crossing allows a pedestrian to cross at a set of traffic lights were no pedestrian is crossing. Why would anyone want to cause more congestion, pollution and extend journey times.

I am very much in favour of treat a turn left on red as a give way for all road users.

 

[jonny jeez]

How does this increase cycle safety?

 

[jonny jeez]

[QUOTE 3847947, member: 259"]Is anyone claiming it increases safety?[/QUOTE]
It seems to be the justification of the report, linked in the OP...bottom of the first para.

 

[PK99]

Why? - other countries manage it perfectly well. In the US for example cars with a green traffic signal will have to give way to pedestrians crossing who are also crossing on a green signal - they seem to manage very well.

I see no point in slowing down traffic (vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian) for no good reason, there will be many times when a crossing allows a pedestrian to cross at a set of traffic lights were no pedestrian is crossing. Why would anyone want to cause more congestion, pollution and extend journey times.

I am very much in favour of treat a turn left on red as a give way for all road users.

Arguable points.

 

[Drago]

Why? - other countries manage it perfectly well.

Since when did something working in another country mean it would transplant successfully to the UK? History is littered with failed examples, from 24 hour alcohol licencing through to nationalisation of essential public services.

It may be a basis for looking properly at an issue, but glibly pointing at something happening in another country and proclaiming It works there so it'll work here is misguided at best.

 

[jonny jeez]

[QUOTE 3847957, member: 259"]Oh right, I can't see the BBC page for some reason. When they introduced it here, it was more a case of 'cyclists do it anyway, and it means they can get around quicker, so why not just make it legal?'[/QUOTE]
That's kind of my point really. It may be convenient, easy, quick...but then so is driving at 90mph down the high street and past school gates....but how is it safer?