Jumping lights dilemma

[Yellow Fang]

Cycling towards the railway station this afternoon, the traffic lights turned red at a pelican crossing. Normally I obey red lights even at pelican crossings (although I feel like a wally). However, this time a chuffing great articulated lorry pulled up beside me, so I jumped the light. Is this justified? I won't filter down the left side of buses or lorries because I think it's dangerous. I've heard many of the cycling fatalities in London are caused by lorries, although in those cases they were usually turning left.

 

[psmiffy]

No it is not justified - simple just to let the artic move off

 

[shippers]

I might have pulled forward a couple of feet, but that's it.

 

[hackbike 666]

I've had a cab driver recently drive right on my tail at speed 'anticipating' that I would 'jump' the red traffic light probably because cyclists do.He did a left as I went straight on.

Of course I had to because he was right up my ar53 and motoring.

Not justifying what I did but I did not enjoy the moment very much and the quick decision of what I should do.

One thing I saw this morning (and have on film) is three motons disregard a red probably because they know they can get away with it.

 

[psmiffy]

I've had a cab driver recently drive right on my tail at speed 'anticipating' that I would 'jump' the red traffic light probably because cyclists do.He did a left as I went straight on.

Of course I had to because he was right up my ar53 and motoring.

Not justifying what I did but I did not enjoy the moment very much and the quick decision of what I should do.

One thing I saw this morning (and have on film) is three motons disregard a red probably because they know they can get away with it.

notwithstanding what I said above - the quick glance over the shoulder before pulling up at traffic lights is an essential piece of the decision making process

 

[ufkacbln]

There is an argument that if you feel that stopping is dangerous then you can continue, but it would be dififcult to prove.

Junctions controlled by traffic lights
175

You MUST stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road unless the light is green. If the amber light appears you may go on only if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to stop might cause a collision.

In this case If I was unsure the driver had seen me I would pull forward into his vision and ensure he had, but not jump the lights.

 

[Tynan]

an arm signal for slowing?

if someone isn't comfortable riding on the road with artics then they shouldn;t ride

 

[addictfreak]

The best option is to adopt a primary position when you stop at the lights, that way larger vehicles will not be able to pull alongside.

 

[potsy]

I stopped at a red light the other night,right up to the front of the ASL when a lorry pulled up right at the side of me and even further forward than me,totally pointless from him but made me a little nervous expecting a stupid maneuvre when the lights changed.

 

[psmiffy]

an arm signal for slowing?

if someone isn't comfortable riding on the road with artics then they shouldn;t ride

I cannot say that I am particulaly comfortable with artics - my own preference is that they should be banned on certain roads and town centres

However I am like a lot of cyclists experienced enough to have strategies to cope with cycling with artics

A lot of the very serious cyclists accidents are with artics - a combination of driver error and cyclists not being wary enough of the vehicles seem to the most common cause

It wise to be wary of these vehicles - if you are too far in the comfort zone then it is verging on complacency

The suggestion that anyone that is not comfortable around artics should not be riding on the road I find laughable

 

[Tynan]

perhaps we're reading 'comfortable' differently

absolutely I'm wary of them and don't like them on the same road as me, I hope that clarifies what I meant

 

[psmiffy]

Absolutely - why in this country though is not public education TV etc used to highlight this hazard - We as "cyclists" particulaly forum users are very aware of the dangers but little seems to be done to highlight it to other (casual is not the right word) cyclists

As an aside I cycled from Tallin in Estonia to the Polish/German Border in September/October 2009 on roads that often had HGV counts as high as the slow lane of the M1 - the prickly sensation in the middle of my back was what ensured that I made it across

 

[Origamist]

The best option is to adopt a primary position when you stop at the lights, that way larger vehicles will not be able to pull alongside.

Unless of course it's a multi-lane junction and primary only blocks one lane.

if someone isn't comfortable riding on the road with artics then they shouldn;t ride

I'd argue you should feel uncomfortable sharing road space with a 40t HGV that may or may not be able to see you.

In this case If I was unsure the driver had seen me I would pull forward into his vision and ensure he had, but not jump the lights.

This may involve technically jumping the lights however as the blindspot in front of a cab can be 2m + and not all HGVs have class VI mirrors fitted.

Sometimes it might be advisable to pull over onto the pavement and let the large vehicle pass.

 

[BentMikey]

I'd argue you should feel uncomfortable sharing road space with a 40t HGV that may or may not be able to see you.

I think Tynan already answered this quite well up topic.

 

[Origamist]

I think Tynan already answered this quite well up topic.

I saw, I'm hammering the point home. Did you see my bolds too, it's belt and braces time