RLJ-ing: A Minority Pastime?

[Dan B]

We can't compare bikes and cars, they are not the same. Pedestrians don't treat them the same, nor do cyclists, nor do motorists. Bikes are more akin to ped's than cars.

Half the heat that these threads generate is because people are (implicitly) comparing bikes with bikes - that is, the apparent dangerousness of a cyclist might depend greatly on whether it's a courier bowling round a bend in the rain, or a granny with a dog in a wicker basket sauntering to church, or a small child riding along the pavement. Some of these are more comparable to cars than others

 

[400bhp]

No.

A car weighs 1200kg, is 5 feet wide, has larger blind spots and is made of solid metal. It can do serious damage at 5mph, let alone 10mph.

Me and my bike weigh maybe 85kg combined. About the same weight as the average pedestrian.

We can't compare bikes and cars, they are not the same. Pedestrians don't treat them the same, nor do cyclists, nor do motorists. Bikes are more akin to ped's than cars.

Isn't that being a little binary?

There are times when it is safe to go through red in a car is it not?

You're also taking about the damage a bike/vehicle can do to someone else. What about the damage another vehicle can do to to the cyclist that goes through red.

[edit] I get all the arguments about the relative risks between the modes of transport and don't want to go off at a tangent. The main point of discussion is on the social negativity RLJ brings.

 

[summerdays]

I had one close call about a year ago. Stepped onto a zebra crossing with my 3 year old daughter after cars had stopped. Driver overtakes the stopped car whilst on a mobile phone.

I've had the same sort of thing where I was on the crossing with my children when a car overtook the stationary one - still remember it some 10 years on.

It is one of the reasons I think we should stop at zebra's and red lights because sometimes the act of us stopping makes the driver on auto-pilot realise he should stop too.

 

[Jezston]

Witnessed a rather blatant RLJ myself this morning.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q23Qn9d8alY&feature=youtu.be

 

[Scruffmonster]

Isn't that being a little binary?

There are times when it is safe to go through red in a car is it not?

You're also taking about the damage a bike/vehicle can do to someone else. What about the damage another vehicle can do to to the cyclist that goes through red.

Ok. My line in the sand time.

I'm not being binary at all. You're completely inventing something, pretending that I said it, then asking me what I feel about the outcome.

99.99% of the time, a car should NEVER go through a red light. There are times when it is safe to, sure, but I don't apply the same laws to cars as I do cycles some of the time. Tens and hundreds of 1200kg lumps of metal can sit and wait, while 1-15 80kg of person can make a few rational judgement calls.

I've got a decent moral compass, I'm never a d1ck on purpose, I'm happy enough.

EDIT::: Spotted the edit. Agreed.

I think I've exhausted my worth here. People will do as they please, as long as they are responsible, it's all good to me.

 

[veloevol]

 

[400bhp]

Ok. My line in the sand time.

I'm not being binary at all. You're completely inventing something, pretending that I said it, then asking me what I feel about the outcome.

99.99% of the time, a car should NEVER go through a red light. There are times when it is safe to, sure, but I don't apply the same laws to cars as I do cycles some of the time. Tens and hundreds of 1200kg lumps of metal can sit and wait, while 1-15 80kg of person can make a few rational judgement calls.

I've got a decent moral compass, I'm never a d1ck on purpose, I'm happy enough.

EDIT::: Spotted the edit. Agreed.

I think I've exhausted my worth here. People will do as they please, as long as they are responsible, it's all good to me.

Apologies if it came across as that as it wasn't my intention. I thought the question marks at the end of sentences would help but as I alluded to earlier it can be difficult to get a point/inflections/mood across in the written word.

 

[benb]

If it's so safe to jump red lights, why not ditch them altogether? or pass a law to say cyclist's don't have to stop at red lights?

Personally I'd be in favour of making red lights the equivalent of give way for cyclists. That is, it is the cyclist's responsibility to ensure it is safe to proceed.

Until then though, I am totally against RLJ.

 

[benb]

At the end of the day you are picking and choosing which laws you wish to obey on the basis of your judgement. It's a good thing that not everyone follows that example.

I'm curious what you think about entering an ASZ other than by the feeder lane?

 

[benb]

No I am not. [wishing a fellow cyclist harm]

However:

Any cyclist who RLJs across my path risks being taken out as I will not stop.

So you've basically said you will deliberately knock someone down if they have RLJ into your path. Nice.

 

[martint235]

I'm curious what you think about entering an ASZ other than by the feeder lane?

Can't remember the last time I entered one at all.

On my current commute there are only 4 and 2 of those don't have a feeder lane. I tend to hold my place in the traffic or filter to just behind the front car

 

[Davidsw8]

I'm curious what you think about entering an ASZ other than by the feeder lane?

Is this the same as an Advanced Stop Line?

 

[benb]

Is this the same as an Advanced Stop Line?

Yes.

 

[benb]

Can't remember the last time I entered one at all.

On my current commute there are only 4 and 2 of those don't have a feeder lane. I tend to hold my place in the traffic or filter to just behind the front car

What do you think about people who do enter them by means other than the feeder lane?

 

[martint235]

What do you think about people who do enter them by means other than the feeder lane?

They are jumping a red light in exactly the same way that a car entering the box is doing.