Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Do you jump red lights 2009

ChrisFilter said:
So you obey every law?
Click to expand...

Depends on the consequences...

:hmm:


In Dubai - yes.


:D



Look, for the record, I can happily accept that many road laws are tosh and cyclist are woefully under-provided for in the UK.

That doesn't really matter though when you look objectively at the consequences of flouting basic road rules in a potentially hazardous situation does it.

U75 drivers that say "I drive safely at 120mph in my swanky car on a straight road on a clear day" get short shrift.

Those folks that run red lights, whether by bike or Shanks, should get the same raised eyebrow.

If you bust a light and get shredded, you have caused the ruination of several lives through a simple transgression which could have been easily avoided with 30 seconds of patience.

For cyclists to successfully argue their worth as the leading edge of 21st century transportation, they need to do so within existing legal frameworks.
 
editor said:
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.
Click to expand...
I knew I was right not to trust people cycling around in the middle of the night.
 
My mates just been hit by a woman who went through a red light on a cross roads.She thought it was "safe".The passenger doors scraped and buckled.Fiat need it in the garage for 14 days ! For a door ffs !
 
editor said:
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.
Click to expand...

[devils advocate]
For arguments sake, what would you say if all vehicular road users espoused the same philosophy given the current legal requirements as applicable to traffic lights[/devils advocate]
 
No, but only because if I were to have an accident the other guy could just say "yes I was driving into him like a cock, BUT he went through a red light" and I wouldn't get 2.3 million pounds compensation.
 
Dr. Furface said:
Just out of interest, has anyone here ever been done - fine or license points - for going thru a red?
Click to expand...

I got pulled over by police a few times by police outside the chinese embassy.

I'd stopped at the red and waited, but knew the junction pretty well and had just pre-empted the end of the red by a few seconds to get off before the cars.

Never got a fine though, just a talking to.

I think it's just a flat £30 fine - not sure if they ever dish out points for it?
 
Marius said:
Well you started it with your justifying why its okay for you to flout safety laws.
Click to expand...

But I'm being perfectly realistic, and I have first hand knowledge and experience of the issue. You're just stating your knee-jerk reaction.

Did you know that, amongst experts, it's now the widely held view that it is indeed safer for cyclists to jump certain red lights?
 
I break the rules at one set of lights, but I have only very rarely had to charge through on red for fear of being hit from behind - I have learned to anticipate such things. I would never jump a red light simply to get somewhere faster. I am at various times a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcylist and driver and let each role inform the others.

Where I live it's cars that jump the red lights (there are sod all bikes anyway).

There's one set of lights where I take a chance by leaving on amber/green.

If the cars are in the advance box, I will be on the roundabout itself.
I pull away on amber/green to discourage the morons behind trying to cut me up as if I'm not there.

Just lately I have been having to wave through (in an exagerated fashion) a stream of cars to my right leaving it very late (solidly into their red).

If only they would discreetly police those lights, they could take dozens of dangerous drivers off the road. There are cameras, but clearly no one is watching them.
 
Swarfega said:
If you bust a light and get shredded, you have caused the ruination of several lives through a simple transgression which could have been easily avoided with 30 seconds of patience.
Click to expand...

What if, tomorrow, I obey the laws of the road (that have scant regard for cyclists) and stay with the traffic at a red light and get hit by a bus turning left with me in its blind spot?

Why should I risk my safety because of inappropriate road laws?
 
ChrisFilter said:
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.
Click to expand...
Safety aside, do you care that you might be adding to cyclists being hated by other road users?

editor said:
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.
Click to expand...
I might do that :o but don't cycle in the middle of the night that often.
 
BiddlyBee said:
Safety aside, do you care that you might be adding to cyclists being hated by other road users?
Click to expand...

Not especially, to be honest.

In fact, I imagine that I cause less ire than under confident, slow, wobbly cyclists who stay with the traffic at all times do. I don't tend to cause other road users many worries when I cycle. I'm confident, I hold my position on the road. I gesture and interact with the traffic, and I'm always aware of my position on the road.

I'm aware that certain cyclists will no doubt mutter profanities when I venture out past a red, but frankly, I don't really care. I do enough protecting and looking after wobbly cyclists (who probably aren't even aware that they're a problem, or being helped) for my karma to balance out.
 
ChrisFilter said:
Not especially, to be honest.
Click to expand...
Fair enough.

In fact, I imagine that I cause less ire than under confident, slow, wobbly cyclists who stay with the traffic at all times, do. I don't tend to cause other road users many worries when I cycle. I'm confident, I hold my position on the road. I gesture and interact with the traffic, and I'm always aware of my position on the road.

