Advocacy & Safety - Moving Violations Counted (VIDEO)

One of my commutes last week was strangely devoid of auto traffic which allowed me to bike my whole route without breaking stride. However, I did break a few laws (anyone surprised). So I edited the vid with a "violation counter" on the bottom right corner to make it easy for y'all to keep count while you watch and learn how EASY it is to run the lights and stop signs when there is virtually zero cross traffic.

This vid is actually relaxing. Nice cycling flow with some calming "Yoga" music and not one "Oh My God" moment.

This is my ENTIRE commute minus a few blocks on both ends. It is sped up 2X so my 16 minute ride is reduced to 8 minutes of video.

NOLA MVC (Moving Violation Count) (http://www.vimeo.com/4306612)

Easy and Safe!

You seem like you are proud that you do not obey the rules of the road.

Sad, very sad. You may be here now, but it only takes one car flying through a green light to make road pizza out of you.

Also, when you crossed under the freeway (while riding on the trolly tracks, I might add...another violation), each access road should count as a seperate violation.

Awesome ! :thumb:

Thanks for sharing, joeybike !!

You may be here now, but it only takes one car flying through a green light to make road pizza out of you.
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Correct. Which is why one should never run a red light unless you can see that you have enough room to safely do so (and, I would add, that you're not causing any inconvenience to vehicles with the right of way).

"violation counter"

:lol: I think some of the newer cycle computers come with this option. Violations per minute, total violations etc.

Sad, very sad. You may be here now, but it only takes one car flying through a green light to make road pizza out of you.
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Do you seriously think joey runs trough a red blindly like a moron? It's not that hard to check if the way is clear.

Do you seriously think joey runs trough a red blindly like a moron? It's not that hard to check if the way is clear.

It makes me wonder whether there are people who let traffic lights do all the thinking for them, rather than being constantly vigilant and observant, no matter the situation.

The helmet cam makes it clear the rider lacks the skill of maintaining situational awareness. I hope no one depends on his continued well being.

Far too many brother, far too many have been sucked into believing the lights will make you safe.

...it only takes one car flying through a green light to make road pizza out of you.

Cars run lights and stop signs all the time here. But since I am looking for THEM and not at the color of the lights, they will be very challenged to "pizza" me. I never assume anyone will stop at anything. I look at their motion - that does not lie.

I look both ways, then cross the street. Lights and signs are irrelevant to my safety. There is my message.

Here is a still capture from my vid named: "Out Of The Fog" (http://www.vimeo.com/2549793) at 4:25. Notice my shiny green light! By process of elimination, what color do you think HIS light was? You know what's funny? I never even noticed I had a green light until the fifth time I watched the finished video! Never noticed it during editing either. Why? Because the color of the light is, as always, irrelevant to my safety.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=102691&stc=1&d=1240855429

I am currently (slowly) collecting all of the footage like the one above for an "Outlaw Motorist" video. I have TONS of material.

The helmet cam makes it clear the rider lacks the skill of maintaining situational awareness. I hope no one depends on his continued well being.Well, the rider is over 50 and has been doing this style riding consistently since he was a teen, and has an extremely low accident rate relative to other cyclists. The camera doesn't give a good idea of the vision field.

Cool music.

Another subtlety about your video that most people won't pick up on is that even when you have the right of way, you still look for crossing traffic in case they are running a red light or a stop sign, and never rely upon your right of way to keep you safe, but instead you rely on your eyes.

Since watching the videos I have begun to look less at the lights and more at cars and the situation. I still stop at most lights unless I am making a left (UK) or it is a set of pedestrian lights, but these videos have taught me to be more aware and for that I thank you.

I can't wait until I get my camera so I can get some of these reckless drivers ticketed!

...never rely upon your right of way to keep you safe, but instead you rely on your eyes.

Exactly. See my screen capture 4 posts up^^^

Another subtlety about your video that most people won't pick up on is that even when you have the right of way, you still look for crossing traffic in case they are running a red light or a stop sign, and never rely upon your right of way to keep you safe, but instead you rely on your eyes.

