beetz12

A male cyclist is dead following a collision on Lake Shore Boulevard West late Sunday night. The cyclist was struck by two westbound vehicles near the intersection of Colborne Lodge Drive around 11:30pm. He was pronounced dead on scene.

https://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/878877--cyclist-fatally-struck-by-two-cars

SmokeyWater

Fixed.

beetz12

True. But let's admit it, all of us have had at least a few close calls. Unfortunately for this rider it was fatal.

vol

For maybe 3 or 4 times when I approached an intersection, seeing the blinking yellow light, I hesitated whether to continue or stop, being unsure if the light will become red just as I was about to cross. Well, the light changed to red just when I am about to cross, but I went ahead without stopping (in low speed as I had slowed down in hesitation--in fact, almost like restarting after planning to stop), while the cars waited for me to pass. Thinking back, if any of the drivers was impatient or careless, or drunk, I could have been struck mercilessly. I guess I had counted on the drivers' extraordinary considerateness (delaying their own trip due to my unlawful crossing at red light) for my own safety. Here is another fatal accident caused by running red light that I saw while browsing the ghostbikes website. So, lesson for me and anyone tending to run red light: if it is red light, and there are cars at or approaching the crossing, stop.

Doohickie

"Running" redlights is one thing- that's what this guy did. I think most of us look and yield at intersections which is something entirely different.

SCROUDS

Can't say I have. Might have something to do with the whole stopping for the red light thing.

Seattle Forrest

No, this isn't what happens when you run red lights. Everybody who ran a red light would have to be killed in the process for that to happen.

This stop sign and red light issue seems to be very emotionally charged, and I wonder why so many cyclists have to resort to propaganda and dishonesty to make their point?

ItsJustMe

I haven't. I've never had the slightest urge to run a red light.

Wake

Not so much difference - just the speed with which you run it.

mikewille

If you get hit by car, or even nearly hit, then you are doing it wrong.

zeppinger

In just about every Asian country I have been to, with the exception of Japan, red lights are treated as stop signs when there is little traffic. This is the case for cars, bikes, and motorcycles. I like it.

CritEastwood

The sanctimonious hand-wringers and knee-jerks will always do this. Having a fine-tuned BS meter always helps.

009jim

I admit to having a close call. I was coming up to a green light and thought I would have to stop when it turned red. It seemed to stay green forever - until I was right at the intersection. Then it went orange and I was already into the intersection. The so-called "intergreen" only lasts for a short time as it's designed for cars. So, I was only half or 3/4 across by the time the other traffic had a green. It was a lesson for me:-i.e. if a light has been green for a while, you better stop anyway and wait for a fresh green.

vol

If that was really the case, then I believe the lights were not designed appropriately--or may be malfunctioning! If it was still green or just turned orange when you have arrived at the intersection, there should be enough time for even a pedestrian to cross before it turned red. In my case I crossed when the light just turned from orange to red (instead of from green to orange). Unless you were doing track stand at the intersectoin...

ghettocruiser

All of my close calls have been 'running' green lights.

Moreover, I think the last two or three intersection fatalities in Toronto before this one were riders 'running' green lights.

RazrSkutr

Cognitive burden. Some people need simple rules for themselves, but feel those rules weakened when others don't obey them.

Bicycle Funk

Just don't worry about it.

electrik

Actually there is a lot unsaid. Lane 2 on the eastbound side of the lakeshore is almost 6 lanes from the north-side of the intersection when you're heading south.

Google map

There are clear sight lines.

My issue is the bicycle signal lasts about 2 seconds, which is barely enough to get you across when you start off at the stop line. What happens when you enter a few seconds after the signal count-down begins is you'll get caught on the opposite side of the lake-shore... there are 8 lanes to clear. If you get caught, you're ****ed because lakeshore traffic is fast(70km/h at least) and heavy not to mention street lighting is bad in that area.

I doubt this guy was deliberately running a light, it doesn't add up. To me it makes a lot more sense he got caught halfway through a stale light in a very wide intersection.

electrik

Exactly, stale greens are like 10x more dangerous than running a red.

GamblerGORD53

So the easy solution here is the new crosswalk countdown second timers. They help cars and everybody else.
They even have them in Vietnam. Screw the fn red light cameras. They are as stupid as speed bumps.

Actually what i think happened is the cars were speeding or racing, because there is no cross traffic from one side to worry about. The road is curved out of sight not far up the road. The red light is likely twice as long as usual. This bike was ok to stay in the median as long as he felt like it.

CritEastwood

I dig the countdown crosswalks. Orange, CA is slowly but surely installing them.

electrik

I doubt they were racing, probably just charging the light because they saw it was about to turn green.

What good is the count-down timer in this case if you can only get 3/4 of the way across before it's over? These lights cycle very quickly to allow the busy lakeshore road priority.

CritEastwood

I'm sorry, there is no Lakeshore Road in Orange, CA.

RobertHurst

They can't handle the truth.

After running roughly a half million red lights in a very long messenger career, I can't remember a single close call. No honks, no yells, no nothing. The green lights on the other hand ...

Dchiefransom

I know what you mean. Heck, I have to go beg permission to carry concealed here, instead of being allowed to make that choice for myself without useless interference.