Tempted to RLJ

[Jezston]

Observe here:
http://maps.google.c...,107.66,,1,4.16

See the two traffic lights lit up green? They are both just for cyclists coming through the little cycle alley that goes across the major road from the left, through the traffic island, and then up station road to the right.

They are completely daft.

The fact there are not one but TWO of them, with a little sign underneath saying 'cyclists stop at red light', and they are just there to prevent you moving into a one way lane of traffic turning off from the main road, which is sparse and totally visible from some distance, and a bus contraflow coming the other way. Why on earth is there a traffic light at all? It's the kind of junction that would normally be a give way at best.

Here's it from the other side:
http://maps.google.c...3,44.09,,0,7.47

Fortunately it's rarely red, but I realised as I almost sailed through this morning that I just don't pay it any attention at all. I come down the cycle lane looking for coaches coming towards me, then look to the left and if there's no one coming (which there rarely is) I pull out. Its quite possible I've RLJ'd there numerous times now I think about it.

To be honest, I'm more bothered by the amount of cyclists who come down it the wrong way, not so bothered by the fact they are then in my way, more bothered by what on earth made them think that going that way is something worth doing when there's a straight road going the same way they want to go right next to it which doesn't involve them having to move into oncoming traffic to access.

I need to write a letter to the council I think, but anyone have any ideas why someone would bother installing not one but two sets of traffic lights for a cycle lane?

 

[blubb]

Thats a pretty stupid set up and i would probably be tempted to red light jump too.

Got a few lights on my commute that hardly make sense, are red most of the time and at peak times have 3 cars an hour passing them. If i see nobody around especially kids i jump them occasionally too .

 

[fossyant]

Tut, tut, why are you using a cycle farcility ?

 

[jugglingphil]

2 lights is overkill. the one on the island is completely unnecessary.

I think the reason they have lights is that the road is actually two-way (bus traffic into broadmarsh) while as most traffic only goes one-way. Guess the council don't want to have one of their bus drivers run over a cyclist who is only looking one-way.

Alternatively they may have thought, how can we spend the budget for cycling this year. I know if we put 2 sets of lights up then that'll blow the lot and we can head off down the pub.

I definitely jump it of clear.

 

[Jezston]

Tut, tut, why are you using a cycle farcility ?

Ahh it's a Friday, I'm hungover, don't have any work to do anyway

 

[aembleton]

I've started RLJing in Peckham on my commute home. There is hardly any traffic at the junction and most cyclists RLJ here. On my commute home, I've sat through an entire cycle of the lights and not seen them go green before, it might be that they can't see me. On my commute into work the lights do change, so I wait for a green light.

Here is a Google street view of it, but interestingly when Google took this, there was not traffic light for the direction I'm talking about. I think, the only traffic that will becoming in that direction will be cyclists:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...Max0XMw_8OXs7_5Mx14CSw&cbp=12,175.94,,0,-2.07

 

[fossyant]

Ahh it's a Friday, I'm hungover, don't have any work to do anyway

I'd do an extra 5 miles to avoid the lot !

 

[Dan B]

Looks to me like a pedestrian crossing on a red man type offence.

As far as I know there is no such offence in law, or at least, I've never been able to find one: no MUST in the Highway Code, nothing in the Hughes guide. I would be grateful if anyone knows of one if they would cite the relevant legislation.

 

[Jezston]

If you go past the first crossing light when it's green (one on the side of broadmarsh), then you should still have a green light when you want to turn right on carrigton street.

Which I think is why it rarely happens.

I've RLJed it many times, is it even illegal? Looks to me like a pedestrian crossing on a red man type offence.

Well AFAIK jumping a red light is illegal full stop - but I think we need to get more specific here - what is the bit where the law is broken? Is it advancing from a traffic crossing when a light is red, and if so, what is this? It's an off-road cycle lane or is it a road? Because if I'm not technically on a 'road' if I jump that light, is it the same? Am I making any sense?

Pedestrian crossing on a red man isn't an offence. Fortunatey we don't have 'jaywalking' type laws in the UK. Pedestrians can go about as they please.

 

[Glow worm]

Theres's only one junction I ever consider RLJing on my commute (pic below). The light only goes green when buses arrive (shared bus/ cycle lane), which can be a 20 minute wait. I'm pretty patient but that's stretching it!

 

[summerdays]

Theres's only one junction I ever consider RLJing on my commute (pic below). The light only goes green when buses arrive (shared bus/ cycle lane), which can be a 20 minute wait. I'm pretty patient but that's stretching it!

But if it is set to be triggered by buses then technically it doesn't work for you - so it isn't illegal to go through a red light. I have two places in Bristol where bikes don't trigger the lights ... one I take an alternative route to avoid the other cars mostly trigger it for me. .. but just occasionally when it is quiet I sit there and suddenly realise that it's gone through an entire sequence without that junction turning green.

 

[Glow worm]

But if it is set to be triggered by buses then technically it doesn't work for you - so it isn't illegal to go through a red light.

Didn't know that- sounds good to me though! Doesn't stop some motons from sometimes giving me 'punishment' close passes a bit further up for going through the red.