Word, if there was a commandment for this style of riding, this would be it. Never assume you're safe, always look to have or create a couple escape routes for all contingencies.

Not saying that I would not have done exactly as you did in some of those situations, all that I am saying is that it is much more likely for a car to fly through a green light than through a red one. Obviously both happen...
A couple of those intersections (if I am not mistaken, that was I-10 you crossed under), I would not have run against the light. The opposing traffic is simply traveling too quickly (if the speed limit is 45, then count on traffic doing 60+), and there is simply not sufficient line of site to clear far enough out for that.

Never say you are too good or too lucky. I rode a motorcycle for 25 years with no accidents or incidents. But when I had one, it was a doozy, and completely not my fault...

Another subtlety about your video that most people won't pick up on is that even when you have the right of way, you still look for crossing traffic in case they are running a red light or a stop sign, and never rely upon your right of way to keep you safe, but instead you rely on your eyes.


Never assume you're safe, always look to have or create a couple escape routes for all contingencies.

Right, and running red lights is not a requirement for doing this. Let's not pretend that scofflaw riders have some kind of monopoly on safety.

Never say you are too good or too lucky. I rode a motorcycle for 25 years with no accidents or incidents. But when I had one, it was a doozy, and completely not my fault...

It's those "not my fault" accidents that I am trying to prevent with my riding style. IMO, and in some instances only, a sitting duck on a bike at a red light is just begging to be steamrolled from behind. Or clipped with a side-view mirror. Or punched in the throat and robbed.

Sorry 'bout your MC wreck. Pinned under hot exhaust pipes was a fear of mine during my MC years. When I am cycling, I am not thinking about being too good, luck, or anything but the matter at hand - survival.

Right, and running red lights is not a requirement for doing this. Let's not pretend that scofflaw riders have some kind of monopoly on safety.

Was anyone? We're more about saying how being safe is unto your own devices as opposed to blind adherence to The Word O' The Law.
We're more railing against the 'OMG you ran a red why aren't you dead' crowd. Reds can be run, and quite safely.

You seem like you are proud that you do not obey the rules of the road.

Sad, very sad. You may be here now, but it only takes one car flying through a green light to make road pizza out of you.

Also, when you crossed under the freeway (while riding on the trolly tracks, I might add...another violation), each access road should count as a seperate violation.


I have never heard of anyone getting knocked off their bike by a traffic light...

A light has never hurt anyone, to blame them for someone getting hit is a little silly

I'm curious what's gonna happen when you slam into a fellow cyclist coming from the green light direction. When you two collide, will you yell at him?

This is a serious question, Joey. You say you look for cars, it's easy to miss another cyclist. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information and you will be unlikely to see a cyclist. So as proud as you are of avoiding getting creamed by a car, just remember, you aren't the only guy on a bike out there.

You say you look for cars, it's easy to miss another cyclist. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information and you will be unlikely to see a cyclist.

Um, nobody looks specifically for cyclists where I live (I typically see one other cyclist every two weeks, despite riding several hours a week). And yet somehow, I'm still here.

And honestly, it's pretty hard for two cyclists to collide - at speeds less than 20mph, any potential collisions are easily averted by peripheral vision.

I'm curious what's gonna happen when you slam into a fellow cyclist coming from the green light direction. When you two collide, will you yell at him?

This is a serious question, Joey. You say you look for cars, it's easy to miss another cyclist. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information and you will be unlikely to see a cyclist. So as proud as you are of avoiding getting creamed by a car, just remember, you aren't the only guy on a bike out there.

You really can't see other cyclist when you are riding? Maybe your answer is to be more observant instead of to change your riding style.

You really can't see other cyclist when you are riding? Maybe your answer is to be more observant instead of to change your riding style.

At an intersection, there is so much information that your brain cannot take it all in. Its a fact, don't make me whip out the gorilla video.

It's why many people in cars don't see us, it's why people in cars sometimes don't see other cars, and it's also the reason that intersections are controlled. Don't fool yourself into believing you see everything that's going on, because you don't.

I'm curious what's gonna happen when you slam into a fellow cyclist coming from the green light direction. When you two collide, will you yell at him?

