Do you jump red lights 2009

[oneflewover]

Always, but only when it's clear of pedestrians and vehicles. I never cut in front of vehicles - you are only making yourself a target. Where space allows I always maneuver in front of the queue of vehicles where a left turn is involved. When overtaking standing traffic, I mostly do it on the right and cut left when it is on the move.

However a couple of weeks ago when I was "racing*" a fixie from Holland Park to Kings Cross none of the above applied, gay abandon seemed the rule.

*He was probably unaware we were racing.

 

[Biddlybee]

Why should I wait to compete with the cars when I can be a few metres ahead?

Because you're a road user and meant to stop at red lights. If you don't want to compete then make sure you're positioned in the right place in the lane for when the lights change.

*shrugs*

tbh I don't care that much if other cyclists jump red lights, but I do reckon it adds to motorists always slating cyclists.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I never cut in front of vehicles

I'd never just cut in, but I will gesture my intentions then act. Never, ever had any trouble with traffic or road rage, so I can't be making myself that much of a target. In my experience, other road users tend to respect you making a claim for your space.

 

[The Groke]

WTF?

I can easily imagine the collective Urban Outrage™ if Transit/Audi/Reliant/cement truck drivers admitted to jumping red lights.


Ride on the road, follow the fucking laws of the road.


If you do A and ignore B then you automatically fall right off yer high horse when it comes to bitching about the dangerous and inconsiderate habits of any other road user - cyclist, driver or pedestrian.

 

[Boycey]

other road users tend to respect you making a claim for your space.

definitely.

in answer to the OP- yes. these days i'm a considerate rogue cyclist, back when jumping lights was my living i didn't give a fuck who i upset as long as i didn't hit them. got in a few scrapes but had lots of fun.

 

[Gromit]

Jumping red lights is acceptable behaviour?

I'll try it in my Ford focus tonight. Whats good enough for cyclists is good enough for me.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

Just out of interest, has anyone here ever been done - fine or license points - for going thru a red?

I was promised a fine from some police after they stopped me going through a red, in front of them. With no lights. Pished. Pretending i hadn't noticed them by listening to my ipod and keeping my head down. No fine ever arrived.

I don't ride drunk anymore.

 

[oneflewover]

Forgot to add, i ride 2' or 60cms from the gutter so always have somewhere to go. This does raise a few hoots / bibs.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Jumping red lights is acceptable behaviour?

I'll try it in my Ford focus tonight. Whats good enough for cyclists is good enough for me.

That's a pretty stupid thing to say. Especially given you don't know the environment or manner of the red light jumping.

It's more akin to a pedestrian crossing when the man is red, than running a red in a car.

 

[Sunray]

Just out of interest, has anyone here ever been done - fine or license points - for going thru a red?

I got a right bollocking from a copper, one time down by the rotherhide tunnel years ago. He threatened to take me down to the police station an put me up in front of a Magistrate.

I went 'OK no problem, give me a second to let me lock my bike up'

He let me off.

 

[ChrisFilter]

WTF?

I can easily imagine the collective Urban Outrage™ if Transit/Audi/Reliant/cement truck drivers admitted to jumping red lights.


Ride on the road, follow the fucking laws of the road.


If you do A and ignore B then you automatically fall right off yer high horse when it comes to bitching about the dangerous and inconsiderate habits of any other road user - cyclist, driver or pedestrian.

See my response to Marius. It's all about context.

You can use red lights as give way signs and still be a perfectly considerate road user.

I can honestly say that in 4 years of cycling to work, I've never made a pedestrian uncomfortable. Wish I could say the same vice versa.

 

[kabbes]

I'm not a cyclist and I wish they wouldn't jump lights, but even I can see that it's pretty stupid to claim that jumping them on a bike is the same thing as jumping them in a car.

 

[tommers]

It's more akin to a pedestrian crossing when the man is red, than running a red in a car.

yay!

*ticks card*

 

[Crispy]

tbf, it's annoying when pedestrians cross on red man when I'm on my bike, so it cuts both ways!

