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Do you "call" cyclists on blowing through stop signs/lights?

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Do you "call" cyclists on blowing through stop signs/lights?

Old 09-08-14, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by gecho
When you see another motorist blow through stop signs/lights do you speak up?
Bingo!

Originally Posted by jpeter1093
I do. I AM new to the forum so, with all due respect, is the consensus here that it's ok for all cyclists to sail through?
First off almost cyclist sails through without looking. The few who do don't tend to live very long. Many cyclists stop or slow down to a near stop make sure it's safe and then proceed. If you don't know about the Idaho Stop you must be very new to cycling.

Now to answer your question if they do something that puts me in danger I might give them a "What the hell man?!" But that's it and usually I just shake my head and move on. I don't feel the need to correct their behavior.

Last edited by walrus1; 09-08-14 at 06:53 PM.
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Old 09-08-14, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage_Cyclist
Self righteous people who get ridiculously indignant at low level gallows humor are very simple minded.
I was just joking...
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Old 09-08-14, 08:15 PM
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I thought stop signs and stop lights only apply to cars. Biking only requires a small part (peek and ride though)
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Old 09-09-14, 01:38 PM
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No, but I have called out cyclists for riding in the dark without lights.
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Old 09-09-14, 01:44 PM
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Now that I think of it, twice at a four way stop, while driving my car, I blasted my horn at an oncoming cyclist. I was about to turn left HAD MY SIGNAL on, and they came straight though without stopping.

One guy gave me the finger
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Old 09-09-14, 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by JGM411
I got scolded taking the right-of-way, aka I did not stop at a 4-way stop intersection. It was 5 am, a Sunday morning, side street in a very small town and the car beat me to the stop. I wasn't going very fast as I had slowed down. I suppose I didn't want to unclip, so just rode through the intersection.

I was in the wrong, but it wasn't as if the bovine (yea I am a bit annoyed about getting yelled at ...you ran a stop a sign... you ran a stop sign! in her screechy voice) had some place better to go in a hurry.

I did not respond.
In the world of non events that make people indignant, assigning value to a strangers time or deciding its less important than our own is far more inappropriate than scolding a stranger for doing something illegal
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Old 09-09-14, 02:07 PM
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I told a guy to hurry up and go and that he had a stop sign this morning; at the same intersection I mentioned earlier.

I had come to a full stop to turn left and he ran his stop sign; then proceeded to realize I had the right of way and stopped in the middle of the road. At which I point I told him him to move since he was blocking me and the cross traffic

A consequence of me grumbling about drivers is my son starts to also. The next car to go by us my son yelled, "Hey what are you doing?". I then had to explain the driver did nothing wrong.
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Old 09-09-14, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by jpeter1093
When you're out on the road and see another cyclist blow through, do you speak up?
Originally Posted by unterhausen
yelling corrective instruction at other road users when you observe them doing something wrong is the first stage of road rage
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Old 09-09-14, 03:02 PM
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.
...I want you to get mad !
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Old 09-09-14, 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by kickstart
In the world of non events that make people indignant, assigning value to a strangers time or deciding its less important than our own is far more inappropriate than scolding a stranger for doing something illegal

Point taken, ... I should not have editorialized.
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Old 09-10-14, 03:57 AM
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I suspect "leading by example" will do more than "calling out".

scott s.
.
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Old 09-10-14, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
.
...I want you to get mad !
Being yelled at by a "bike nanny" makes my day.
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Old 09-10-14, 11:19 AM
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@scott967

That must mean yelling at them from a full stop is the most effective and embarrassing to them. I try to do this.

An aside.
In Vancouver we have lights with traffic signals on the main route and stop signs at the cross street; usually a bike lane. The light is triggered by a pedestrian button. People always blow the stop sign since you know the cross traffic has the red light.

Any sense of right of way goes out the window. Which is incredibly frustrating turning left like I try to at one busy intersection.

It is the most arcane and frustrating system ever, and apparently the only one of its kind in North America. It means if you are on the main street you can sometimes only travel a block before a pedestrian triggers it, and then another block, and so on. If you are on the cross street you have to stop and trigger it and wait.
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Old 09-10-14, 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by scott967
I suspect "leading by example" will do more than "calling out"
I agree with Scott.
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Old 09-11-14, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by walrus1
Bingo!


