Pushing a bicycle across the road when the light is red

[snadge]

Whilst that is true (or at least used to be in earlier copies of the Highway Code - haven't checked the latest ones), I wouldn't rely on it ... in my experience you can count the number of car drivers and motorcycle and bike riders who know / observe it on the fingers of one hand ...

I always give way to pedestrians and cyclists.

What herbsman is leading to I think is the ability to run red lights pedaling at walking pace cos' it's no different to pushing it.

We have the other thread where a cyclist was killed by running a red light and losing out, herbsman's argument leads to that territory.

 

[citygirl]

this really pisses me off as a car driver..one rule for us - another for the cyclists. same for motorbikes. since when as it anywhere near fair that they get to drive down between 2 lanes of traffic to be first off at lights?

why can't they wait at the lights like the rest of us? one of my BIGGEST bug-bears...

everyone should use the roads in consideration of ALL road users, surely??!

 

[Crispy]

this isn't about jumping red lights, it's about turning into a pedestrian by getting off the bike, then obeying the rules for pedestrians, then turning back into a cyclist on the other side of the junction.

 

[pogofish]

(If you are a pedestrian pushing a car, likewise)

Traffic laws only apply to cars, bikes and other vehicles being driven or ridden.

That is interesting.

A while back, a pal had the book thrown at him by an officer who caught him pushing a motorbike he was working on along his road from his gran's whose garage he was using as the workshop, to his home where he was going to be finishing it off before MOT/Tax etc.

The seargant (a bit of a notorious cunt to bikers in that area TBH) got several charges out of this & he ended-up paying a fair whack in fines & points.

I don't think he did much by way of fighting the case & I've always had the suspicion the officer was going well over the score on him?

 

[dylanredefined]

Why does it bother you its not a race?
Was a story on telly last night driver getting done for killing a cyclist who had gone through a red light .Police couldnt work out how she had hit him turned out she was speeding and texting at same time .
Made me think maybe cycling through red lights is not the safeist thing to do.

 

[gentlegreen]

this really pisses me off as a car driver..one rule for us - another for the cyclists. same for motorbikes. since when as it anywhere near fair that they get to drive down between 2 lanes of traffic to be first off at lights?

why can't they wait at the lights like the rest of us? one of my BIGGEST bug-bears...

everyone should use the roads in consideration of ALL road users, surely??!

Because a lot of the time the cars are in the way.

Why not try cycling ?

It's truly life changing.

 

[citygirl]

Why does it bother you its not a race?
Was a story on telly last night driver getting done for killing a cyclist who had gone through a red light .Police couldnt work out how she had hit him turned out she was speeding and texting at same time .
Made me think maybe cycling through red lights is not the safeist thing to do.

ABSOLUTELY!

crispy. since when did pedestrains approach traffic lights that way? to go across the path of the normal pedestrian route is still going THROUGH a red light, walking or not. if they go onto the path, then that shouldn't be allowed either. bikes can still do damage even being walked.

why is it not for the cyclist to have to WAIT!?

 

[Crispy]

Calm down. I'll say it again, slowly.

I get to a cross roads. My light is red. I get off my bike, wheel it on to the pavement and cross the adjacent road. On the other side, I get back on my bike and carry on riding. There is NOTHING wrong with this.

 

[tommers]

ABSOLUTELY!

crispy. since when did pedestrains approach traffic lights that way? to go across the path of the normal pedestrian route is still going THROUGH a red light, walking or not. if they go onto the path, then that shouldn't be allowed either. bikes can still do damage even being walked.

why is it not for the cyclist to have to WAIT!?

can you drive me around? you must be perfect.

and he's not talking about going across. he's talking about going in the same direction as the peds.

there's even a diagram!!!!! (I added those exclamations just for you )

 

[Crispy]

tbf, the diagram shows the cyclist crossing the road not quite on the crossing. But then this is a route I've taken as a pedestrian before. Hasn't everyone?

 

[citygirl]

Because a lot of the time the cars are in the way.

Why not try cycling ?

It's truly life changing.

doubt i'd carry much shopping that way..i actually only use my car to go shopping(big shop, once every month or so) and if i go on holiday, or if i have to travel far, late at night....i walk most places, i live close to most places i go to...i drive with consideration for ALL road users, why can't cyclists? pedestrians aren't allowed to walk up the middle of two lanes of traffic, why are bikes allowed to do it?

 

[citygirl]

Calm down. I'll say it again, slowly.

I get to a cross roads. My light is red. I get off my bike, wheel it on to the pavement and cross the adjacent road. On the other side, I get back on my bike and carry on riding. There is NOTHING wrong with this.

then i should be going down the middle of the traffic with my shopping trolley, then, right? it has wheels don't it?


stupid MAN thinking, innit

 

[gentlegreen]

pedestrians aren't allowed to walk up the middle of two lanes of traffic, why are bikes allowed to do it?

I don't do that to any great extent, but when the lights have just changed and I can safely get to the advance box in time I will. And as I'm also an occaisional driver , I prefer that cyclists approach on my side where I'm more likely to notice them.

As to couriers whizzing between lanes of moving traffic .. I wouldn't last 5 minutes in that job.

