GhostSS

Cyclists/commuters that run red lights really tick me off, especially slow cyclists. If you're in such hurry that you need to run a red light at least pedal faster you lazy cad. I hate having to continually pass the same d-bag because they run red lights when I stop at them.

I dunno. Maybe it's just me, but I think if you want your right as a cyclist to ride on a street you need to abide by the same laws as any motor vehicle.

EDIT: Also I like to treat traffic stops as a chance to rest and get water. It's a built in break.

raqball

Agree..

The other day I must have passed the same guy 12 times.. He runs the red, I wait... I later pass him...

Next red light, he runs the red, I wait, I later pass him..

Over and over and over again..

lostarchitect 

This poll is kind of dumb. I predict the thread gets locked. I'm not voting for any of the current options.

My option would be, "I do it when it's safe. When it's not, I don't."

Also, "when no cars are coming?" Duh. The reality is that in the city most cyclists "run" lights. Contrary to motorist's perception, they DO look before they go. I'm not saying there isn't the occasional nut who doesn't, but people who don't look wouldn't live long around here.

lostarchitect 

"Shoaling" people is a totally different subject than running lights. It's generally rude and I don't do it unless it's totally obvious that I am faster than the person in front of me--for instance, I have been steadily gaining on them for two blocks, then we hit a light. In other words, I don't make someone pass me after I have passed them.

raqball

Cyclist want the rules of the road to apply to them, except when they don't want the rules of the road to apply to them...

It's a red light, you should stop and wait until it's green...

My .02

sportsfan266

It really depends on the situation. Sometimes I bike to work early in the morning when there are few cars on a road. If there's no cars at an intersection and it's safe to cross - I'll run the light because I haven't figured out how to trip all the traffic signal loops on the road yet and I'm not going to wait a few minutes for a car to show up.

Otherwise if there is even one car on the road near the intersection, I'll wait out the light.

prathmann

Yes, there's bound to be a car along within the next few hours to trip the sensor - enjoy your nap.

GhostSS

I should clarify that this isn't just people looking left and right then blasting through. I also mean those that reach a light, take a right hook with the crossing cars, then left u-turn back around. It's like they think they've found some sort of traffic law loophole. It's really one of the major reasons why I end up passing them at every light, since this particular technique is much slower than just straight running a light, you might as well just stop.

raqball

Naps are good

no1mad 

Moved from Commuting.

Mark Stone

There's too many variables to make hard, fast rules. I'll run a red light if it's silly to sit there - like in the middle of nowhere and you're the only person within a mile, or you know your bike didn't trip the signal, or if there's a dangerous cager behind that you want to get away from (for example, if you caught him/her texting a block ago and you'd like to get a jump on them), or the big German Shepherd just jumped the fence. Under normal circumstances, however, I'm happy to sit til it greens up.

daihard 

We need a choice that says "Only when the bicycle doesn't trigger the light." That's me.

CB HI

You guys sound like whining motorist. I passed them once, so I should never have to pass them again. How do guys handle leap frogging city buses? With even more whines?

GhostSS, come ride with me at 3 am. I want to see how well those Honolulu city and Hawaii state light sensors work for you. How long are you willing to wait at a red light with no cars around. Both Honolulu and Hawaii have refused to adjust the sensors for cyclist. The mayor says it is not possible to even set them for motorcycles.

Yet the military bases here have figured it out.

Plus the 'Idaho Stop' data indicates it is safer to treat red lights as a stop sign and stop signs as a yield.

When Honolulu and Hawaii get with the program of treating cyclist equally, then I will start obeying the laws in Hawaii the same as motorist do (as I do in states and military bases that actually treat cyclist as equals).

GhostSS, maybe it is you that should ride much harder/faster to make the next light while it is green and your nemesis hits the red. As you note, it takes him a long time to get through the red.

