It winds me up because it shows disregard for the regulations of the carriageway. It's all down to courtesy and respect really.
Should a bicycle be on the roads
- Thread starter Surfer
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It winds me up because it shows disregard for the regulations of the carriageway. It's all down to courtesy and respect really.
The blanket criticism of cyclists running red lights make no sense. When a light is red and there is nothing nearby - think a pedestrian crossing, with no pedestrian anywhere within 30m of it for example... a cyclists going through the red light is inconsequential.
A bike going through a red light - when it's clear - is similar to a pedestrian crossing the road at a random point when it's clear. Stopping cyclists from passing red lights when it's clear is similar to the US jaywalking situation when you can only walk across a road at designated crossings.
If a bike approaches a red light, presumably it's okay to get off and walk past the red light, then get on again? If so, why not ride?
Cyclists should at the very least be allowed to filter left on a red light, and I would argue they should ignore all lights - just like pedestrians can cross the road at any point. Think of a cyclist jumping a red light as the same as a pedestrian choosing to cross the road.
The blanket "it's the law" argument clearly isn't the whole story as it doesn't recognise the difference between bikes and cars. There is a difference (especially when filtering left), the question is how to recognise that difference in the law.
Key point - all red lights are not the same.
Key point - the characteristics of bikes are different to cars so it can't be optimal for the rules to be the same.
Key point - pedestrians are allowed to cross the road whenever they want - irrespective of red lights.
(p.s. I ride with insurance.)
A bike going through a red light - when it's clear - is similar to a pedestrian crossing the road at a random point when it's clear. Stopping cyclists from passing red lights when it's clear is similar to the US jaywalking situation when you can only walk across a road at designated crossings.
If a bike approaches a red light, presumably it's okay to get off and walk past the red light, then get on again? If so, why not ride?
Cyclists should at the very least be allowed to filter left on a red light, and I would argue they should ignore all lights - just like pedestrians can cross the road at any point. Think of a cyclist jumping a red light as the same as a pedestrian choosing to cross the road.
The blanket "it's the law" argument clearly isn't the whole story as it doesn't recognise the difference between bikes and cars. There is a difference (especially when filtering left), the question is how to recognise that difference in the law.
Key point - all red lights are not the same.
Key point - the characteristics of bikes are different to cars so it can't be optimal for the rules to be the same.
Key point - pedestrians are allowed to cross the road whenever they want - irrespective of red lights.
(p.s. I ride with insurance.)
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Someone mentioned that people cycle more in Europe.
Its not hard to see why...
Lets compare cycling in say Hull or Manchester City Centre to a serene and unfussed journey in say Marseille, Marbella, or Vicenza.
Hmmm, I think I will take the car!
Its been the coldest July I can ever remember in my entire life, and its rained nearly everyday and people wonder why we prefer to drive!!
Its not hard to see why...
Lets compare cycling in say Hull or Manchester City Centre to a serene and unfussed journey in say Marseille, Marbella, or Vicenza.
Hmmm, I think I will take the car!
Its been the coldest July I can ever remember in my entire life, and its rained nearly everyday and people wonder why we prefer to drive!!
Perhaps I worded it wrong.
I think I was just trying to say that as somebody who is only a motorist, is it really worth them getting all that hot and bothered about it. There are other things they could be worrying about.
The trouble I have with Red Light Jumpers as a Cyclist is that I see where you are coming from. If you are going to ahead and jump a Red Light when the Green Man is showing to allow Pedestrians across, you have to at least give way to them, by either coming to a total stop, or pushing your bike, as it's their right to be crossing.
Trouble is, many Red Light Jumpers just plow on through. Not only have they broken the law, but they run the risk of injuring Pedestrians by not giving way when they should. I've seen some pretty close calls by some idiots who give us all a bad name.
You realize that just as many people Cycle in the countries and cities of Europe that are closer to England?
I can say for certain that you will also still sit in traffic on the way to work in Marbella during rush hour, especially with the current works on the A7, so it's very little different to the UK, aside from the heat. I'd wager that's not much fun to be sat in unless you've got air conditioning.
It goes without saying that when pedestrians are crossing you stop!
My point is about when there's nothing there. There was a time when I'd sit there, on an empty road behind the line, looking like a lemon. Not any longer. The crossing is what, 3 m wide? I can see perfectly clearly that there's no one there, or on the pavement, so I'm not going to sit behind the line until a light goes green.
I think it's down to jealousy i.e the cyclist gets to continue his journey without having to wait first at the lights.
Its the same in northern europe.
You raise another good point though that people here seem scared by a bit ofr rain!
The rain puts me off - grit and dirt both stick to wet tyres increasing the likelihood of punctures.
heh, I absolutely love cycling in the rain. I know that makes me odd - I think its flashbacks to being a kid and splashing through puddles!
I like that most 'fair weather' cyclists aren't out when it's raining on my commute, so it means that you don't have as much traffic in the Cycle Lanes on the way home.
Caporegime
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I'm that guy! Can you recommend any decent waterproofs to go over office clothes that won't cause sweating?
Soldato
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It's nice to get cycle lanes to ride in but my experience has shown that when they line a road with houses, the home owners tend to view the cycle lane as a parking spot.
As for cycle lanes in my own area, yes there is one, but it meanders through the local countryside and would add a further ten miles to my journey. Blooming useless for those of us who commute.
Soldato
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I suggest you take a look at Wiggle for decent waterproofs. As for wearing office clothes while cycling, can't you change when you get to the office?
Leave shoes at the office, put the rest in a decent sized waterproof rucksack, don your shorts and waterproof jacket and enjoy the ride to work. When you get there, get changed in the toilet after a good wash down then when you get home at night, go for a well deserved soak in the bath.
Gore Path II Paclite.
I don't tend to ride in the rain. People round my parts lose even more of their driving ability so I don't take the risk. I get the tram instead, which is full of the poor, the smelly, the uneducated, the inconsiderate and the loud.
How have you come to that conclusion? I've been in shorts all month. It rained today and I can't remember it raining for the rest of July
Because it's against the ****ing law and it's dangerous.
I've always got changed and showered at work, so I've never really worried to much about being too hot.
If it was during the morning, then a waterproof jacket is enough to keep your upper half dry and your shorts should dry off during the day. The one thing that did annoy me was that my shoes would get soaked, especially when big puddles are about. They take ages to dry out. I got some Seal Skinz socks, they keep your feet totally dry and you can put them on at the end of the day and not notice that your shoes are still soaked.
If it was during the morning, then a waterproof jacket is enough to keep your upper half dry and your shorts should dry off during the day. The one thing that did annoy me was that my shoes would get soaked, especially when big puddles are about. They take ages to dry out. I got some Seal Skinz socks, they keep your feet totally dry and you can put them on at the end of the day and not notice that your shoes are still soaked.
I don't tend to ride in the rain. People round my parts lose even more of their driving ability so I don't take the risk. I get the tram instead, which is full of the poor, the smelly, the uneducated, the inconsiderate and the loud.
How have you come to that conclusion? I've been in shorts all month. It rained today and I can't remember it raining for the rest of July
I'm glad somebody else picked up on that!
Where exactly are you Tango? As down in the south it's been in the upper twenties a hell of a lot!