Comments on: A Matter Of Worth: Red Lights, Your Life, And Several Short Moments

By: Boston Biker » Blog Archive » Running Red Lights: Not Safe

Boston Biker » Blog Archive » Running Red Lights: Not Safe — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:59:43 +0000

[...] while ago I wrote an article about my views on running red lights and speed. Basically I came to the conclusion that running red [...]

By: Tom Brown

Tom Brown — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:01:24 +0000

When a sequence of lights is timed at a bike speed waiting for a green wave is generally faster. For example, on Valencia in SF I wait because it won’t get me there any faster.

On the other hand going west on Fell, if I just make the Masonic light I don’t wait for the lights at the following intersections because I can get home before the next roaring mob of cars catches me. I need to be careful and look both ways, even though these are T intersections, because sometimes a bike comes flying out of the Panhandle Park into Fell.

By: Streetsblog New York City » In Other Road Users We Trust (Because We Have To)

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:50:38 +0000

[...] cyclists run red lights. It is not because cyclists are breaking the rules (everyone does that, and often), it is because they are breaking the shared trust. It is offensive to the group because that trust [...]

By: J

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:06:55 +0000

I do NOT use the mental justification that running red lights gets me where I are going faster.

I DO use the mental justification that running red lights gets me in FRONT of cars, where they can see me, and not next to or slightly behind them, where they cant, and then make a right turn.

And by running red lights, I mean stopping, looking both ways and continuing…just like every single pedestrian in the city.

By: SJ-special

SJ-special — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:08:00 +0000

I commute by bike, and I drive. On a bike, it DOES make sense to follow the traffic laws that cars do. The attitude that bikes shouldn’t have to stop at red lights, ride the wrong way down a one way street or against traffic unnecessarily just perpetuates the problem. If you’re hit while going through a red/stop, sign etc. you loose, and have little grounds to take action against the motorist. Why, because you did NOT have the right-of-way.
Do I think that better enforcement of traffic laws needs to happen? Absolutely.
Do I think that drivers on the whole are ignorant of the laws that do protect cyclists? Absolutely.
But it doesn’t change the fact that you give drivers more fuel for their idiocy/aggression/rage/bad attitude when you don’t hold-up your end of the bargain on a bike.

By: 3.14159

3.14159 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:22:39 +0000

Waiting for green lights is an excellent way to be perpetually playing leapfrog with slow people on walmart hybrids who don’t have thr particular variety of Asperger’s Syndrome that makes some people think you can only proceed when a light is green.

By: Peter Smith

Peter Smith — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:07:34 +0000

it doesn’t make any sense for bikers to have to stop at red lights and stop signs when there are no pedestrians or oncoming traffic. they are unjust laws, and we need to change them, not ‘behave properly’ like slaves were told to do back in the day.

the research is already out — see the UC Berkeley prof’s stuff. he also showed the extra energy required to do the stop sign dance.

By: m2mayer

m2mayer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:03:48 +0000

With the increased vision riding a bicycle affords, I enjoy looking ahead, anticipating stoplight cycles, and accordingly adjusting my speed so that I never have to stop. But in order to do this I have to ignore the racer inside me that wants to sprint at all times while cycling.

By: grimlocke

grimlocke — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:00:47 +0000

A resounding ‘Aye Aye’ from Dread Pirate Grimlocke!

By: Marianna

Marianna — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:22:05 +0000

I was stopped at a red light on Prospect just outside of Central, and this mom carrying a baby crossed in the crosswalk in front of me – she was talking to the baby like “and that’s a doggie, and there’s the fruit stand,” and she points at me and goes “and that lady on her bike is waiting for the light to change.” It was awesome.

Also, naysayers, as long as you either a) take the lane approaching the light, or b) filter far enough forward to be ahead of the first car (and visible), stopping at the lights is not more dangerous.