London RLJers: a non-scientific survey

[swee'pea99]

On my fixie I certainly like to keep the momentum going!

Most of the lights I jump are ped crossings where no one is crossing, or all red phases.

+1. 

I'm not bothered about lights, just people. I will (and, daily, do) stop for people where there are no lights, crossings or anything else....just numpties ambling around in the middle of the road. But if there are no people, cars or anything else, just lights, I see no reason to stop. Anyone who thinks the law must be obeyed simply on account of its *being* the law has in my view a craven take on the relation between the state and the people and a tenuous grasp on history. I really am not interested in getting into 'the wider debate' - been there, done that. Suffice to say that my stock response to people who take me to task for RLJ-ing is 'do you ever exceed 70 on the motorway?' You'd be amazed how many do...

 

[simon_adams_uk]

[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1283517928' post='1384754']
On my daily commute I probably stop at 40%, RLJ 60% - this reflecting the fact that 60% can be jumped with absolutely no risk of endangering, spooking or even mildly inconveniencing anyone else, while the other 40% involve dilutions of that basic principle, ranging between 'may mildly disconcert that old dear' (9%) and 'suicidal' (5%).
[/quote]

Out of interest, using the same criteria (ie absolutely no risk of endangering, spooking or even mildly inconveniencing anyone else) what would the percentage be if you were driving? Would it still be 40% stop / 60% RLJ?

I ride on the basis that if I would be happy to RLJ in a car at a particular location then it's ok to do it on a bike. Hence I have a split of as near to 100% stop / 0% RLJ as makes no difference.

Each to their own though on this one!

S

 

[zimzum42]

If I go through a red light in a car, I might get points on my license and a proper fine or something.

If the copper can catch me on the bike worst I'm looking at is £30

Having said that I do go through the odd deserted light at night in the car, a typical one being the junction of Robert St and Albany St in london, the lights there take forever to change and there's never anyone around...

 

[Jezston]

Why do you jump the lights?

Also zimzum are not saying that if a police officer tried to stop you for jumping red lights, you'd flee? YOu could get in a whole load more shoot than a 30 quid fine. Remember police have cars and motorcycles, too.

I don't jump red lights because I don't think that my convenience trumps the law, and I don't like perpetuating negative stereotypes of cyclists. I'd appreciate it if cyclists didn't give in to being as selfish as some motorists.

 

[hackbike 666]

[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1283517928' post='1384754']
On my daily commute I probably stop at 40%, RLJ 60% - this reflecting the fact that 60% can be jumped with absolutely no risk of endangering, spooking or even mildly inconveniencing anyone else, while the other 40% involve dilutions of that basic principle, ranging between 'may mildly disconcert that old dear' (9%) and 'suicidal' (5%).
[/quote]


But what is the Fkin point?

 

[CharlieB]

I don't like perpetuating negative stereotypes of cyclists. I'd appreciate it if cyclists didn't give in to being as selfish as some motorists.

+1 And IMHO that's the single best reason NOT to RLJ.


And THAT'S why it makes me cross. I'm the most chilled commuter on the streets, normally

I gotta add that there are countless threads in these fora on this very topic, but this is probably the most honest set of posts I've yet seen.

 

[hackbike 666]

I don't blame motorists for treating us like knobs if the reason is "I can't be bothered to stop".

 

[400bhp]

If I go through a red light in a car, I might get points on my license and a proper fine or something.

If the copper can catch me on the bike worst I'm looking at is £30

You'd get points on your licence from doing the latter.

 

[Jezston]

[QUOTE 1174047"]
It's a stereotype that would never change regardless of what cyclists do.
[/quote]

I'm sure it will always exist, but I feel that giving in and perpetuating the stereotype makes it worse. I'd like to think that every time a driver sees me stop at lights in front of them despite me being able to comfortably jump, it'll challenge that idea in their mind.

 

[400bhp]

[QUOTE 1174049"]
You won't.
[/quote]

Are you sure?

 

[Jezston]

I'm sure there was a story linked to on here a while back about a chav riding on the pavement who knocked over an old man who got a driving ban and points as a result. Can't find the story so may be wrong.

 

[Peter10]

Are you sure?

Positive. You don't hold a driving license when cycling, you are not driving a motor vehicle. If someone was to try that, it would be laughed out of court.



What would be interesting is to see how attitudes would change if they changed the penalty notice went up from £30 to £150. They recently did this with the fine for driving with no seatbelt (£30 to £60). What annoys me more than anything really is cyclists who openly admit to jumping red lights and think there is nothing wrong with it who then will post videos of a car jumping a red light all over Youtube, call them idiots, shout, swear etc. To be honest people who do this are basically hypocrites. I am very pro cyclist (I do it obviously) but from my experience as a driver & a cyclist is, both break the law openly on the roads. I can see why there is so much anger from cyclists towards drivers as it can create a huge amount of danger to them, but when I see a cyclist jump the lights I really do wonder what is going through their minds. It just causes some drivers to hate cyclists even more.

 

[zimzum42]

Why do you jump the lights?

Also zimzum are not saying that if a police officer tried to stop you for jumping red lights, you'd flee? YOu could get in a whole load more shoot than a 30 quid fine. Remember police have cars and motorcycles, too.

I don't jump red lights because I don't think that my convenience trumps the law, and I don't like perpetuating negative stereotypes of cyclists. I'd appreciate it if cyclists didn't give in to being as selfish as some motorists.

I've gone through reds right in front of cop cars and they didn't even bat an eyelid. One was stood outside the Chinese Embassy one night and shouted at me as I went through, but he wasn't exactly going to catch me jogging along. It wouldn't be too difficult to evade a car if you really wanted to, but I've not had the opportunity yet...

 

[brokenbetty]

Why do cyclists jump the lights? Because they can, and they are too dumb to understand the difference between "I don't see a problem" and "there is no problem".

Same reason as drivers overtake too closely or cut cyclists up. "I didn't hit you, what's the problem?"