Only if you're being chased by a shark. On a skateboard.
Bike Forum
[closed]
Is it ever acceptable to run a red light
-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
What aboput hopping on to the kerb and riding down that if the light is on a continueous road with only a right hand side filter in. I do that from time to timwe if there is nobody about as in theory I haven't run a red light.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I wouldn't normally, but I agree with: "No other traffic in sight? Sensor not detecting bikes? No question, go through the red."
It's not your fault the traffic control system isn't designed for cyclists. Watch out for the Rozzers though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Watch out for the Rozzers though
I have to say i don't feel the need to up here really(glasgow), the polis on bikes run reds lights and cycle on the pavements up here anyhow, so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have to say i don't feel the need to up here really(glasgow), the polis on bikes run reds lights and cycle on the pavements up here anyhow, so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.
In Santa Monica I saw a sign that said no cycling on the sidewalk, except for police.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Other than those two i dont jump any, i just use them as a chance to practice my track stand in an effort to amaze and awe drivers/pedestrians at the cool thing im doing and they're not. Lets face it, most of you lot probably need to practice your track stands a bit more. Me, im perfect.
+1
You got the no hand trackstand dialled yet?
Posted 1 year ago # -
illegal but perfectly acceptable IMO.
I run red lights and ride on pavements whenever it makes more sense to and have a fine to prove it (from the Glasgow polis ironically).funny thing about polis, if you ride a roadbike or mtb along a pedestrian precinct 9/10 they'll stop you and give you a warning. do it on a BMX and 9/10 they'll completely ignore you.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I used to be all uppity and thought that to earn the respect of a road user, you should act like a road user and follow the highway code.
I've since entered the real world and realised people in cars don't do this and don't respect you anyway, so do whats sensible.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If you really need too! Just bunny hop the lines and you'll be fine!
Posted 1 year ago # -
and have a fine to prove it (from the Glasgow polis ironically).
Aye, where did that happen? Quite surprised at that. Only time i ever got stopped by the polis was for using the road at night with out lights(I was in the pub and had forgot them), they just told me to get on the pavement.Posted 1 year ago # -
Legally, yes if it is unsafe to stop.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yep, it’s illegal, but I probably can say not a working day goes by where I don’t jump a red light on my commute. I make a judgement based on a variety of factors, and will also wait at red lights as well. In all the years I’ve been doing this I have not noticed any change in the attitude of cars drivers relating to cyclists, and tend to feel the STW hand wringers belief that RLJ’ing will make all car drivers hate cyclists and subsequently kill us is somewhat of a forum myth.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I jumped a red light (just by a couple of seconds to get a start) and got chased and shouted at my some loony in a Passat. He was clearly so concerned for road safety issues that he felt weaving about in the road and leaning out of his window was justified.
Go figure?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is it ever acceptable to run a red light
I normally run two - a flashing one on my pack and a steady one on the post....
Posted 1 year ago # -
seosamh77 - about 15 years back at the pedestrian crossing outside the Kelvin Hall. about 9.30 in the morning on my way to work, not a pedestrian in sight, polis were 3 cars back, flashed me over expected a warning not a £20 fixed penalty!
.. vowed next time not to stop.. lazy bastards would never chase you on foot 
jumped the only two redlights in my village earlier today, gotta get my moneys worth
Posted 1 year ago # -
you could get off the bike and just walk past it, the highway code defines a person pushing a bicycle as a pedestrian.
i think most drivers reckon we are assholes anyway, so dont care if i piss them off, only bothered about the rozzers really.
wouldnt do it if people were crossing though.
5am, only thing on the road? wouldnt even slow down.Posted 1 year ago # -
Only when the roads are empty, say like at 5 in the morning. It's up to the individual though. I'm not going to get haughty about people doing it under sensible conditions.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The only time I ever go through a red light is when it is turning to red from amber and I've got someone tailgating me on the bike - it is safer for me to continue in those circumstances as my stopping distance is probably less than that of the car that runs into the back of me.
Any other time I don't, I'm a road user irrespective of whether I drive or cycle, and the same rules apply at the same time.
Out of interest, how many of the confirmed RLJers on here are also car owners?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Used to jump but but stick to the code now.
Only a couple of lights on my commute as I avoid the main roads where possible but there are two in the city centre(Glasgow).
