Toucan crossing doubts (Glasgow Squinty Bridge)

[Teuchter]

My route takes me over the Squinty Bridge (officially it's called the "Finnieston Bridge" but this is Glasgow) here: http://goo.gl/maps/1Kb69

I cross the bridge then go right onto the Broomielaw / Lancefield Quay, staying on the road the whole time. I make use of the ASL in the above link and most of the time wait go through on the green light with the rest of the traffic but occasionally timing means I arrive at and go through the junction when the green man / bicycle is lit.

Now it's a toucan crossing (green man for pedestrians alongside a green bicycle for... bicycles!) and when I do this, I wait until all pedestrians have cleared the junction before slowly proceeding, not building up speed until I'm away from the crossing. My concern is that as I at no point use the cycle track, am I in the wrong to cross then?

 

[mr_cellophane]

If you cross the white stop line in the road, then yes you are wrong.

 

[Richard Mann]

You're not allowed to cross the white line on red (which is why there's a little track to let you past it). Since you almost certainly don't use the little track, you are committing an offence. Though it'd be a very keen policeman that did you for it.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

There is no solid stop line in that link, but if you pass through the red light whilst on the road & not go via the cycle route in my opinion you are doing it wrong, but I'll stand corrected.

Alan...

 

[CopperCyclist]

Yeah as people say - if you are going straight through and over the red, then it's an offence.

If you mean you are hopping up onto the cycle track, and going over the parallel crossing whilst that light is on green, you're good.

 

[Teuchter]

Sounds like my doubts were justified then and I (along with most other cyclists in Glasgow it seems) have been breaking the law

 

[Brandane]

I am quite a regular user of the squinty bridge, too. I do the same as you; i.e. technically RLJ'ing. Have to admit, as a retired PC, that I do it in the knowledge that it is against the law. However I would really hope that Strathclydes' finest (my ex colleagues) have better things to do with their time. I met some really officious cops during my service, but NONE that would stoop so low!
My favoured route where you turn right to head along Broomielaw would be to use the south footpath which is supposed to be a shared use cycle/pedestrian facility, being part of NCN route 78(?). However, as you will know, that footpath is far too narrow and can be quite busy with pedestrians. Also, the oncoming traffic is a problem as it is 2 narrow lanes on the approach to the lights, so not much margin for error. I usually have a quick look along the footpath; if it's quiet I use it, if not I use the road. Yet another classic example of a cycle facility that is not fit for purpose.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Soooooo, @Teuchter @Brandane you are among the cyclists I frown at while stopped at that junction on my way to work.

 

[Brandane]

Soooooo, @Teuchter @Brandane you are among the cyclists I frown at while stopped at that junction on my way to work.

I only do it because the cycle path (for which the toucan crossing was presumably intended) is not fit for purpose. I would never RLJ normally, Officer! (aye, right.... ).

 

[boydj]

I also use that junction occasionally. Travelling South-west to North-east, I always stay on the road and go with the lights at the same time as the cars. Coming the other way, though, I've been known to hop onto the cycle path to turn left onto the bridge while the light is red (because you then don't actually go through the light)

 

[sidevalve]

Really boils down to this, if a car went through a red light would you have any sympathy or listen to any excuses, if so fine if not either obay the law or stop with the "Oh I'm only on a bicycle so it doesn't count" rubbish.

 

[Teuchter]

My favoured route where you turn right to head along Broomielaw would be to use the south footpath which is supposed to be a shared use cycle/pedestrian facility, being part of NCN route 78(?). However, as you will know, that footpath is far too narrow and can be quite busy with pedestrians. Also, the oncoming traffic is a problem as it is 2 narrow lanes on the approach to the lights, so not much margin for error. I usually have a quick look along the footpath; if it's quiet I use it, if not I use the road. Yet another classic example of a cycle facility that is not fit for purpose.

Agreed about the quality of the footpath. Between the bridge and the flats (where the footpath leaves the side of the road to go along the river behiond the flats) its far too narrow to be shared between bicycles and pedestrians going both directions. Between the flats and Kingston Bridge the surface is awful as well though as I work on Hydepark Street, I don't go that far. I'll stick to the road.

Soooooo, @Teuchter @Brandane you are among the cyclists I frown at while stopped at that junction on my way to work.

Sorry, shamed into obedience

Really boils down to this, if a car went through a red light would you have any sympathy or listen to any excuses, if so fine if not either obay the law or stop with the "Oh I'm only on a bicycle so it doesn't count" rubbish.

The reason why I asked was because I wasn't sure of the legal position of being able to cycle (i.e. on a bicycle) across the junction on the road while a bicycle crossing light was being displayed. This has nothing to do with making excuses.