Question for Cyclists

If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights? If so, how much: every time you possibly can
without (you hope) causing a collision, only at the more minor/pointless
lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

If you jump red lights, do you feel at all guilty about it, or do you
consider it a perfectly reasonable, courteous and safe act which is only
"technically" illegal and is "morally" acceptable because really traffic
lights are only supposed to be for motorists?

No, I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely interested and I'm not saying I
necessarily condemn jumping red lights in all circumstances, but if
you're going to assume bad faith then kindly don't bother replying, and
if you're "N Ron Hubbard" then definitely don't reply (not that I'll
read your post if you do).

"Nuxx Bar" wrote in message
...
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights? If so, how much: every time you possibly can
without (you hope) causing a collision, only at the more minor/pointless
lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

If you jump red lights, do you feel at all guilty about it, or do you
consider it a perfectly reasonable, courteous and safe act which is only
"technically" illegal and is "morally" acceptable because really traffic
lights are only supposed to be for motorists?

No, I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely interested and I'm not saying I
necessarily condemn jumping red lights in all circumstances, but if
you're going to assume bad faith then kindly don't bother replying, and
if you're "N Ron Hubbard" then definitely don't reply (not that I'll
read your post if you do).



there is one red light I regularly "jump", a left turn into a t junction.

always at walking pace and NEVER if there is a pedestrian in sight and never
if there is ocoming traffic which might turn on its green light.

all others I always obey (but would not class going through a non changing
red light as jumping)

pk

"Nuxx Bar" wrote in message
...
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights?

On a pedestrian crossing, if there is no one crossing would anyone be
harmed?

On a level crossing, that would be suicidal.

At a junction, and there is no other traffic, it may be legally wrong but
who would ever know?

As a driver who cycles (or a cyclist who drives) I tend to jump as many red
lights on my bike as I do in a car and that is virtually nil.

On 14/09/2010 17:33, Nuxx Bar wrote:
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights?

I treat road laws the same whether I'm on a bike or driving a car. If
it's possible to break the law safely, not get caught, and gain an
advantage from doing so, I may consider doing so. How much of the time
this translates into actually breaking it varies quite a lot, but
typically I'll break the law rather more when driving a car than riding
a bike, despite spending more time riding the bike. And observation of
other drivers shows I tend to break the law less than a significant
proportion of them.

If you are prepared to admit which laws you break when driving, I'll
consider doing the same for when I'm cycling.

Nuxx Bar wrote:
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically
of course, jump red lights? If so, how much: every time you possibly
can without (you hope) causing a collision, only at the more
minor/pointless lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't
changing because they haven't sensed your presence?

Hypothetically I jump none.

In real life, on the bike, I've jumped 1 set of roadworks lights that were
about 2 car lengths long on a straight road with nothing in sight for
hundreds of yards, which I would have probably also done if I'd been in the
car. I don't feel the need to jump more ... I don't commute, I don't
normally ride to a timetable, I ride for pleasure ..

In fact I've jumped more red lights in the car than on the bike, but then I
used to drive a lot more miles than I rode.

Nowadays I jump none, whatever vehicle I'm in or on ...

--
Paul - xxx

mobile ...

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:33:28 +0100, Nuxx Bar wrote:

If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights? If so, how much: every time you possibly can
without (you hope) causing a collision, only at the more minor/pointless
lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

There is a major set of lights near to where I live.

It has a complete and long pedestrian phase, i.e. all lights in all
directions are red at the same time so that pedestrians may safely
cross the road.

If, when approaching that junction from the north or south, and they
just turn to red, if there are no or few pedestrians about I mount the
kerb cycle about 10m on the footway, cycle over the road at the
pedestrian crossing, and then rejoin the carriagway. I do this at a
low speed, probably about 5mph.

If you jump red lights, do you feel at all guilty about it, or do you
consider it a perfectly reasonable, courteous and safe act which is only
"technically" illegal and is "morally" acceptable because really traffic
lights are only supposed to be for motorists?

