Scary traffic lights!

[XmisterIS]

The other thread about traffic lights reminds me about a few sets of lights around my way that are actually dangerous for cyclists.

One in particular is notorious for me - a set of lights on the A27 westbound out of fareham - the lights are set so far back from the junction that often they've changed back to red before I've actually got to the junction when I'm riding my commuter, with the result that I suddenly find myself in the middle of the road with traffic pelting towards me from two different directions. Cue loss of bowel control ...

I can only clear the junction in the green light window when I'm on my road bike or MTB (both of which are lightweight, expensive and very fast), which suggests that anyone on a shopper or tourer or BSO or cheap hybrid (most riders fall into those categories) is going to be put in danger by that junction.

I usually end up riding my commuter round the junction on the pavement because it's safer! Luckily there aren't many pedestrians (they're all in cars!)

Do you have any junctions like that on your route(s)? Do you report them? Does the council take any notice?

 

[Adasta]

I give you: the Vauxhall Cross

A horrid piece of planning which is compounded by quick light sequences (from certain lanes) coupled with heavy, fast-moving traffic. Can often be tricky on a bike if you are caught out by the phases or by the traffic.

Great thread here about why it's so awful.

Edit: Follow the route under the bridge to the left, then turn right into the bus station to see just how much of a mess it all is!

 

[funnymummy]

I have a set of lights at the end of my road, less than 30yrds from my house, as i ride out my drive it's up a slight incline to the lights, plus it's riding onto the seafront so there is usualy a headwind too. The seafront road has 3 lanes each side, 2 staright on lanes & a turning lane, so if heading west I have to cross 6 lanes, I have on many occasion gone through the light as it is green, but possibly turned amber at the second I did. There is always a 'keen' driver, one that has it's foot on the pedal the second the lights turn amber baring down on me blaring it's horn!
After several near misses I now sit at the end of my drive & wait for the lighst to turn red, then ride upto into the ASL, so I can get away the second the turn green. There is a pedestrian crossing round the corner, it has to allow for 3 sets of traffic I timed it once - 4 minutes from when I pressed the button to being able to cross, then another 2 mins for the other lane - I use that when i'm with my bubbas.


I tried to inculde a link to Google Map but it won't save the pic so copied & pasted

 

[Moodyman]

In such cases, I go past the lights and wait by the yellow criss-cross boxes.

Gives me a head start from the following cars when lights go green.

 

[ohnovino]

There's a major junction I go through that has some really dangerous phasing.

We're on red, oncoming traffic has green and a green right-turn filter so they can turn across us. When our light goes green, their filter light goes off but they still have a "normal" green (i.e. they can go straight on, or turn right if they give way to oncoming traffic).

Every time, without fail, as our lights go green the right-turning traffic will just keep going across us, ignoring the fact their filter light has gone off. And every time, without fail, they shout or beep their horns at traffic in my direction, thinking it's our fault they've nearly been t-boned.

 

[Piemaster]

Not on a commute, but one not too far away here

View is from the ASL and in the distance you can see the original traffic light, where the original stop line was. White van is just crossing the junction.
I can just get through if I'm in the ASL when the lights change. I have gone through a green at first light and had to stop at a red on the second.

 

[Arch]

When I'm riding the work Maximus loaded (100kg or so of stuff), or even in the electric truck, the set at the junction of Walmgate/Foss Islands Road are too short a green phase, unless you get through right at the head of the queue. Find yourself going through as it changes to amber and we stuggle to get clear. If it's green as we approach, we'll slow down and let ourselves be stopped. Even then, if you're behind a bus that's slow to get going, it gets tight. Or you're behind a vehicle held up by the amber gamblers coming through late the other way, since it's a single file alternate traffic lane.

Even on a faster bike, the road surface is so bad you have to watch your speed a bit, so some of the advantage is lost.

All the others I can think of are places where if you set off smartly on green, you risk being hit by the amber and red gamblers coming from the cross-direction. There are several places where I'll set off gently for just that reason.