This is a serious question, Joey. You say you look for cars, it's easy to miss another cyclist. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information and you will be unlikely to see a cyclist. So as proud as you are of avoiding getting creamed by a car, just remember, you aren't the only guy on a bike out there.

You sure this is a serious question? A crossing rider would be hella easy to see and avoid.

At an intersection, there is so much information that your brain cannot take it all in. Its a fact, don't make me whip out the gorilla video.

If you're trying to count the number of white cars that creep forwards while its driver yaks away on a cell phone at an intersection, you might miss a cyclist.

If you're simply looking, you won't.

I'm curious what's gonna happen when you slam into a fellow cyclist coming from the green light direction. When you two collide, will you yell at him?

This is a serious question, Joey. You say you look for cars, it's easy to miss another cyclist. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information and you will be unlikely to see a cyclist. So as proud as you are of avoiding getting creamed by a car, just remember, you aren't the only guy on a bike out there.

@Joey, regarding the above:

How often do you encounter other cyclists while riding, and how often do you run into them?

You sure this is a serious question? A crossing rider would be hella easy to see and avoid.

Think back to that damn gorilla video. Did you see it? Now, picture yourself riding at 20mph, weaving between cars, coming up to a red light and having to asses the intersection within a few minutes. What is the threat you're looking out for? Cars, obviously, but you're only scanning a few seconds at a time, and your brain is locked on looking for cars. If there is traffic coming the other direction, your brain is picking the line that will get you through the cars safely. I can guarantee that, just like missing the gorilla in the video, you will miss the cyclist.

This is not bs, this is not some try to scare Joey out of doing this, this is real. Your brain, Joey's brain, my brain, every brain on the planet cannot look at a relatively busy intersection and process everything that's happening.

Was anyone? We're more about saying how being safe is unto your own devices as opposed to blind adherence to The Word O' The Law.
We're more railing against the 'OMG you ran a red why aren't you dead' crowd. Reds can be run, and quite safely.

Fair enough, but no one is saying that blind adherence to the law is keeping them safe either. With all the "Look how safe it is to break the laws" going on, I just wanted to point out that one can choose to follow the rules and still manage to remain safe. Safety isn't dependant on following or breaking the rules.

Let the violation meters roll!

If you're trying to count the number of white cars that creep forwards while its driver yaks away on a cell phone at an intersection, you might miss a cyclist.

If you're simply looking, you won't.

True. The gorilla video only illustrates that you can miss something if you're not looking for it. If you're keeping your eye out for vehicles in the cross traffic, they're easy to spot.

If you're trying to count the number of white cars that creep forwards while its driver yaks away on a cell phone at an intersection, you might miss a cyclist.

If you're simply looking, you won't.

Bull****. This forum is filled with threads from cyclists who have experienced the "The driver looked right at me and still pulled out!" syndrome. Do you think this somehow only happens with people in cars, that we're somehow immune to this?

I'm curious what's gonna happen when you slam into a fellow cyclist coming from the green light direction. When you two collide, will you yell at him?

Most cyclists here seem to ride contraflow. Tourists and drunks in motor vehicles tend to find themselves contraflow here way too often. What that means is, at every intersection - no matter what the circumstance - I have to be looking both ways regardless of intended flow. And when someone is going contraflow, they have NO SIGNAGE! Contraflow folks do not see stop signs because they are turned the opposite way and placed on the far corner from their perspective.

So with years of practice in this hellhole, here is what I look for at every intersection - in order:

1. Are there zombies (peds) approaching? I start looking for them first, because they are relatively slow moving, and they may actually help me by blocking crossing traffic.

2. Do I see/hear any motor vehicles? I prioritize them second because the are big, fast, and generally preoccupied. They can kill me. If there is any doubt, I'm on the brakes.

3. Scooters, cyclists, hidden peds. If there are blind spots caused by parked or stopped cars, I assume a ped or cyclist will pop out at the worst time. I adjust my speed downward to a point where I can stop on a dime until I can see for sure, or in some instances I actually LEAN in a direction of escape until I can see. If someone pops out, I just let the bike follow the lean. You can actually see this in some of my vids where the rider in front of me makes an "unexplained" S-turn at an intersection. He is leaning in a direction of escape just in case.

