Cyclists - Look out for pigs before shooting a red light

[nino_savatte]

Tony, my fellow workmate, a motorbike courier, recently witnessed a cyclist get arse-rammed while waiting at a red light which he could have gone through safely, by some fuckwit motorist. He suffered facial cuts and bruises and his bike was a write-off. Yet if that cyclist had gone through the light, or hopped onto the pavement and gone across that way, he would have been in the wrong, legally and in the opinion of a lot of people, morally. I find that quite ironic.

I'm not putting that forth as an argument for going through reds, but as an argument against the idea that stopping for red is inherently safe.

I hope he got the cunt's number and reported him to the police.

 

[veracity]

Like pretty much every day of the year I didn't do anything wrong today, yet I still got boshed to the floor by a Land Rover driver, despite the fact that I had priority and she should have given way. I know two wrongs don't make a right, but each time this kind of thing happens I care less and less about whether cyclists jump reds or not. As long as there are no cars coming or peds crossing I don't give a toss whether they wait or go. You can follow all the rules on your bike, but regardless, some cunt will still disregard you and send your arse to the tarmac, or worse, send your life into nonexistence.

This doesn't mean that I'm going to start going through red lights tomorrow in protest, but it means that I'll give a shit about the public's perception of cyclists when all drivers start giving a shit about cyclists' safety.

I'm sure it's only a tiny minority of drivers who drive like cunts, but that's all it takes to kill a cyclist.

Maybe I should just fuck off to Amsterdam or Copenhagen. I'd be a lot happier there.

The exact same thing happened to me today although thankfully the dozy twat stopped just in time before I was knocked off. Frankly it puts my minor grumbles about other cyclists jumping reds into perspective. The main concern I have (apart from safety which is why I won't do it personally) is that jumping reds totally prejudices drivers against cyclists which frankly is the last fucking thing I need.

After this incident today the driver in question just didn't give a fuck and drove straight off without even asking if I was OK. Which luckily, this time I was, but as it was my first major incident it did shake me up a bit. Not all drivers are bastards though - the guy driving behind me at the time gave the offending driver a real hard time and stopped to make sure I wasn't hurt.

 

[Blagsta]

Cyclists who jump red pedestrian crossing lights can fuck right off and get runover. I'm fed up with having to dodge the cunts. Antisocial fuckers.

 

[tommers]

Pedestrians who jump red pedestrian crossing lights can fuck right off and get runover. I'm fed up with having to dodge the cunts. Antisocial fuckers.

 

[Blagsta]

So it's OK for pedestrians to have to dodge cyclists who can't be arsed to stop?

 

[Blagsta]

Of course I don't really want them to get runover. I just want them to stop at red lights and not run me over.

 

[tommers]

So it's OK for pedestrians to have to dodge cyclists who can't be arsed to stop?

who's said that?


I was merely extrapolating your example. About 90% of the accidents I have been in have involved pedestrians walking out from behind cars / off the pavement without looking or crossing the road when the red man is showing.

And yet, there aren't endless threads on here about how bad pedestrians are who cross when the red man are showing.

 

[newme]

And yet, there aren't endless threads on here about how bad pedestrians are who cross when the red man are showing.

Is very true.. All these accident statistics showing how dangerous cars/bicycles hit pedestrians, without much question of what the pedestrian was doing in the middle of the road to begin with.

 

[Crispy]

I think blagsta was talking about jumping the road red when peds have right of way. I totally agree. If you're going to jump reds, the green man is when you just DON'T DO IT, EVER.

 

[Blagsta]

I think blagsta was talking about jumping the road red when peds have right of way. I totally agree. If you're going to jump reds, the green man is when you just DON'T DO IT, EVER.

bingo!

 

[Blagsta]

Is very true.. All these accident statistics showing how dangerous cars/bicycles hit pedestrians, without much question of what the pedestrian was doing in the middle of the road to begin with.

*woosh*

 

[Cid]

It causes resentment. I might be pissing in the wind, but I'd like to think that cultivating an atmosphere of mutual respect on the roads leads to a more pleasant time for everyone.

Tbh when I'm driving I'm far happier when a cyclist jumps the lights ahead of me; I can see what they're doing, they're not right next to my car or right in front of it... I'm pretty good with mirror checks, but cyclists are silent and often surprisingly hard to see from a vehicle, especially if they're on the passenger side. Dangerously unpredictable too, some wait for you to move off, some have slower reactions so you think this is what they're doing, some leap off but wobble as they bring the bike under control etc.

As a cyclist I will always stop at reds until I know the way the lights work... Even then I always slow and check for peds and any other obstacles. Never skip lights when it's green for traffic crossing my path unless it's obvious there's nothing coming. Tbh many London roads have very good visibility and are often all but empty, I mean we cross roads like this all the time on foot and think nothing of it, for me it's similar on a bike. I cycled through central London nearly every day for 6 years including a 6 month stint as a courier and not once have I come close to hitting a pedestrian. It's just a matter of riding sensibly; if you see people on the pavements, slow down and make sure you know what they're doing before you attempt anything that might infringe their right of way.

I see a hell of a lot of idiots mind you, which is why I don't think I'd go for much change in the regulations... I have a lot of experience cycling in London, but many people don't and that kills them. It's like the lorry thing, the deaths that are being countered by the new EU mirror regs are tragic, but it's one of the first things I learned... Never undertake a lorry. In fact, IIRC, they brought one round to my primary school so we could see how hard it was for them to see us. Need more training like that for adults.

 

[Boycey]

Cid, you just won the thread.

 

[detective-boy]

... but it's one of the first things I learned... Never undertake a lorry. In fact, IIRC, they brought one round to my primary school so we could see how hard it was for them to see us. Need more training like that for adults.

You're suggesting people take responsibility for their own safety?!??!

On U75 where rights are all and responsibilities can go hang?

Are you mad?

 

[Termite Man]

You're suggesting people take responsibility for their own safety?!??!

On U75 where rights are all and responsibilities can go hang?

Are you mad?

There are a fair few cyclists that agree with Crispy, why do you make the same comment everytime someone suggest people "take responsibility for their own safety" , is it because it doesn't fit your nice tidy pre-conceived idea of what cyclists are like *



*note to people who jump lights etc. DB has exactly the attitude that I would like to see changed and that can only be done by mutual respect not ignoring the rules because you don't think they should apply to you !

 

[Crispy]

On U75 where rights are all and responsibilities can go hang?

Your constant generalisation is starting to really annoy me.

 

[co-op]

Your constant generalisation is starting to really annoy me.

Maybe he's has had a silent cerebral infarct? Repetitive behaviours or echolalia are a symptom, as are symptoms of depression and emotional incontinence.

DB! Go and see your Doctor!

 

[cybertect]

3. Every lorry in London should have a full set of the latest safety mirrors,

That part's already being implemented on a European level by the end of March 2009.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/item.htm?id=5130