Pavement cyclists crackdown?

[jochem]

I agree that lights can be jumped "safely" in some circumstances, but it's still antagonistic towards other road users - it winds people up and therefore makes my commute more dangerous.

Got badly cut up on Bishopsgate:
Richtea: "Please could you indicate next time so I at least have some warning?"
Taxitwat: "I'll cut you up whenever I want mate"
Richtea: "Thanks for that. Are you having a bad day?"
Taxitwat: "Fuck off. You're all the same. Fuck off."
Richtea: "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Taxitwat: "You all jump red lights, you're all over the place"

etc etc etc

A>ntagonistic? It's got nothing to do with other drivers as the red-jumping that I do does not affect them! They're just wound up and stressed out cos they're spending too much time in their expensive, lonely little boxes. They should get on a bike and then maybe there'd be less stressy, pissed off dangerous drivers around.

 

[Crispy]

The whole thing about human judgement is that it's fallible. When the risks are high, we sometimes use rules and customs to override it.

I echo richtea's point as well. I've seen and heard several incidents like it.

 

[richtea]

Well I disagree. Circles and roundabaouts.

 

[jochem]

I agree that lights can be jumped "safely" in some circumstances, but it's still antagonistic towards other road users - it winds people up and therefore makes my commute more dangerous.

etc etc etc

and they're jealous that people are getting somewhere faster than them, and for almost no money....I'm sure that's a factor. They feel more important in their cars and thus they should be allowed to get there, wherever it is, first.

If people get wound up, that really is their problem. It's not a 'fuck you' to jump a red light when it has no bearing on anybody elses journey...

 

[trashpony]

and they're jealous that people are getting somewhere faster than them, and for almost no money....I'm sure that's a factor. They feel more important in their cars and thus they should be allowed to get there, wherever it is, first.

If people get wound up, that really is their problem. It's not a 'fuck you' to jump a red light when it has no bearing on anybody elses journey...

Yes I'm sure that's why we object - jealous of your freedom I get pissed off because I've had to swerve/stop numerous times when crossing the road (on foot with my pram) because of idiots like you who don't think the road rules apply to them. I'm still pissed off when I'm in my car.

 

[jochem]

The whole thing about human judgement is that it's fallible. When the risks are high, we sometimes use rules and customs to override it.

I echo richtea's point as well. I've seen and heard several incidents like it.

I'm hearing ya, but don't you realise how much cars dominate our space on this Earth?? It's time to reclaim some of that!! We have been put on this earth with the ability to make judgements, and I'm going to use that ability that I've been given and not submit to a shitty system designed for cars....

related? I'm not sure....

 

[christonabike]

Car drivers are generally jealous of cyclists, yes, that is a fact

 

[jochem]

Yes I'm sure that's why we object - jealous of your freedom I get pissed off because I've had to swerve/stop numerous times when crossing the road (on foot with my pram) because of idiots like you who don't think the road rules apply to them. I'm still pissed off when I'm in my car.

easy now. I always give peds right of way if I'm doing something cheeky, and on top of this i assume that they can't / haven't seen me.....works for me. Haven't you heard? - The Law is an ass. The rules just don't apply for bikes...Maybe on paper, but not in reality. Sorry that some other idiots have made life hard for you, but i don't lump you in with people who barge me with their pram when getting on the bus...

 

[richtea]

and they're jealous that people are getting somewhere faster than them, and for almost no money....I'm sure that's a factor. They feel more important in their cars and thus they should be allowed to get there, wherever it is, first.

Even if it is (I'm inclined to agree with you), why make it worse?

And what's the rush anyway! You only usually have to wait 30 secs tops, and if you plan the road ahead you can read the lights and avoid stopping at all.

 

[jochem]

Let's face it, cars have had their day. One good thing about rising oil prices will be that more people will get on their bikes and finally the infrastructure might be improved to reflect this. One lives in hope....

In the meantime, I reckon car drivers must be a bit jealous of bike riders when they're sitting in traffic going nowhere. Plus, we're fitter, not spending money, don't have to find parking spaces etc. I see so many stressed drivers...it's all beep beep beep, innit. Fucking calm down, get on a bike and give your flabby arse a bit of a workout.

 

[jochem]

Even if it is (I'm inclined to agree with you), why make it worse?

And what's the rush anyway! You only usually have to wait 30 secs tops, and if you plan the road ahead you can read the lights and avoid stopping at all.

It really is their problem, assuming I don't make them do anything they wouldn't normally do (literally always the case with my jumping). They need to get over it...

What's the rush?? No rush, just no point in waiting if there's nobody/nothing about!

 

[maldwyn]

pavement cycling really irks me when done next to a cycle track

 

[Crispy]

Let's face it, cars have had their day. One good thing about rising oil prices will be that more people will get on their bikes and finally the infrastructure might be improved to reflect this. One lives in hope....

In the meantime, I reckon car drivers must be a bit jealous of bike riders when they're sitting in traffic going nowhere. Plus, we're fitter, not spending money, don't have to find parking spaces etc. I see so many stressed drivers...it's all beep beep beep, innit. Fucking calm down, get on a bike and give your flabby arse a bit of a workout.

Agree with you 100% there.
(PS: I'm a cyclist if I din't already make it clear )

 

[richtea]

And remember, you're also killing kittens!

 

[ramjamclub]

faster faster faster

haven't you noticed the faster one travels the more dominating they are on the roads.