 

[The Groke]

That's a pretty stupid thing to say. Especially given you don't know the environment or manner of the red light jumping.

It's more akin to a pedestrian crossing when the man is red, than running a red in a car.

Not really.

What happens in the result that an over-confident pedestrian or cyclist moves against a light and gets smeared across the pavement?

Yeah Ok - so it is probably an unusual occurrence, but what does that matter to the family of the crippled and the driver who has to live with the guilt?

When you chose to ride on the road, you should ride in confidence that the laws of that road are on your side.

When you chose to flaunt those rules, however briefly, you undermine them completely.

 

[The Groke]

See my response to Marius. It's all about context.

You can use red lights as give way signs and still be a perfectly considerate road user.

I can honestly say that in 4 years of cycling to work, I've never made a pedestrian uncomfortable. Wish I could say the same vice versa.

So jumping a red light with a car is all about context?

 

[subversplat]

Sometimes it's not even that bad if a car jumps a red

 

[The Groke]

You can use red lights as give way signs and still be a perfectly considerate road user.

hm - of course I understand where you are coming from completely, but it isn't about consideration - it is about consequence and responsibility for your behaviour on the road.


Like I said above - even if it happens only once in 10,000 attempts, a failed crossing of a red light has awful consequences for all involved.

 

[Boycey]

When you chose to ride on the road, you should ride in confidence that the laws of that road are on your side.

When you chose to flaunt those rules, however briefly, you undermine them completely.

the law is an ass, especially in relation to bicycles and the road, if they were worth two shits in the first place then undermining them might be a bad thing.

this is a topic that comes up pretty regularly, has anyone got anything new to say yet?

 

[Gromit]

That's a pretty stupid thing to say. Especially given you don't know the environment or manner of the red light jumping.

It's more akin to a pedestrian crossing when the man is red, than running a red in a car.

My car is a lot faster than a car or a bike so if anything it should be safer in a car. I'd be across long before a pedestrain had gotten half way.

 

[The Groke]

Sometimes it's not even that bad if a car jumps a red

yeah, but it is scope-creep innit.

For every perfectly safe and confident red-light run, there is one absolute disaster.

You don't want to get yourself into a position where you start assuming it is always safe to break the lights in a given situation.

 

[The Groke]

the law is an ass, especially in relation to bicycles and the road,.

That as well may be.

Doesn't matter though until it is actually changed does it and that isn't the point raised in the thread.

 

[ChrisFilter]

My car is a lot faster than a car or a bike so if anything it should be safer in a car. I'd be across long before a pedestrain had gotten half way.

An even stupider thing to say!

 

[ChrisFilter]

That as well may be.

Doesn't matter though until it is actually changed does it and that isn't the point raised in the thread.

So you obey every law?

 

[ChrisFilter]

For every perfectly safe and confident red-light run, there is one absolute disaster.

I can't be responsible for everyone who runs a red light, but I can happily say I won't put myself in a position where I'm in danger.

You don't want to get yourself into a position where you start assuming it is always safe to break the lights in a given situation.

I wouldn't... I'm not an idiot. I can judge crossing each red light on it's own merits.

 

[Boycey]

That as well may be.

Doesn't matter though until it is actually changed does it and that isn't the point raised in the thread.

i look at it in terms of risk of getting caught + possible repercussions vs benefits. i extend this to other areas of my life too.

 

[ChrisFilter]

The only reservation I have with crossing red lights is other cyclists copying me without using the same care and consideration. That does worry me at times.

 

[Gromit]

An even stupider thing to say!

Well you started it with your justifying why its okay for you to flout safety laws.

 

[editor]

The only time I would jump a red light on my bike would be if I was at a deserted junction in the middle of the night without any traffic in sight.

 

[scooter]

Years ago, I worked in a bar. Used to cycle home at about 1am down little roads. I never saw a car or a pedestrian. There was this set of lights on the way. I think they were triggered by the arrival of a car.

I was so obedient back then I used to sit there for about 10 minutes waiting for them to change. In the middle of the night with no other traffic around.

Thinking back, I can't believe I did it.