Intersection after intersection this flow chart gets worked through my head. The camera does not show any of this. And you should notice that the color of the lights does not show up on my priority list because no one can be trusted to obey them.

You guys are letting the sped up video and narrow camera view fool you. Joey is not really doing anything that dangerous. If he was he would've been dead a long time ago.

Think back to that damn gorilla video. Did you see it? Now, picture yourself riding at 20mph, weaving between cars, coming up to a red light and having to asses the intersection within a few minutes. What is the threat you're looking out for? Cars, obviously, but you're only scanning a few seconds at a time, and your brain is locked on looking for cars. If there is traffic coming the other direction, your brain is picking the line that will get you through the cars safely. I can guarantee that, just like missing the gorilla in the video, you will miss the cyclist.

This is not bs, this is not some try to scare Joey out of doing this, this is real. Your brain, Joey's brain, my brain, every brain on the planet cannot look at a relatively busy intersection and process everything that's happening.

So it is dangerous for everyone to run reds because all you pay attention to is cars?

This makes as much sense as saying "I will not ride in traffic because there might be a pothole and I can't pay attention to potholes and cars at the same time"

Bull****. This forum is filled with threads from cyclists who have experienced the "The driver looked right at me and still pulled out!" syndrome. Do you think this somehow only happens with people in cars, that we're somehow immune to this?

It's because they're not aware of bicycles and are not looking for them. The gorilla theorem applies.

When a cyclist is actively looking for cars, bikes, and peds, the gorilla theorem has nothing to say.

Suppose I showed someone the gorilla video and told them to look out for the gorilla. Do you think they'd see it?

SO if I slice rush hour lanes, threading streetcar tracks while keeping my peripherals on the sidewalk for jaywalkers, and then look both ways as I approach the intersection for the possibility of carving around the back of a passing car or assessing the room in front I may have. You are saying that's impossible, correct? I NEVER just look for cars, anything that moves, including coke cans being blown in the wind is a potential threat. I look at heads in cars, which way they are looking, front wheels to see if they are turning, bodies of cars to see the telltale crack O the door of someone maybe getting out in traffic. I just don't buy your assessment of what a person is capable of, or not. I will ascertain a human is capable of incredible amounts of pattern/movement/data process per/sec.

Just looking for cars? Damn there wouldn't be an unbroken messenger out there if that's all we ever did.

not to mention the gorilla and bear videos are classic examples of how sleight of hand magic works. Imposed distraction, if they asked you to just watch the videos you'd not have missed a thing.

@Joey, regarding the above:

How often do you encounter other cyclists while riding, and how often do you run into them?

We have a lot of cyclists in NOLA. I would say I have a direct encounter 1 to 5 times a day. So far, the unwritten rule amongst us is: They cyclist obeying the most rules has the right of way. You can see in my vids that contraflow cyclists always bail when on a collision course with me, and the rare instances I bike contraflow I yield to everything.

So far...zero collisions with cyclists - except for rear-ending a friend of mine who is a very aggressive rider in traffic. He changed from a road bike to a fixed gear. When I saw him stand up on the pedals at an intersection, I interpreted that as GOGOGO. Actually, he was stopping the rear wheel! We both got scratched up a little. Bikes were fine.

Your brain, Joey's brain, my brain, every brain on the planet cannot look at a relatively busy intersection and process everything that's happening.

You got me! I can not process meteorites or crashing planes while splitting lanes or running lights. But everything at ground level...covered.

Into the intersection and BEYOND!!!!!!!

Do you think this somehow only happens with people in cars, that we're somehow immune to this?

Yes. and NO.

When I drive a car, I strictly obey everything. AND I look for everything just like riding my bike. The odds of my looking right at a cyclist then run him/her over is ZERO. My phone is turned OFF in the car, if it is even with me. I take driving a "tank" very seriously when I am forced to drive one.

Yes. and NO.

When I drive a car, I strictly obey everything. AND I look for everything just like riding my bike. The odds of my looking right at a cyclist then run him/her over is ZERO. My phone is turned OFF in the car, if it is even with me. I take driving a "tank" very seriously when I am forced to drive one.