The pecking order
Pedestrian 3mph ..............stresslevel 1-3
skateborder 10mph...........stresslevel 2-5
cyclist 20mph.................stresslevel 2-6 6 is for cars swerving in front of you
automoblist 100mph...... stresslevel 6-10
and faster please, I cant' go fast enough.
why do I always get the red light?
Get out of my way you fools can't you see I'm in a hurry!!!
I can't find a bloody parking place.
Yippee! I have found a parking place
(extra's ...with wheel clamp and 300 pound fine)

 

[Orang Utan]

Red lights are cool. They give you a breather, so you can go super fast when it goes green again - I invariably pass anyone who's overtaken me at a red light, so they can't be in that much of a hurry. It's just that unfortunate attribute of humans' personalities - IMPATIENCE! Impatience contributes to so much unpleasantness in our society and that applies to drivers, riders, cyclists AND pedestrians. Chill out and enjoy your journey.

 

[trashpony]

easy now. I always give peds right of way if I'm doing something cheeky, and on top of this i assume that they can't / haven't seen me.....works for me. Haven't you heard? - The Law is an ass. The rules just don't apply for bikes...Maybe on paper, but not in reality. Sorry that some other idiots have made life hard for you, but i don't lump you in with people who barge me with their pram when getting on the bus...

Thanks very much - how kind of you to stop at a red light that applies to you.

If you just stopped in the first place like you're supposed to, I wouldn't have to wonder if you're the sort of cyclist that's going to give me the right of way or not would I?

All this I'm free stuff is a load of stupid hippie crap to legitimise what is basically stupid and selfish behaviour. Grow the fuck up.

 

[jochem]

Thanks very much - how kind of you to stop at a red light that applies to you.

If you just stopped in the first place like you're supposed to, I wouldn't have to wonder if you're the sort of cyclist that's going to give me the right of way or not would I?

All this I'm free stuff is a load of stupid hippie crap to legitimise what is basically stupid and selfish behaviour. Grow the fuck up.

Shit man, you're a car driver aren't you. I can tell....you need to get out more. Go for a nice bike ride and you'll soon feel better. Best not to stop at all the lights though because you lose momentum, and there's often nothing and nobody infront of you, so you don't need to worry.

 

[Crispy]

there's often nothing and nobody infront of you, so you don't need to worry.

You know this for sure? For 100% sure?

 

[jochem]

You know this for sure? For 100% sure?

Look, there are alot of roads and alot of situations out there, so I don't know what you're imagining, but I'm not a big risk-taker, and you don't have to be a big risk taker to jump a red light or two on your bike. Imagine, it's a pelican crossing and nobody's about or they've all crossed, or you want to turn left at the lights and there's bugger all cars or pedestrians about - these are the situations I'm talking about. Is that really so bad???

Are we ever 100% sure about anything? I'm pretty damn careful rider - not that fast - and I've never had an accident in London, and now I've moved to Berlin so that chapter's over anyway..

Jeeez...I think some of this energy would be better spent venting about cars. They're the real danger on the streets. In Brixton ffs, little badboys in their cars everywhere, driving like maniac cocks....where's the thread about that? I really don't get the ire here....

 

[Crispy]

I'm not some sort of generic authoritarian european dictator with a silly salute about this btw. If it's a pedestrian crossing and it's plain that there are no pedestrians around, then I'll go through a red - slowly. But crossing another road is beyond my personal limit - the benefits of jumping those lights outweigh the (admittedly slim) possibility of a serious accident.

 

[jochem]

I'm not some sort of nazi about this btw. If it's a pedestrian crossing and it's plain that there are no pedestrians around, then I'll go through a red - slowly. But crossing another road is beyond my personal limit - the benefits of jumping those lights outweigh the (admittedly slim) possibility of a serious accident.

I think we're probably in agreement. I've got a little girl to look after, which does make you a more careful person, definitely, and I don't want to die, but there's some disproportionate anger about this issue flying about.

We all have to make constant decisions about our actions, taking ourselves and others into account. It's just not realistic to expect somebody to sit still when they can see for sure that there is no reason to stay in that place. I'm reminded of the Germans that I sometimes (more often than you would think) see waiting for the green light so they can cross the road. There is clearly not a car anywhere in sight and yet still they wait. There is something deeply unsettling about this for me - it's as if they've given up their free will. Just cross the damn road!! I can't disassociate this from their past 'rule-following' behavior (as crass a leap as this might seem, but it's not the only case i draw upon) and all its tragic consequences. Think for yourselves please!!! Unless you're in a car - then, stay put because you're 1000% more dangerous than anyone on a bike.

Is that a Godwin? Shit...

 

[jochem]

I'm not some sort of generic authoritarian european dictator with a silly salute about this btw. If it's a pedestrian crossing and it's plain that there are no pedestrians around, then I'll go through a red - slowly. But crossing another road is beyond my personal limit - the benefits of jumping those lights outweigh the (admittedly slim) possibility of a serious accident.

Hey I saw that edit - trying to unGodwin yourself?? And don't you mean the 'drawbacks' instead of 'benefits'?

 

[jochem]

Hey I saw that edit - trying to unGodwin yourself?? And don't you mean the 'drawbacks' instead of 'benefits'?

actually, maybe not. It's late here in Berlin and I've got work to do! Working on a fairly dry translation and this thread is distracting me....OK, back to work now. Drive carefully on your way to work tomorrow morning!

 

[Crispy]

I'm not sure what I typed, but I think the meaning got through
Hey! The edit feature is there for when your fingers slip and you type 'nazi' by mistake