Running Red Lights - Croydon Style

szr660

Just had to get this off my chest but first a bit of background. I used to race bikes very badly in the 80s and have just got back into riding in the last few months, firstly in preparation for the London To Brighton and secondly for general health reasons, and because I LOVE it!.

I drive a car, and ride a motorcycle.

NOW...why do so many bloody cyclists think its OK to just sail through red lights in the Croydon CBD, nearly knocking over pedestrians on the way, shouting abuse if a car nearly punts them off. What do they expect?

I have always thought that cyclists ought to be responsible road users, on the basis of if we want the full rights of the road we have to accept the Highway Code.

Its funny I only noticed this when I started riding a bike again. Maybe, as I am 37, I am turning into Victor Meldrew!!

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Scotty

steve

Its called natural selection, should we interfere? I think NOT, I’m happy for these silly pricks to work out for them selves that the under a car isn’t a place they ought to be.

Its not that your 37, its more like that fact there are dip****s driving cars, trucks and buses, riding motobikes, walking and also riding BIKES.

cheers

Steve

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Steve

CyclingForums.com

kwv

And many Brisbane cyclists especially in West End has not worked out (thanks to the Queensland Government and Brisbane Council) as responsible road users you must by law walk (not ride) your bike across the crossing when you leave the footpath.

stubacca

I'm with you on this one, buddy. Nothing I can't stand more than cyclists who don't follow the road rules, both when I'm riding and when driving.

I value my life, so I always wear a helmet, always signal (left & right turns and slowing down/stopping), and always obey all traffic laws. I've never had an accident on the road yet...

Just as there are bad drivers, there are also bad cyclists.

kwv

Thanks for the comment stubacca and after living in Sydney for more 20 years where they don't allow cyclists over 12 to ride on the footpath.

I find many Brisbane cyclists would be the one most to break the law and not follow the road rules and this is after living in Brisbane for only 3 years.

kwv

Thanks for the comment stubacca and after living in Sydney for more 20 years where they don't allow cyclists over 12 to ride on the footpath.

I have found many Brisbane cyclists would be the ones most to break the law and not follow the road rules and this is after living in Brisbane for only 3 years.

jonstagg

Sometimes it is safer to go through a clear red light than wait.

robroy

Cant agree with what you are saying Jonstagg the rules are in place for all to abide by. I understand perfectly what you are saying but boy one law for cyclists and one for the paying motorist ...I dont think so.

Be a law abiding cyclist use the proper hand signals and road laws and hopefully you will be cycling for a long long time and enjoying it.

troyq

I agree with what you are saying robroy but why do you say a "paying" motorist - how many cyclists out there (on the road) do you think do not own a car as well? and therefore "pay" just as much as any other road user, but fortunately not for petrol.

Its this argument exactly that many dipsh*t motorists believe bike riders should pay registration to ride their bike on the road... my god there would be a battle on any government's hands if they were to try and implement such a thing!

wildcard

Trouble is, these ass-wipe drivers think it's OK to run bikes off the road because they beleive - in their view - cyclists don't pay their way. Actually, everyone pays for the roads in one form or another. The number of time's I've had car drivers put my life at risk is astounding - my crime? Being on two wheels and not four, being two feet in front of them and not twenty feet behind. It's a power thing, and the cyclist is an easy target.

Car drivers are quick to slate cyclists who don't follow rules, but where I live the number of pillocks using their cars as weapons to take their frustration out on cyclists far outnumber any two-wheeled menace. Talk about not stopping at lights; how about giving bikes room? Undercutting at junctions and islands - and lights? Failing to give right of way?

In my view there's more bad car drivers than cyclists because they know the consequences of their stupidity won't hurt as much unless they're caught..

kwv

And by doing this you give other cyclists an bad name, but then by running a red light I guess you shouldn't taken anyone to court.

ireman_1

I recently had a driver not see me (that's tricky since I am a "bit" larger than the typical person riding an urban assault vehicle) and fail to yield the right of way. It was only with my size 14 Adidas planted on his fender that he realized the error of his ways. He then wanted to have the police involved for the dent in his car. Probably not the best idea here in Oregon for that idiot. We seem to be one of the more "bike friendly" places, more so than when I lived in Colorado anyways. As the "moment" was heating up a policeman arrived and after listening to me, the driver, and several others who saw things clearly the cop told the driver he was lucky he didn't feel like writing him a ticket since I was OK! I really hope I am a more aware driver than that moron! I guess I wrote this to illustrate kwv's point: if we don't pay attention to the rules, then we are no better than the ones we are complaining about. Have a pint of me, or someone!

K.

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Disciples Of Dirt

slitemere

Originally posted by jonstagg
Sometimes it is safer to go through a clear red light than wait.


I Understand what you are saying jonstagg. But I don't agree that you should go through red lights unless you have a good reason to. I have been cycling for 20 years and have never had an accident because I ride sensibly and am aware of what's around me. I would never run a light but in many cities now they have one line for the cars to wait at and another 5 meters ahead for the bikes to wait at. This means that the cyclists don't get squeezed off the road at traffic lights and hopefully the arseholes driving the cars behind can actually see you and not pull away so fact that they hit your rear wheel (I'm allowed to say this because I drive 40,000 miles a year).

Unfortunately most lights don't have these advanced stops for cyclists so I tend to pull in front of the stop line and move in front of the cars at the lights, it might piss them off a little but by the time they've pulled off I'm already 10 metres in front and will have pulled back over to the left side of the road.

The cycling on the sidewalk/pavement issue is a fun one. I do it some of the time, but........I cycle at the same speed as the pedestrians ie When i'm on the road i cycle fast on the pavement I cycle slow. The reason for cycling on the pavement is simple. If i am pushing my bike i take up twice as much width as when I am cycling slowly. Actually I am usually just pushing myself along with my feet otherwise I would fall over (I use spd pedals).

Anyone who races along on the pavement should definately have a spanner put in their spokes )

I'm no angel but I've never hit a car or a pedestrian. I have however been hit by a bus and hit people stepping into the road in front of me without looking, I can assure you the latter will never do that again - being hit by a bike travelling at over 25mph is a bit of a shock!!

aeon16

The ONLY time I go through reds is if it is on a |- sort of road, and I'm travelling up the left. ADD to this, if there are NO pedestrians crossing, and it is COMPLETELY safe to cross. Often, if you keep going you get an advantage on the cars, and this keeps them and you happy, as they don't have to wait for you to get going again, and can often just sail around you when they meet you further up the road.

However, that is the only time. I can't believe it when I see some people sail straight through intersections. Begging death for a visit.

Oh! Good Lord! That's the other thing... people with helmets fastened to their handlebars. Where's the logic here?!?