Stopping red lights

[Skilid]

I used to ride a bike every day. I always used to cycle on the roads, and always stopped at red traffic lights. I done all this so that I wasn't stereotyped as an annoying cyclist. I would always be going fairly quickly on my bike. Yet, no matter how I rode, i'd still get cut up/squeezed by cars etc. If I was going into a tunnel, they would try and squeeze me into the wall so that they could go through first and save themselves .5 of a second.

Swings and roundabouts.

 

[grudas]

I used to ride a bike every day. I always used to cycle on the roads, and always stopped at red traffic lights. I done all this so that I wasn't stereotyped as an annoying cyclist. I would always be going fairly quickly on my bike. Yet, no matter how I rode, i'd still get cut up/squeezed by cars etc. If I was going into a tunnel, they would try and squeeze me into the wall so that they could go through first and save themselves .5 of a second.

Swings and roundabouts.

ohh so true.. how many cars do i see positioning them selves by the path way no way a cyclist can pass.. and if he does.. hohoho the rage comes.. the simple true is

there are bad CYCLISTS

there are bad DRIVERS

there are bad PEDESTRIANS

its just a nature of human..?!

 

[reefoid]

Odd, I ride 8,000 miles a year, about 5,000 in central London, without the need to jump red lights for safety. I must just be lucky I guess.....

I don't ride quite as much as you, but again I never feel the need to jump reds for safety either. Just seems the standard excuse for those that can't bear the thought of being held up for a minute or two.

 

[Mr-White]

As a cyclist I'm never annoyed by stationary queues of cars who almost deliberately position themselves nott allow filtering because cars are never involved in traffic jams and are always the fastest way of getting from A to B....

It can be awkward because bicycles use the out side curb side where as motor bikes use the middle space between the lanes so you're always going to annoy someone.

MW

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

It can be awkward because bicycles use the out side curb side where as motor bikes use the middle space between the lanes so you're always going to annoy someone.

MW

I user the middle space between lanes if possible; since motor cycles use it drivers are more likely to expect someone there. Generally though drivers don't stick to one, or the other, or the middle of the lane, but position themselves at random.

On one mile long section of road I use with a cycle track marked with a solid white line drivers constantly pull across it without looking in order to let motorcycles and scooters filter on the right.

 

[RockLobster]

Does anyone find some traffic lights don't detect you're waiting whilst you're on a motorbike so you end up waiting until a car arrives behind you or alongside. Very annoying.

 

[Hellsmk2]

But you're not always entering a busy junction. So why are you basing your argument entirely on that?

and kids... don't do drugs, because they're also illegal, stupid and will kill you to death by even looking at them. Don't try and think for yourselves because someone else has already done it for you.

Keep on ragin' against that machine man!

If you were in a car/motorbike at the exact same set of lights, you would not jump them regardless of whether there was no traffic. You shouldn't do it on a push bike. The only reason you can get away with it is because you don't have number plates.

The police really should come down on you guys much much harder.

 

[Draeger]

There's no safe time. You never know what is flying along a road.

You wouldn't do it in your car so don't do it on your bike. You are no better than anyone else who does this.

Absolute nonsense.

 

[MarkST]

Does anyone find some traffic lights don't detect you're waiting whilst you're on a motorbike so you end up waiting until a car arrives behind you or alongside. Very annoying.

Grrr, yes. Lights at the end of my road, if you're in a car they change as you approach, on a motorcycle you have to wait for a car to come along

 

[Mr-Xoc]

Grrr, yes. Lights at the end of my road, if you're in a car they change as you approach, on a motorcycle you have to wait for a car to come along

I don't know how true it is but I have read somewhere that some traffic lights have a basic metal detector in the road and bikes aren't a large enough source of metal to set them off. I found an article once that said attaching two magnets to the bottom of your bike can trick them into thinking you are a car and therefore changing the lights.

As I said no idea how true this is or if it only works with certain magnets/lights etc.

 

[fez]

What on earth has that got to do with anything? As a pedestrian you can quite legally cross a road without having to wait for a red traffic light. We aren't even talking about crossing the road anyhow, if you run a red light you are typically entering a junction where other traffic has right of way and won't be expecting some berk to appear from the wrong direction.

You post is just a long list of excuses, you know running red lights on a push bike is illegal and stupid, but you are trying to justify it anyway.

I assume that you can quite legally break the speed limit in this country as well? Cut cyclists up and drive dangerously. 90% of people do not drive to the letter of the law and would not consider themselves dangerous or feel that they were breaking the law.

What part of running a red light when there is no danger to yourself or others dangerous?

Everyone on the roads makes judgement calls, they just happen to fall in different places for different vehicles.

 

[Truszy]

You shouldn't do it on a push bike.

Why not?

The only reason you can get away with it is because you don't have number plates.

Correct!

The police really should come down on you guys much much harder.

Why? Being punished for not causing myself or anyone else any harm or inconvenience. Well, I guess you must be one of them there morons that makes them laws!

 

[rgritchie]

I can never be bothered trying to run red lights on a bike, stop as often as possible for a breather. The problem with cyclists is they're all too fit.

 

[Truszy]

I can never be bothered trying to run red lights on a bike, stop as often as possible for a breather. The problem with cyclists is they're all too fit.

You need to keep your momentum. It's easier than starting off again!

 

[Souleh]

Never bothered with cyclists running reds, its a bit cheeky but im no saint.

Im on a motorbike most days commuting so best of both worlds.. Cyclists arent my enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, so I let cyclists out