[Closed] Is it ever acceptable to run a red light

Only when your vehicle has a flashing blue one.

Turning left. I know people are going to get huffy, but if you're aware you won't hit anything. Won't always do it.

i know a few lights that do not change for bikes, your ok in a car or if a car pulls up behind you. What choice do you have but to run the red light?

acceptable

To whom?

Illegal certainly, always unfortunately.

Imagine one of the living souls you didn't happen to spot, see's you do it "thinks ****ing cyclists breaking the law (again)"

Take the moral high ground, wait a minute or so for the light to change (or hop off and walk through).

There's a left turn on the commute that i take. If the lights red I do it anyway, as long as the pedestrian crossing is red too. All vechiles can turn right in America on a red, think we should do the same for lefts

i know a few lights that do not change for bikes, your ok in a car or if a car pulls up behind you

Personally I don't like jumping lights but in the scenario you describe it seems silly not to jump. IME lights do not sit on red for ever even if it feels like it.

Google maps for the junction in question (if the link works):-
[url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.153847,-3.159912&spn=0,0.001206&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.153803,-3.160131&panoid=y5HHYD972bRro0tRmizuWg&cbp=12,52.21,,0,-13.32 ]http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.153847,-3.159912&spn=0,0.001206&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.153803,-3.160131&panoid=y5HHYD972bRro0tRmizuWg&cbp=12,52.21,,0,-13.32[/url]

Getting off the bike and walking thru is no answer either.

HH45 - some that are controlled by sensors do - I know one where on a motorcycle I sat thru 3 light cycles waiting for my road ( the smallest at a 6 way junction) to change - a car pulled up behing me it changed immediately

I also know sensor controlled ones that do react to cycles

I would complain to the council about it - is it an IR sensor or a buried wire?

Edit - its always illegal but in that cae I would just ride thru so long as I was certain it was safe to do so.

I don't go through red lights on the basis that anything you do that makes drivers think all cyclists are a bunch of tossers who demand protection and have no concern for anyone else simply puts more cyclists at risk. The last thing the world needs is more angry people on the roads. I realise that the action itself can be perfectly safe but if I'm on the road I'm happy to stick with the rules.

As an aside it seems to me more and more drivers are happy to go through red lights on pedestrian crossings if no one appears to be crossing.

Of course it is. Do it most mornings.

In my Audi

(no, really 😈 )

There's red light near me that I jump regularly in the car.
Late at night. I know the sequence, I can see everything coming, it's not got a camera on it, why wait?

avdave - you wouold wait until a car came along to trigger the light then? even if its 15 mins?

There are two kinds of people who never amount to much: those who never follow the rules, and those who always follow the rules.

So the answer to the question is yes.

Every day.

Keep safe and courteous though, keep an eye out for the 5-O

Surprised how seriously this issue is taken on this forum.

There are 40 sets of lights on my commute. Some are a no no, but some are totally fine to jump

cbrsyd - perfectly put

decide for yourself, and use your awareness, whether a red light is safe to jump or not depends entirely on the circumstances that surround you at a particular time/junction...in my mind safe = acceptable at all times when playing with the traffic!

I sometimes ride through a red light. It's one where the sensor doesn't detect cyclists. I've always understood though that it's legal to jump a red light if you know it's faulty.

Dibbs, legally of course not.

However knowing that junction well makes me say just do it, if you can be 100% sure you checked all ways and it's clear.

From the Stowey side.

Looking left there's a reasonable range of visibility before the blind corner of approx 150metres.
Right there's perhaps 300metres and straight on, if it's dark you'll see if it's safe.

Visibility is just the same from the other side.

So long as they're well lit up and can be seen. At those hours i don't

I'd be more wary of the lane commute through Stogursey as it's a super quick road through there, with plenty of crazy youths running late for their shift at gerber, etc.(assuming the commute of that way, instead on on the main road)

However, given the speeds that the traffic is likely to be hauling along that road in the early hours, extreme caution is needed as well you know.

Can't they just ride down the main street in the village and come out opposite cricketers?

No other traffic in sight? Sensor not detecting bikes? No question, go through ton the red.