GhostSS

Since I didn't make the poll show who chose what, I hop red light's if there's no one there. For some reason you sound angry bro, chill out, everyone here knows Hawaii Govt' is a load of bull with everything, not just bikes. I'd ride with you at 3 am and we can both blast all the lights.

vol

How about "cautiously slip past" (not "run") a red light on a quiet local street while watching around and there is clearly no vehicle or pedestrian in the vicinity? I do that even if I'm in no hurry at all. Only an idiot would wait in such situations . Another case I ride through red light is at T-intersections when I'm riding on the outer side of the top stroke of the "T", and there is no car coming at me. But I avoid "running" a red light just because I'm in a hurry.

B. Carfree

I'll worry about the cyclists who roll the stop signs and run the red lights when the motorists stop doing the same and also learn what a speed limit is.

I'm also fine with jay walkers and folks playing field hockey in the street, but I'm not a fan of the demolition derby that is currently taking place.

By the way, I don't run reds unless the light is defective, at which time I am legally crossing against a broken light. It has nothing to do with danger, real or imagined, it's just my own perverse bad habit.

NaturalFork

For the most part .. I always wait at red lights. Around here however there is one light in particular that has a wide shoulder on the right and there is literally ZERO risk in running that light if it is red. No car would ever hit you .. and you would never get in the way. That is the one exeption though. If I want cars to respect me on the road .. you have to in turn respect the road.

CB HI

Your first post is the one that appears to be the one filled with anger.

And then you post double talk about how you blow red lights.

I don't care if you run red lights, but why then the whine about other cyclists?

joeyduck

I see this type of turn as a right on red. You are proceeding into the right most lane of traffic, safely (hopefully). I do not usually do it, but I would stop then proceed and if stopped I would argue it is a right on red.

I did this the other day on accident; I had my head down and was slogging up a hill trying to catch a guy and next thing I knew I was going through the red. I always stop at that light and think why do I not just run it. Why? I want motorists to respect me and not think all cyclists are law breaking ******s.

katsrevenge

Well, I never do it... unless it is an empty street and there is no way to trip it in my favor. Luckily most streets here have walk signals and easy to trip sensors.

I actually almost hit a kid on my way home from taking my gram to th eye doctor who was running the light. After dark, no lights, no reflectors, dark clothes. All I saw was my headlights on his spokes and face. He got brakes and horn instead of the hood. I hope I scared as much sense into him as he scared me when I thought I was going to hit him.

yote223

If there's no cars or other hazards, I barely slow down. That goes for both lights and signs. In my town, you will never get anywhere in any half ways reasonable amount of time if you don't. Especially N/S travel. Signs on most every corner. The city gives total favor to E/W traffic.

Wanderer

MHO, everyone who runs a red light or stop sign illegally, should get a ticket, every time! Maybe then it would stop reflecting badly on cyclists. Those who do, are the problem!

Obey the rules, like everyone else.

spivonious

I stop at red lights. Living in the suburbs, all of the red lights I hit are there for a reason - they're crossing busy roads. I treat them as built-in water breaks.

One of the most popular reasons for hating bicyclists around here is that they run red lights. By stopping at them, I hope to change some people's opinions, or at least lessen their hate.

rydabent

A red light is there to be obeyed. There are NO good reasons not to obey the law. Besides when drivers see cyclist whiz thru red lights, they say ----see there cyclist break the law all the time, and it gives all cyclist a bad name.

wphamilton

If you're at the straight part of a T intersection, and nothing coming from the left street to turn left (that would be into the same direction you're travelling), I can't think of any traffic-related reason to stop. No right hooks. No left hooks. No through traffic that you might have missed. Not in anyone's way, not slowing anyone down. Usually there's not even any pedestrian traffic crossing in front at a T (if there was, that would be the one reason to stop). In this one situation, getting across the intersection with less interference with traffic is safer and more convenient for all involved - there is no downside.

In all other cases there's a valid reason for the stop and I always do.