I feel a mild pang of guilt. It doesn't last long. However, I feel
that it is unreasonable and discourteous, but I do not consider it
unsafe.

No, I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely interested and I'm not saying I
necessarily condemn jumping red lights in all circumstances, but if
you're going to assume bad faith then kindly don't bother replying, and
if you're "N Ron Hubbard" then definitely don't reply (not that I'll
read your post if you do).

On 14/09/10 17:33, Nuxx Bar wrote:
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights? If so, how much: every time you possibly can
without (you hope) causing a collision, only at the more minor/pointless
lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

If you jump red lights, do you feel at all guilty about it, or do you
consider it a perfectly reasonable, courteous and safe act which is only
"technically" illegal and is "morally" acceptable because really traffic
lights are only supposed to be for motorists?

No, I'm not trolling, I'm genuinely interested and I'm not saying I
necessarily condemn jumping red lights in all circumstances, but if
you're going to assume bad faith then kindly don't bother replying, and
if you're "N Ron Hubbard" then definitely don't reply (not that I'll
read your post if you do).

Same as most people in a car, if they haven't sensed me then I'll wait
to it's clear and go. Pelican crossings when nobody is there, same as
most people when driving I go, why wait?

Apart from that, since I'm at the front of the queue ninety nine times
out of a hundred I wait my turn.

Must be said though, I speed in a car when for instance 'a steady 80 is
what everybody is doing', so I'm probably not the best example.

"Nuxx Bar" wrote

If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights?

Rarely, in reality. There is a law against it y'know.

If so, how much: every time you possibly can
without (you hope) causing a collision,

Why "hope"? What's special about red lights? They make up minority of
the junctions which people cope with. Just like any junction make sure the
road
is clear first.

only at the more minor/pointless
lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

If you jump red lights, do you feel at all guilty about it,

No.

or do you
consider it a perfectly reasonable, courteous and safe act

*If* I do it, it will be clear of pedestrians. Sometimes I have to give way
to pedestrians when I have a green light anyway so if I went on the wrong
colour it would make no difference.

which is only
"technically" illegal and is "morally" acceptable because really traffic
lights are only supposed to be for motorists?

It would be impossible to change the statutes to allow cyclists to go past
red lights. I don't accept that it should be rigidly applied. Harrassing
pedestrians should be charged under HC147, 170, 206 or 207.

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:33:28 +0100, Nuxx Bar wrote:
If you regularly cycle, please answer me this: Do you, hypothetically of
course, jump red lights?

Assuming good faith; no - not hypothetically, not IRL.

lights, or only when (for example) your lights aren't changing because
they haven't sensed your presence?

If traffic lights aren't registering your presence then I wouldn't call
that 'jumping'. The lights aren't functioning as they should - that has
been done to death here before.

--
Andy Leighton =
"The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials"
- Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_

Tom Crispin wrote:

There is a major set of lights near to where I live.

It has a complete and long pedestrian phase, i.e. all lights in all
directions are red at the same time so that pedestrians may safely
cross the road.

If, when approaching that junction from the north or south, and they
just turn to red, if there are no or few pedestrians about I mount the
kerb cycle about 10m on the footway, cycle over the road at the
pedestrian crossing, and then rejoin the carriagway. I do this at a
low speed, probably about 5mph.

So you admit to being a serial law breaker? The speed you travel at &
number of pedestrians is completely irrelevant. Jumping red lights and
cycling on the footway are both illegal acts for which you should be
prosecuted.

If a motorist mounted the kerb, drove about 10m on the footway, drove over
the road at a pedestrian crossing, and then rejoined the carriagway he would
have probaly been banned from driving & fined heavily.

Do you teach your pupils that it is acceptable to break the law? I think an
e mail to Lewisham Council reporting your irresponsble attitude is
forthcoming.


--
Dave - intelligent enough to realise that a push bike, like a skateboard, is
a kid's toy, not a viable form of transport.