First off almost cyclist sails through without looking. The few who do don't tend to live very long. Many cyclists stop or slow down to a near stop make sure it's safe and then proceed. If you don't know about the Idaho Stop you must be very new to cycling.

Now to answer your question if they do something that puts me in danger I might give them a "What the hell man?!" But that's it and usually I just shake my head and move on. I don't feel the need to correct their behavior.
I was thinking that the ones who are truly egregious are the ones who if they listen at all will react badly, even dangerously.

I'd be most inclined to say something to riders who are violating the letter of the law but not creating a safety issue in instances where I am aware of recent enforcement efforts. Not sure I'd really consider that calling out the other cyclist.
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Old 09-11-14, 12:38 PM
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Ironically, when I'm out lone wolfing I head check and call out - "Stopping!" Just like I'd do in a group. But that's only because I've been hit a few times and had too many close calls. Can't tell if it makes any difference though - anecdote not equal to data.

Maybe I should just call out "SURPRISE!

-mr. bill
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Old 09-11-14, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by jpeter1093
When you're out on the road and see another cyclist blow through, do you speak up?
the only time I advise someone else on their cycling is when I see young boys riding with very loose or unstrapped helmets

poor kid
https://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...sub_headline_1

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Old 09-11-14, 01:26 PM
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Always! Both cyclists and drivers. When a bicycle rider runs a red, or a stop sign, they make all bike riders look bad, thus are doing harm to me. Plus it's against the law and we all have the societal obligation to point out to someone when they are engaged in an illegal activity.
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Old 09-11-14, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by JGM411
I got scolded taking the right-of-way, aka I did not stop at a 4-way stop intersection. It was 5 am, a Sunday morning, side street in a very small town and the car beat me to the stop. I wasn't going very fast as I had slowed down. I suppose I didn't want to unclip, so just rode through the intersection.

I was in the wrong, but it wasn't as if the bovine (yea I am a bit annoyed about getting yelled at ...you ran a stop a sign... you ran a stop sign! in her screechy voice) had some place better to go in a hurry.

I did not respond.
If I was the driver, I probably would've yelled at you too (at the least honked). I don't care if you run a stop sign, just don't take my right-of-way.
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Old 09-12-14, 03:21 AM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
What would you hope to accomplish by calling out cyclists blowing through stops? They aren't going to change their behavior just because you scolded them.
Exactly.....I would react the same way as if somebody complained about my driving.
Middle finger in the air and a few choice words.
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Old 09-12-14, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by harshbarj
Always! Both cyclists and drivers. When a bicycle rider runs a red, or a stop sign, they make all bike riders look bad, thus are doing harm to me. Plus it's against the law and we all have the societal obligation to point out to someone when they are engaged in an illegal activity.
I would argue that the police have a societal obligation to enforce the traffic laws and we ALL have a societal obligation to mind our own beeswax
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Old 09-12-14, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by rebel1916
I would argue that the police have a societal obligation to enforce the traffic laws and we ALL have a societal obligation to mind our own beeswax
+1, I've always been a "good fences make..." believer. But I suspect that this is one of those debates where there's no right answer. Some believe in minding their own business (and asking others to reciprocate), while others believe in group identity or that "it takes a village".

We can bat this back and forth forever, but I doubt anybody will change their minds.
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Old 09-12-14, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by rebel1916
I would argue that the police have a societal obligation to enforce the traffic laws and we ALL have a societal obligation to mind our own beeswax

Agreed. And, if you think about it, other "communities" of road users aren't doing this sort of self-policing. If a guy in a Jeep sees another Jeep speeding or rolling a stop sign, do you think he comes online to a Jeep forum, to whine about how that makes all Jeep-drivers look bad? Yeah, I bet it's happened once or twice, but with bicycles, it happens all the time. We, as cyclists, are individuals. We don't need to apologize for the actions of other cyclists, nor do we need to pretend it's our job to correct/punish opther cyclists for minor traffic infractions.
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Old 09-12-14, 10:19 AM
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I had my most lawless day today. I blew through four stop signs, rolled through two stop devices and blatantly blew/ran a full red. No one said anything.

I feel like a rebel, and my average speed was really high.
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Old 09-12-14, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by joeyduck
I had my most lawless day today. I blew through four stop signs, rolled through two stop devices and blatantly blew/ran a full red. No one said anything......
You keep count?
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