Jumping red lights

[summerdays]

I read somewhere that the effort required to stop/start requires more exertion overall than keeping going through lights.

I believe that you are right - however that start stop routine actually helps you to get faster I gather - can't remember what its called.

I only have one junction that I will go through a red light as it doesn't detect me (which means it is legal to go through the red as it deemed not to be working). However most times there are cars there as well. I have reported it and been told by the council that it does work for bikes so I keep meaning to go and test it out again in a quiet moment of the day.

 

[pshore]

There are some junctions in Cambridge where there is a lot of RLJ due to cyclists being disadvantaged because the road is designed for motor vehicles.

Some of these cases can be made safe and legal with some thought. Ideas here:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/97/article11.html

 

[Tommi]

I read somewhere that the effort required to stop/start requires more exertion overall than keeping going through lights.

Yes, if you ride (drive) fast, stop at the lights, and accelerate when light turns green it takes more energy than if you slow down earlier and avoid stopping completely before the light turns. So if you're rolling forward when it's time to accelerate again you save on fuel. They (used to?) teach economic driving back in the day, but I don't recall ever seeing it in practice in London. But it does directly undermine TfL's obsession for "stacking" so I guess it's understandable.

 

[Red Light]

They would be mitigating circumstances as I understand it. I have said as much before.

People have been successfully prosecuted in both situations e.g.

Yorkshire case

The only situation in which you are allowed to cross the white line on a red light is if instructed to do so by a police officer.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

People have been successfully prosecuted in both situations e.g.

Yorkshire case

The only situation in which you are allowed to cross the white line on a red light is if instructed to do so by a police officer.

Oh well then in that case I would take my chances RL.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

That Yorkshire case has made me feel very angry.

 

[ianrauk]

That Yorkshire case has made me feel very angry.

yes indeed

 

[Tommi]

Oh, just to clarify, when speaking of jumping the red light you all mean crossing the stop line 2 metres (or more) away from pedestrian crossing or crossing traffic lane? Rather than crossing the junction, or crossing pedestrian crossing but stopping before crossing traffic lanes, or entering pedestrian crossing. Why is the stop line so far away from where other traffic goes anyway?

 

[SW19cam]

Give us a few examples then.

The other day I filtered to an ASL, only to find there was no safe room at the front. Gliding carefully through the red light was the obvious, and safe, choice.

Other examples include when a car (or truck) is on your arse, or when you are intending to turn right on a busy road directly after a set of lights.

I'm not trying to encourage red light jumping, but there are instances when it is the safest.

Also, I was in Holland recently, where it is legal I do believe (most things in fact), and I regularly saw it done safely, creating space between cars and bikes. I think that is a good thing.

 

[SW19cam]

It's one of my pet hates. I'll pull cyclists over to have a go at them if they do it. This can back fire though as once it happened and I almost got run over whilst trying to chase after the offending cyclist.

Fair enough if they are doing it dangerously. Everyone hates dangerous *. But if a cyclist glides through a red on the top of a T-junction, where all entrances are visible, and it is completely safe to do it, you still pull them over?

*Insert any type of transport (cyclists, drivers, pedestrians, canoeists, runners....)

 

[Red Light]

Oh well then in that case I would take my chances RL.

So you didn't mean it previously when you said:

I would rather stay the right side of the law than rely on discression.

 

[Red Light]

I read somewhere that the effort required to stop/start requires more exertion overall than keeping going through lights.

Link

 

[Angelfishsolo]

So you didn't mean it previously when you said:

Mitigation is not the same as discression, but then I am sure you knew that. My gods you are a sad, sad little man.

 

[dellzeqq]

He fed me, he got personal. I love a good bit of anger. He also assumed I jumped red lights. Considering you're a law abiding citizen you've handed yourself in for the common assault you committed?

congratulations! And goodbye!

 

[dellzeqq]

The other day I filtered to an ASL, only to find there was no safe room at the front. Gliding carefully through the red light was the obvious, and safe, choice.

Other examples include when a car (or truck) is on your arse, or when you are intending to turn right on a busy road directly after a set of lights.

I'm not trying to encourage red light jumping, but there are instances when it is the safest.

Also, I was in Holland recently, where it is legal I do believe (most things in fact), and I regularly saw it done safely, creating space between cars and bikes. I think that is a good thing.

the safer choice would have been not to go for the ASL