 

[Crispy]

then i should be going down the middle of the traffic with my shopping trolley, then, right? it has wheels don't it?


stupid MAN thinking, innit

What? did I say this?

I only go between traffic if it's staionary and there's plenty of room. Otherwise I overtake or go down the cycle/bus lane. Why does cyclists having this advantage piss you off so much? If you could nip to the front, wouldn't you?

 

[tommers]

What? did I say this?

I only go between traffic if it's staionary and there's plenty of room. Otherwise I overtake or go down the cycle/bus lane. Why does cyclists having this advantage piss you off so much? If you could nip to the front, wouldn't you?

nope. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!

 

[snadge]

What? did I say this?

I only go between traffic if it's staionary and there's plenty of room. Otherwise I overtake or go down the cycle/bus lane. Why does cyclists having this advantage piss you off so much? If you could nip to the front, wouldn't you?

i notice this on my motorbike, the amount of jealous tossers that pull across their lane to try and stop you is unbelievable, I just pull in behind 'em and whip past on the inside of them, really pisses 'em off.

 

[tommers]

stupid MAN thinking, innit

you're a charmer.

 

[Biddlybee]

If it's ok to dismount and walk the bike through a red light, then what is the argument against carefully cycling at walking speed through a red light?

You're not meant to do it would be a pretty strong argument against it I reckon. Also you going through red lights gives all other cyclists a bad name, and makes motorists hate us even more

Get off your bike and push it across the crossing if you're in that much of a hurry, or just wait.

 

[citygirl]

can you drive me around? you must be perfect.

and he's not talking about going across. he's talking about going in the same direction as the peds.

there's even a diagram!!!!! (I added those exclamations just for you )

Herbsman opens this thread by asking exactly that, going the same as the traffic would ACROSS the red. not onto the path. read it properly before ya get on yer high horse. and actually, it's not about being "perfect" it's about using the roads properly and just respecting other road-users, lol...fuck me, if that makes me perfect, then rock on. i'm the perfect one. it's official

 

[Biddlybee]

Cyclists over taking stationary cars is using the road properly

 

[citygirl]

What? did I say this?

I only go between traffic if it's staionary and there's plenty of room. Otherwise I overtake or go down the cycle/bus lane. Why does cyclists having this advantage piss you off so much? If you could nip to the front, wouldn't you?

if the whole LANE is clear, then sure...but cars are easier to spot than bikes... i certainly don't go weaving in and out of two lanes of traffic in two lanes of road. and i thought you were GOOD at maths

 

[Biddlybee]

but cars are easier to spot than bikes...

All the more reason they should get to the front of a queue of traffic and wait in the advance stop box (is that it's name?) which is for cyclists!

 

[Crispy]

I don't go weaving in and out of two lanes of traffic. I change lanes where appropriate, giving space and signalling etc. Where safe to do so, I overtake by going down the right hand side, as is legal and normal practice.

 

[citygirl]

but is it ok to go across the red lights though, biddly dear???

 

[Crispy]

no.

but if you get off and wheel the bike, behaving as a normal pedestrian, it is.
unless you think that pedestrians shouldn't be crossing the road either.

 

[Biddlybee]

Neither me nor Crispy are saying it is, dear

We're saying we wheel our bikes while walking across a pedestrian crossing. When you walk you're a pedestrian.

 

[citygirl]

crispy. my 4 year old was injured by a cyclist who decided to do exactly what you say you do at the lights...and he walked straight into her on the path, didn't see her, cus he was too busy watching to see if he'd beaten the cars and was able to get off as fast as he could on the other side. if i'd taken her pushchair for a wander in the road, because i couldn't be bothered to wait for the lights to go, then i'd be putting her and other road-users at risk. (a pram can do as much damage as a bike.) so why is it ok for bikes to be pushed across when there IS an alternative...to just wait...blimey...you're a patronising fuck. i hadn't realised this before.

 

[gentlegreen]

Citygirl. I think I'm beginning to identify your particular driver "type".

I doubt you're actually fully engaged with your driving.

Do you automatically overtake cyclists ?
Do you automatically accelerate if there's a gap between you and the next car ?

Do you pull up behind other vehicles until you're almost touching ?

How are you with your handbrake and hill starts ?
(or do you roll backwards half a car length)

Do you perhaps take telephone calls in your car ?

Is the vanity mirror on the driver's side ?

How many "little bumps" do you have ?
.

 

[Biddlybee]

What are you talking about citygirl? A pedestrian is a pedestrian regardless of whether they're pushing a trolley, a bike or a pushchair. If you're a ped you wait for the green man to cross... that's what I do. Sorry your 4 yr old got hurt - sounds like the bloke was a twat if we crossing the ped crossing when he shouldn't have been, but no need to think of all cyclists like that.

 

[citygirl]

haha that's right gentlegreen. you just stick with the one rule for one gang. i have 3 teenagers, i can take it


been driving 14 years, and actually drive auto. so no rolling back for me. i don't ALWAYS use my handbrake when i stop, but always wear my seatbelt...i don't speed in towns, but occasionally on national speed limit roads...you can patronise all you like, but if you came in a car with me i doubt you'd be saying ANY of that crap