No respect for traffic lights

[Gretzky's Office]

It isn't the same.

Cycling still suffers from the stereotype of being largely made up of lawless riders. Funding for cycling specific facilities on the road network is a tiny fraction of the overall budget directed at motorists, and roads expenditure for motorists is not seen as a special concession in the same way that spending for safer cycling is.

Motorists don't have this image problem or meet the resistance suffered by cycling campaigners. We are an easily identifiable, minority group and any poor behaviour is quickly picked up and applied to the group as a whole. Sadly, there are still a lot of cyclists who fail to grasp that.

GC

You can attribute a lot of that to the media. How often do you get stories about how it's OK to harass cyclists yet how often do you get articles saying that motorists are "amber gamblers" and speed limit breakers? It's an attitude among motorists that they seem to think they own the road because they pay "road tax". Also, driving a car in towns and cities at rush hour is an utterly joyless experience. A lot of the hatred is because they've paid 30 grand for their metal box, plus fuel, insurance, VED and servicing costs and then they're being overtaken by some skinny oik on a £300 child's toy from Halfords - of course they're going to get annoyed.
I don't buy this idea that a motorists sees one cyclist go through a red light and thinks "all cyclists do that all the time, therefore I will kill them". Some people drive with a lack of consideration for others because they are inconsiderate people.

 

[hoopdriver]

Sarcasm isn't your strong suit is it?

Sarcasm? Moi?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Oh well you go ahead and write my number plate down then ;]

Thank you for confirming you're one of the selfish minority who damages cycling as a whole and couldn't care less.

Well done.


GC

 

[tyred]

I had an interesting experience while driving yesterday. There was a PSNI checkpoint about maybe 30 feet away from some pedestrian lights. As I approached, the taxi in front of me drove straight through the red lights with the policeman watching (the peds had finished crossing so not actually dangerous but still wrong imo) while I stopped at the red lights. Didn't the idiot see the police I thought. The policeman despite looking straight at the RLJing taxi driver didn't stop him. When the lights changed to green, I drove on and the policeman stopped me. He checked tax, licence, etc. I asked him why he didn't stop the taxi which drove through a red light. "he didn't hit anyone so no harm done" apparently. I pointed out that I didn't hit anyone either but he still stopped me. He didn't seem to be able to provide an explanation for this.

 

[Tynan]

there's always a reason, people that shoplift always have an excuse too

you obey the rules of society of you don't, fine but then don;t piss and moan about others deciding what they will and won;t observe when it affects you

I for one and very tired of pedestrians at a crossing waiting until I 've actually stopped before walking out, they're clearly used to bikes ignoring them and see them as a danger, bravo the light jumpers that put themselves first

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

I actually have a friend who for some obscure reason thinks its more dangerous to stop at red lights! Can't quite get my head round that one.

Any old excuse?

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

there's always a reason, people that shoplift always have an excuse too

you obey the rules of society of you don't, fine but then don;t piss and moan about others deciding what they will and won;t observe when it affects you

I for one and very tired of pedestrians at a crossing waiting until I 've actually stopped before walking out, they're clearly used to bikes ignoring them and see them as a danger, bravo the light jumpers that put themselves first

Everytime I get into a conversation with a motorist this comes up 100% of the time,conveniently forgetting the mobile phone use while driving.It really does give motorists an excuse (in their eyes) to be total ar5e5 though.

 

[Bexmay]

there's always a reason, people that shoplift always have an excuse too

you obey the rules of society of you don't, fine but then don;t piss and moan about others deciding what they will and won;t observe when it affects you

I for one and very tired of pedestrians at a crossing waiting until I 've actually stopped before walking out, they're clearly used to bikes ignoring them and see them as a danger, bravo the light jumpers that put themselves first

I wont step out till everything has stopped. Cars are just as guilty of jumping lights as cyclists. I will jump red lights on my bike but never when pedestrians are about. And after nearly hitting a pedestrian when cycling at speed that stepped out into the road without looking some pedestrians need to have more respect for the road too.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I stop at all reds.

I don't see why I should assume some perverted kind of vicarious responsibility for all RLJ'ing because some other idiots (who happen to ride bikes) decide to keep on going.

I am with car drivers on this. Fine all RLJ'ing 'cyclists', and make it a LOT of money. Do the crime, do the time.

But, and it's a BIG but, as well as coming down hard on RLJ'ing, I would love to see the powers that be also come down hard on careless, dangerous, mobile using, drink driving, aggressive, and plain clueless drivers.