Well, be proud of yourself, because you are the only person on the planet that processes everything around you. :rolleyes:

Well, be proud of yourself, because you are the only person on the planet that processes everything around you. :rolleyes:

I doubt that. Fighter pilots and NFL quarterbacks put me to shame.

But since I am looking for THEM and not at the color of the lights, they will be very challenged to "pizza" me.

We'll make sure to have that inscribed on your tombstone.

We'll make sure to have that inscribed on your tombstone.

I'm gonna need to be buried in a freakin' pyramid to fit all of the inscriptions that people have suggested to me in the 51 years of my life so far.

We'll make sure to have that inscribed on your tombstone.

Oh good grief... :notamused:

When I first saw Joey's videos I was horrified too! But after watching the red light tutorial it began to make much more sense to me, I also read his blog. So perhaps all those who are criticising need to do a bit more research to actually see what goes on when he is cycling.

If anything all you guys who are getting worked up about this need to take some lessons from it to make yourselves better and safer cyclists, I know I have taken some lessons from it and although I don't jump every light as Joey does, I do feel that I am more aware now of things going on.

Keep up the good work Joey.

Daven

...I do feel that I am more aware now of things going on.

Keep up the good work Joey.

Daven

I am very happy that you found some things useful in the vids.

Too many cyclists just throw in the hat for commuting (especially) or recreational cycling because the law puts them in harms way unnecessarily. Friends and acquaintances by the dozens have told me reasons why they quit riding, and they all point to following the rules. This is sad. I am a fairly well known cyclist in NOLA - for 15 years I worked with the public in a business parallel to the cycling community - so lots of people would start off a conversation with "I don't see how you do it - riding in traffic around here is suicide". I would try to verbalize my methods but only very skilled cyclists would generally try and succeed. The helmet cam is what really made the difference.

I produce my videos for two reasons:

1. To document a riding style that myself and others have pioneered and refined in New Orleans for decades with great success. No other way to document this but a helmet camcorder!

2. To introduce cyclists (and lawmakers) to the notion that laws as they currently exist can actually add danger for commuters. I am interested in those folks who use their bikes for utilitarian purposes mostly. Recreational cyclists can ride wherever they want. Commuters operate within parameters that are often far less than ideal. Sometimes just one gnarly intersection keeps a person from biking to work or the store, bank, post office. For them, running just one red light a day makes the commute possible and safe.

Thanks for the public response Daven. I usually get notes like this through PM for obvious reasons.

- Joey

I am not getting worked up at all. My point is (and I DO understand Joey's point as well), is that the video seems to be trumpeting "Look at me, look how proud I am to not be obeying the law!"

Of course, you DO have to take into account that Joey is riding through parts of New Orleans that are not considered to be the safest, and when he mentions a pipe to the throat, he is probably not exaggerating. Yes, camera FOV is compressed versus eyeball FOV, and when sped up, it does look to be more extreme than it is. However, we need to remember that this is the Safety and Advocacy board, and think about whether or not this video is advocating safe behavior.

Just my nickel in the pot.

Well, the rider is over 50 and has been doing this style riding consistently since he was a teen, and has an extremely low accident rate relative to other cyclists. The camera doesn't give a good idea of the vision field.

The cam shows that the rider replies far too much on his peripheral vision, giving far too little attention to threat areas.

This is not an unusual riding flaw, but not one to be emulated.

Many a poor rider survives for years, and I wish him loads of luck. I do, however, wish he would not set himself up as a good example.

Cars run lights and stop signs all the time here. But since I am looking for THEM and not at the color of the lights, they will be very challenged to "pizza" me. I never assume anyone will stop at anything. I look at their motion - that does not lie.

I look both ways, then cross the street. Lights and signs are irrelevant to my safety. There is my message.

.....

True, I find the relationship between bikes and cars to be connected in similar ways as lions and gazelles...

Each have their own way of life and share the same territory, and connected by certain laws.

Each one lives by certain rules that determine their survival. At some point the lion will kill a gazelle, but many will escape and live another day... lol