I enjoy riding to the front of a queue of cars stopped at a red light then dismounting pushing my bike over the pavement then getting back onto the road and setting off as they gawp on. Perfectly legal and I bet it really pisses the motorists off. Do the same at two No Entry signs as well.And I would never accept an on the spot fine off the Police for riding on the pavement. They tried it once but caved in and I am even more prepared with my defence now.Posted 1 year ago # -
never seen the need to jump red lights...you can get into the habit of jumping light and put yourself in a stupid situation where someone might get hurt (either yourself or a pedestrian)
if anything does happen (an accident - for example you run over a pedestrian you did not see) and it turns out you jumped a red light you have no defence...
you save so little time jumping light, its not worth the grief
If I am in rush, I get off my bike, and walk it through the lights, and remount the bike on the other side, perfectly legal and no time wasted...
jumping lights? makes pedestrians and motorists think all cyclists are c*nts when they see cyclists regularly jumping lights
Posted 1 year ago # -
walking through lights seems insane to me, if it's safe to walk through lights it's safe to cycle through them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes but it's legal to walk or cross at red lights but not ride or drive through them and quite often you are walking with the green man for pedestrians so it can actually be safer.Improves your cyclocross technique too
Posted 1 year ago # -
my stopping distance is probably less than that of the car that runs into the back of me.
Not unless you're assuming the car driver isn't paying attention and runs into you before they've started braking. Once on the brakes, cars stop a lot faster than bikes.Posted 1 year ago # -
never seen the need to jump red lights
You've presumably also never encountered the situation several of us have mentioned where the lights won't detect a bicycle, so you get stuck on red (in the case of the ones I have an issue with, the phasing is such that if the lights for the main road go red and the side road gets a green before my right turn lane I know it's not noticed me, so I'll go on that phase whilst the main road traffic is stopped).Posted 1 year ago # -
Aracer - not true about the braking distances - I roughly measured this last year and beat the highway code distances easily from 30 mph - 1.75 semislicks and discs
Posted 1 year ago # -
I do it (on my bike) so long as I can see it's clear.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Aracer - not true about the braking distances - I roughly measured this last year and beat the highway code distances easily from 30 mph - 1.75 semislicks and discs
Oh goody - can we do this one over again? Shall I start a separate thread or can we hijack this one?Posted 1 year ago # -
Was it with you this was debated? I think to say the braking distance would be similar to a car would not be unreasonable - and I certainly am wary of stopping hard at lights if there is a car close behind as a car will often follow a bike far too close.
Posted 1 year ago # -
...you do realise TJ that HC stopping distances are based on 2/3g deceleration - a figure any normal car can easily beat. Not only that, but IIRC you measurements were pretty inaccurate, so I'm dubious you really were achieving what you claim (to manage 2/3g you'd need to get your CoG below the saddle on a properly setup bicycle).
Posted 1 year ago # -
aracer Yes I know that modern cars beat the highway code amounts - and I am certain I did on a bike but my measurements was very approximate.
Believe it or not - I know that I can do it no problem. Its easy.
Posted 1 year ago # -
but my measurements was very approximate.
As I remembered - that's where your problem is.Believe it or not - I know that I can do it no problem. Its easy.
Given the inaccuracy of your measurements, on what do you base this belief? My belief that you can't (on a normally set up bike - might be possible on a trials bike with a low saddle) is based on physics and geometry.Posted 1 year ago # -
Councils should show more responsibility with their traffic lights. So many traffic lights are just unnecessary, or setup stupidly.
Councils seem to prefer lights to roundabouts, even though the latter would work better in lots of cases.
I go past some lights on my way home that seem always to be on red when I get to them. I started out waiting patiently but so many other people jump them it seems pointless. Car drivers just seem used to it.
And then there are some other lights that think I'm a bus, so they switch to green for me, and stop all the cars! I always feel a weird mixture of glee and guilt going through that one.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I often jump temporary traffic lights for road works etc, only if its safe to do so and you can see the opposite set of lights.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i make a judgement and act upon it. same as riding on pavements (a whole new can of worms!!) i have no desire to be killed whilst riding my bike and am well aware of the risks of rlj'ing. if i'm sure its safe, i'll go. if i'm not, i wont. simple. and like someone else said, when drivers start obeying the law and being more considerate to cyclist, ill stop doing it. it doesnt matter how considerate a cyclist im being, a large proportion of drivers dont (seem to)care about my safety. i know 2 wrongs dont make a right, but thats my opinion.
Posted 1 year ago # -
"never seen the need to jump red lights...you can get into the habit of jumping light and put yourself in a stupid situation where someone might get hurt (either yourself or a pedestrian)
if anything does happen (an accident - for example you run over a pedestrian you did not see) and it turns out you jumped a red light you have no defence...
you save so little time jumping light, its not worth the grief"
Good grief. Since when did habit mean we didn't check both ways at give ways and stop signs before proceeding. Jumping a red light is just one more junction to be treated like a stop/give way. How is habit going to mean less care?
As for hitting a ped. You are going to be in trouble any time you hit a ped. Red light or not. Though I wouldn't jump any light there was peds crossing at.
As for not saving time. I beg to differ. Each light can be up to 2 minutes depending on the junction. Add that up on a long commute. Anyway regardless of time waiting each time a red light or anything else forces a complete halt it is like adding 100m on to your journey.
http://www.wolvesonwheels.co.uk/docs/why%20cyclists%20won%27t%20stop.pdf
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