I'm aware that certain cyclists will no doubt mutter profanities when I venture out past a red, but frankly, I don't really care. I do enough protecting and looking after wobbly cyclists (who probably aren't even aware that they're a problem, or being helped) for my karma to balance out.
Click to expand...
Hope that ^ ain't directed at me, just because I don't jump red lights doesn't mean I'm wobbly and don't know how to ride on London roads ;) :p

This could (and always does) go round in circles. I'm off home :D
 
BiddlyBee said:
Why would you be in the blind spot of a bus?
Click to expand...

Because I'm behind other cyclists and the bus pulls up on my right. I try and move out of the way, but the lights are already changing, and I'm trapped in by other cyclists. Reversing when seating on a bike is near impossible in a hurry. So, there we all are, and I'm crushed against some railings.

Meanwhile, cyclist Pete set off just ahead of the traffic when he'd adjudged it was safe to advance. He took his position in the road a good few seconds before the traffic had caught up and safely passed.
 
BiddlyBee said:
Fair enough.

Hope that ^ ain't directed at me, just because I don't jump red lights doesn't mean I'm wobbly and don't know how to ride on London roads ;) :p
Click to expand...

No, not at all! :D

Nor am I suggesting that obeying the rules makes someone unsafe, or a bad or inexperienced cyclist, not for a second.
 
ChrisFilter said:
Because I'm behind other cyclists and the bus pulls up on my right. I try and move out of the way, but the lights are already changing, and I'm trapped in by other cyclists. Reversing when seating on a bike is near impossible in a hurry. So, there we all are, and I'm crushed against some railings.

Meanwhile, cyclist Pete set off just ahead of the traffic when he'd adjudged it was safe to advance. He took his position in the road a good few seconds before the traffic had caught up and safely passed.
Click to expand...

this is pretty much how sebastien lukomski was killed :(

5 years ago on monday morning.

people die from obeying laws as well as well as breaking them. it's easy to talk about general situations but it's different when you know the people who aren't about anymore to argue these points.
 
I really hate cyclists that jump red lights, its quite disconcerting when you're cycling across a junction and another cyclist starts creeping into your right of way.

You may do it cautiously and only when its safe, but other road users are constantly scanning the road for safety reasons and seeing another vehicle on the road when you don't expect them to be there just increases the feeling of danger on the roads.

Also its been noted that other vehicles such as mopeds and motorbikes are now increasingly jumping red lights which could possibly be copycat behaviour.

So when will lorries start jumping red lights? And will that be ok too????
 
No, I never jump red lights.

I was however photographed in front of the line and they managed to trace me and give me a ticket and get this, they have me 3 endorsement points on my driving licence.

I still never jump red lights.

Of course if I did then I probably would kill a few light jumping cyclists with my car!
 
moon said:
I really hate cyclists that jump red lights, its quite disconcerting when you're cycling across a junction and another cyclist starts creeping into your right of way.
Click to expand...

Which is exactly why, on the rare occasions I do go over a red, it's not at any place where there are alternate streams of traffic.
 
moon said:
I really hate cyclists that jump red lights, its quite disconcerting when you're cycling across a junction and another cyclist starts creeping into your right of way.

You may do it cautiously and only when its safe, but other road users are constantly scanning the road for safety reasons and seeing another vehicle on the road when you don't expect them to be there just increases the feeling of danger on the roads.
Click to expand...

The glib answer to that is 'good' - the more awareness the better - but I can appreciate where you're coming from.
 
The 'experts' who say that jumping lights is safer for cyclists always remind me of the blokes down the pub who think it's safer to not wear a seatbelt in a car, "Cos, like I 'eard of some bird in Dubai who's husband got flung out of the car whilst she burnt to death, likes."
 
i would love to see a meta-study (thank you ben goldacre!) into bicycle accidents in the capital, safety gear used (helmets/lights/hi-viz etc), attitudes to highway code etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cee
What car did you learn to drive in?
2
Replies
48
Views
1K
Chz
Chz
Idaho
How much have you just spent to get the same old car back?
Replies
17
Views
453
nogojones
nogojones
teuchter
How much do you believe car travel costs you per mile?
5 6 7 8 9
Replies
253
Views
8K
hash tag
hash tag
tim
Ferry land - which ferries have you taken and which do you wish to take before Charon rows you across the Styx.
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
163
Views
5K
nottsgirl
N
HeAthen
Random "What does this do" car thread.
2
Replies
48
Views
1K
Griff
Griff
Back
Top Bottom