Red lights and some bikers grrrrrr!

[Fish on a bike]

Ok, I've ridden bikes all my life but always stop at a red traffic signal as I would in my car or motorbike. So why do so many lycra clad sheep (invariable) seem to think that it doesn't apply to them? The number of cyclists who sail past me straight across junctions on red lights while the rest of us are all waiting. In fact the other day I was at a pedestrian crossing this time as a predestrian when the lights turned to green to cross when I was very nearly run over by a cyclist blatantly ignoring the traffic signal, I pointed to the red light and questioned his eyesight and just got a load of abuse back! Why do some cyclists let the side down?

 

[Peter10]

This debate has come up many times. They should stop, there's no arguing that, the law states so. However, many people will give you a reason for doing it also. From what I know, the only time a cyclist can go though a red is on one of those sensor lights where they hardly ever pick up a cyclist. Even then though, I will get off and push it across the road via the pavement, simply because if my lights are red, somewhere else they are green.

Carry on the way you are and be safe, it is those who jump the lights who are risking their safety. I do wonder how a light jumper would react if they caused an accident and injured or killed someone though.

Personally, my main issue is more with the hypocrites who jump the lights themselves but then insist on finding any reason to criticise a motorist, be it a bad overtake or a bad manoeuvre.

 

[knonist]

i must say i dont it from time to time, but only on pedestrian crossing where no pedestrian is crossing, i.e. when they finish or no one there.
Never do it on a vehicle crossing

 

[edindave]

During the Pedal for Scotland ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh there were so many red light jumpers shouting things like 'don't stop ya f4**y' I was worried about rear-end collision at some junctions/crossings.
Mind you half the entrants didn't bother with a helmet either so I should hardly be surprised lol.

I must confess that I have turned left at red lights when nothing's coming. My defence for that is the law should change to make it legal, similar to the right turns allowed at red lights in America. Let's face it we've become so Americanised over the years... isn't it about time we inherited something useful from them? ;0)

 

[DrSquirrel]

Ok, I've ridden bikes all my life but always stop at a red traffic signal as I would in my car or motorbike. So why do so many lycra clad sheep (invariable) seem to think that it doesn't apply to them? The number of cyclists who sail past me straight across junctions on red lights while the rest of us are all waiting. In fact the other day I was at a pedestrian crossing this time as a predestrian when the lights turned to green to cross when I was very nearly run over by a cyclist blatantly ignoring the traffic signal, I pointed to the red light and questioned his eyesight and just got a load of abuse back! Why do some cyclists let the side down?

Lycra clad sheep?

RLJ tends to apply across the board - some may even suggest POB (or non lycra wearers) are seen jumping more.

Are you another cyclist letting the side down with knee jerk accusations?

 

[Tynan]

indeed, there's no real guessing who will jump lights in London at least, if anything it's the people on the cheapest bikes in regular casual clothes that sail through most

 

[fixedfixer]

Just take a look at the silly cyclist video clips that Gaz has posted - it's all types who jump red lights. Just don't. Actually living in the sticks I was quite taken aback by the 'city' habits recorded on his vids.

 

[Sheepy1209]

Just take a look at the silly cyclist video clips that Gaz has posted - it's all types who jump red lights. Just don't. Actually living in the sticks I was quite taken aback by the 'city' habits recorded on his vids.

Same here - it's pretty rare in Blackpool, but one place where I do it is a left turn where the council has helpfully installed a drop curb and painted a little arrow with a picture of a bicycle inviting me to do so by riding on the pavement.

 

[Fish on a bike]

I'm not sure it's a 'knee jerk reaction' I regularly bike, walk, drive, motorcycle, and less than I used to skate so I don't favour any mode of transport over another really...I'll get just as annoyed at drivers using their mobile phones, like the one I saw recently driving over a school zebra crossing while a mother and her two kids were waiting at the side in the rain.

 

[Klaus]

indeed, there's no real guessing who will jump lights in London at least, if anything it's the people on the cheapest bikes in regular casual clothes that sail through most

A couple of months ago I was driving in central London - passing through the Waterloo roud-about for Westminster Bridge. Couple of boys (about 14 yo I guess) just pedalled leisurely across the red light into the crossing traffic. I got so annoyed I shouted at the top of my voice "RED LIGHT!!!". Whilst they turned their heads they just carried on probably not even registering what "red light" means .....

 

[Chutzpah]

Just take a look at the silly cyclist video clips that Gaz has posted - it's all types who jump red lights. Just don't. Actually living in the sticks I was quite taken aback by the 'city' habits recorded on his vids.

Same here - never seen any red light jumpers. Biggest thing that makes me wince is cyclists filtering down the left through slow moving traffic near junctions. It will end in tears one day.... I'm much happier sitting in the primary position if I don't think it's safe to filter, I think others think you need to push through at all costs.

 

[User482]

If my commute is anything to go by, motorists are as bad as cyclists for RLJing. And I know which is more dangerous.

 

[clarion]

If my commute is anything to go by, motorists are as bad as cyclists for RLJing. And I know which is more dangerous.

I agree. But it still pisses me off when cyclists go through the lights.

Yesterday, I was one out of six who stopped in one place, and one of three from about twenty in another. It's a RED LIGHT, dammit!

 

[GFamily]

If my commute is anything to go by, motorists are as bad as cyclists for RLJing. And I know which is more dangerous.

Are you trying to excuse cyclists who RLJ?

Motorists who go through red lights generally go through just after they have changed and not when pedestrians are already crossing.

RLJ cyclists regularly obstruct pedestrians; and the rest of us suffer for it.

 

[Fish on a bike]

I think that's what annoys and disappoints me, the fact that we cyclists won't be taken seriously if we don't take the rules of the road seriously. Being nearly knocked down and verbally abused on a pedestrian crossing by a cyclist when all the cars have stopped isn't going to endear pedestrians to cyclists. I can see a time coming when ALL road users will have to be insured because of it.


@Chutzpah Sometimes at traffic lights there are red rectangles marked on the road for cyclists to line up ahead of the traffic, it's a pain when cyclists ahead of me don't use them and block me from reaching them. I admit if there's an artic or van I'll go past on the right if they're stationary and it's dual lane.