I regularly ignore red lights late at night or early in the morning. Even during the day in heavy gridlocked traffic.

AS for the school of thought that it gives car drivers a bad impression of cyclists? Well when they stop speeding, parking on pavements, overtaking too close, texting and using mobiles while driving then I'll start stopping at every red.

AS for the school of thought that it gives car drivers a bad impression of cyclists? Well when they stop speeding, parking on pavements, overtaking too close, texting and using mobiles while driving then I'll start stopping at every red.

Well said!

I dont run red lights if there are vehicles passing but at 5am when I am the only vehicle on the road and I can see there is nothing coming then I do.

My main concern is my own safety, so if that means jumping a red light to get a start on the cars waiting with me so that I have got through the roundabout when they come through then everyone is a winner. I am not picking gravel out of my knee and some bloke who was rushing to work isnt worrying about the impending insurance claim issues!

I do wait at lights most of the time and the only time I jump the red light is when I'm on my way to work in the evening where there are 2 sets of lights one after another. There is a pedestrian crossing between them there is no side streets between the lights, if there is no one crossing the road I'll jump the first red and wait at the other for a green light.

Next one is on my way home, 5am, road is empty, seems it has to have some lights with sensors because I once waited close to 5 minutes to get a green light and there was a red light on all lights even for pedestrians.

Those are two red lights I can jump, others I just slow down before, they change to green and I ride off or just wait for a green. I used to jump more lights when I first started commuting but some drivers get really worked up about it and jumping lights would probably save me 2 minutes tops on my 30min commute so not worth it.

Just go for it.

I've done it in front of police cars and they dont seem to care. Especially if your just turning left, just hug the curb and filter in, you get a few beeps occasionally but **** em, in there snug warm cars!

I now just cycle in the middle of the lane, just to stop people squeezing past!

My main concern is my own safety, so if that means jumping a red light to get a start on the cars waiting

Ah, wondered how long before someone trotted that justification out. If you feel sufficiently concerned about your safety such that you need to break the law then perhaps riding on the road isn't for you 🙂

THis is a bit like 'does a tree falling to the ground make a noise if there is no one to hear it?'

Have you committed a crime if there is no one around to report it?

I ran one this morning.

If a tree falls in a deserted forest does it make a sound?

theres a few near me that are either camera controlled all the time or early mornign so you really have ot jump them on a bike.

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.

You can't trackstand in a car though.

Just take a common sense approach. Plus as above, be aware that drivers seeing you do it will invariably get pissed off with us.

what if you're at the red light and a police car needs to get through behind you?

i'm a bit of a overly cautious (and boring) driver when driving and stop for reds even in the middle of the night when there's nobody around and no cameras... figure the one time i chose to jump one is the time i'd get caught and end up paying millions more on insurance each year. i'm not saying others shouldn't do it, just admitting i'm one of those drivers that people get stuck behind doing the speed limit on the dot 😳

Acceptable to run a red light? Apparently if you're an asian woman driving a silver A4 saloon then it is, even when I'm crossing at the green man and am in the middle of the road. Got the reg though toying with the idea of the police as she was about 3" from me. Bint...

I pass 64 sets of lights on route to work and the answer is yes.

Thats another thing, why do there need to be soo many lights? In some parts of Manchester you could get away with a normal bloody junction and common sense.

Only if you're being chased by a shark. On a skateboard.

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.

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.

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.

[i]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. [/i]

In Santa Monica I saw a sign that said no cycling on the sidewalk, except for police.

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?

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.

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.

If you really need too! Just bunny hop the lines and you'll be fine! 😯

and have a fine to prove it (from the Glasgow polis ironically).

Legally, yes if it is unsafe to stop.

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.

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?

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....

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 😀

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

walking through lights seems insane to me, if it's safe to walk through lights it's safe to cycle through them.

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 😉

my stopping distance is probably less than that of the car that runs into the back of me.

never seen the need to jump red lights

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

I do it (on my bike) so long as I can see it's clear.

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

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.

...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).

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.

but my measurements was very approximate.

Believe it or not - I know that I can do it no problem. Its easy.

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.

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.

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.

"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.