My deliberate RLJ - opinions.

[Sheffield_Tiger]

"RLJ'ing is bad, dangerous etc etc etc". OK, fair point, but is it worth being dogmatic about?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...=AuEBgIsE-DdBSvfw7obzVA&cbp=12,229.36,,0,4.83

Bearing in mind that, especially like tonight in a headwind...you end up being squeezed to the kerb by an incessant line of traffic, or in a horn-blowing abuse exchange if you take primary and prevent passing

There is another stop line further forward...unusual for a traffic light controlled junction to have 2 sets (they work in sync)

Since I am heading "slight left" and have to then take primary immediately after the lights, in order to safely reach the filter lane a few yards ahead in order to turn right, I consider that treating the second stop line (which is usually empty) as a kind of ASL

• Safer for me (it doesn't put me in the path of anything at all)
• Advantageous to following motorists, since I get a head start and hold them up for less time

In the letter of the law it is illegal to cross that first solid (though it looks dashed, it's SUPPOSED to be solid!) stop line, but in this case, would common sense take precedence?

NOTE: It's a "tidal" traffic system so of the two lanes at the second stop line, the outside lane is only open at certain hours. When open, one can take outside lane and be in the correct lane for the later right turn. When not open, the right filter lane opens some yards ahead. Confusing? It is for some

 

[eddiemee]

Personally I would take primary and wait for the light. There will always be knobs who get impatient, but if traffic is heavy anyway they hopefully won't perceive you as holding them up.

 

[jig-sore]

i posted something similar to this a while back. in certain circumstances i also believe it's actually safer for a cyclist to RLJ. i think you will find that most people on here are bind to this.

most junctions are designed for cars, not bikes. no one even considered a bike when they laid out these roads. but a bike is small and in the right situation there is room to keep going. sometimes it's even possible to "get away early", just before the light goes green, giving you chance to get ahead of other traffic. (yes people, there are junctions in this country where you CAN see what everyone is doing and make a judgement)

BUT...

red light means stop, that's all they will say. it's the kinda mentality that's made this country the way it is

 

[Joe]

I don't RLJ as a rule but there are certain situations when I will. If an HGV pulls up right up close behind me and I can't make eye contact then I will jump the lights rather than assume I've been seen. That video of the car being pushed along the motorway confirms this as a good idea in my eyes!

 

[BentMikey]

RLJing is never right, and is always selfish.

 

[jonny jeez]

Ok....I'll bite


DONT RLJ!!!

its got nothing to do with efficiency or safety, or flow of traffic or whatever other temptations are on offer.

if you RLJ, you will anger other road shareres, that anger translates into a formed opinion, that opinion harms us all in the long run.

When you jump red lights, you put me at risk.

Resist the temptation, take a good line and sit it out, you'll get instant...and I mean INSTANT respect from the drivers who see you do that, they will all be more patient and aware of you.

Sheffield T, I appreciate, with you, that I am preaching to the "mostly" converted as ...on the whole you sign up to this concept, this is more of a general comment to those new to riding who read your thread with interest.

 

[jimboalee]

I approached the TLs at Birmingham Road/Old Budbrooke road last night. They were on red.

I came to a trackstand ahead of the ped Xing so I could see the opposing signals.
The vehicles crossing had gone, so as soon as the opposing lamps turned amber, I went across.

As I got to the other side of the junction, a Police car overtook me. Oops .
No worries, he didn't stop. Phew..

 

[wafflycat]

RLJing is never right, and is always selfish.

+1

 

[HLaB]

RLJing is never right, and is always selfish.

99.999999999% of the time that is right but occasionally in the late hours of the night when I'm too small to trigger the lights, I've jumped

 

[BentMikey]

99.999999999% of the time that is right but occasionally in the late hours of the night when I'm too small to trigger the lights, I've jumped

I don't think that's technically RLJing. You're allowed to proceed through a TL that's not working, and if it doesn't sense a bike, then it's not working.

 

[andyfromotley]

I used to RLJ all the time. I believe it safe and prudent to do so. Furthermore i have proved (by FOI requests) that police action (particularly by the CoLP) against RLJ is unfair, disproportionate and quite frankly ludicrous.

However, i dont now simply because some people on here have convinced me that my doing so may result in them being placed in danger by making motorists think less of cyclists. They may be right or wrong, but as theyre nice people i dont want to risk it.

Longers said to me on a ride the other week, 'you want to be treated like traffic, you have to act like traffic' and it seemed a sensible take. So somewhat reluctantly, i dont RLJ.

 

[Tynan]

I used to RLJ all the time. I believe it safe and prudent to do so. Furthermore i have proved (by FOI requests) that police action (particularly by the CoLP) against RLJ is unfair, disproportionate and quite frankly ludicrous.

However, i dont now simply because some people on here have convinced me that my doing so may result in them being placed in danger by making motorists think less of cyclists. They may be right or wrong, but as theyre nice people i dont want to risk it.

Longers said to me on a ride the other week, 'you want to be treated like traffic, you have to act like traffic' and it seemed a sensible take. So somewhat reluctantly, i dont RLJ.

exactly and likewise

 

[CharlieB]

This is gonna upset some people…
I read all the sanctimonious views on here on the numerous threads devoted to the thorny subject of RLJ.
How it's wrong.
How it presents us in a bad light.
How it thus engenders universal disrespect from motorists.
That is all perfectly correct.

Then you get the statements that say 'I never RLJ' for all or some of the reasons above. And a poll that currently stands at 9-2 against.

Quite frankly, I don't believe a word of it.
I'm truly not trying to sound like a paragon of virtue (because I'm not), but I've commuted by bike for 7 months now, and remain convinced that I'm the only cyclist in North London who religiously obeys red lights at all times. (Hats off to the little lady in her 60s on an MTB who told me to get out of her way at the temporary lights at the junction of Prince Albert and Avenue Roads three days ago, while they were at red.)
I think 7 months experience in N London represents a big enough sample to cover the rest of the country?

 

[Landslide]

I think 7 months experience in N London represents a big enough sample to cover the rest of the country?

London's different. (Simplistic, but true.)

 

[hackbike 666]

Quite frankly, I don't believe a word of it.
I'm truly not trying to sound like a paragon of virtue (because I'm not), but I've commuted by bike for 7 months now, and remain convinced that I'm the only cyclist in North London who religiously obeys red lights at all times. (Hats off to the little lady in her 60s on an MTB who told me to get out of her way at the temporary lights at the junction of Prince Albert and Avenue Roads three days ago, while they were at red.)
I think 7 months experience in N London represents a big enough sample to cover the rest of the country?

I have cycle commuted for nearly 30 years in London (mostly not all) and I don't find stopping at reds a problem at all....and never have done.

Longers said to me on a ride the other week, 'you want to be treated like traffic, you have to act like traffic' and it seemed a sensible take. So somewhat reluctantly, i dont RLJ.

I agree somewhat.