Fifty Plus (50+) - City Riders-Do you obey traffic laws?

Curious how many riders in cities obey the traffic laws.Like waiting for red lights.Going the wrong way on one way streets.Basically that pretty much covers it.I confess I flaunt these rules shamefully.Hey,I'm a bike!And I do it in front of cops.By the way I live in NYC where Jay Walking is allowed.

In town, I typically obey all traffic laws. Out in the country, I'm a bit more "lenient".

I don't come to a full stop and look both ways at stop signs. I tend to look both ways 3 or 4 times and if safe, roll thru stop signs. But I always do stop for red lights. Maybe, if in a lower downtown area on a Sunday, when there's obviously no traffic around, I might sneak through red lights, too.

I try to not break the speed limits.

;)

Yes, without exception. With that noted, I've found routes that by-pass as many stop signs as I can.

I live in a desert community, with a fair amount of bike lanes. It's kind of half way between city and country. On a 15 mi. ride I see 2 stop signs and 2 lights. I slow as much as possible* at the 4 way stop signs, then stop or roll through as appropriate. If there is ANY cross traffic in sight I'll stop for sure.

I always stop at the lights if red, but usually I can 'time' them.

* i.e., I'm trying to reacquire my balanced/stop skills that seemed so easy as a kid, but now restarting on a bike 45 years later it's taking awhile to get the skill part of the equation back. The legs remember easier.

I always stop for a traffic light, if red, no matter what. On stop signs, it depends on where I am riding. If it is in a congested area, then yes, I always stop. If the area is a residential area and I can safely see that there are no vehicles approaching from either side, then I will roll through it but I still look each way while in the intersection. If a vehicle is coming from either side and it's not a 4-way stop, then I stop and wait for them to come through before I proceed. Because if it ever comes to a car vs bike, the car wins every time.

Yes, without exception. With that noted, I've found routes that by-pass as many stop signs as I can.


Oops. I need to edit this. I do ride the last 1/4 block on the sidewalk. It's the only way to get to the entrance through which I can bring my bike when coming into the building.

Try it in London--Special bike police on bikes and they can chase any one down. Perhaps not a "Cavendish" but the one 50yards down the road will.

But locally and I obey all lights. Too dangerous not to and I don't mean because of the reaction from Car drivers. Other cyclists will stop you and advise you that you are alienating the car drivers so stop it. And as a car driver- I do get annoyed by light runners. Might get one a week in the high milage I do in my job.

City Riders-Do you obey traffic laws?



Of course! I am "the" bike commuter in my destination area. Traffic is used to me, no way am I going to screw that up by breaking laws or any other bonehead stunt.

I always stop, look, signal, etc. In Atlanta you have to ride VERY defensively. :(

I generally roll through stop-signs, as well as right turns at lights, and also "T" intersections where I am on the T and thus there is no trafiic crossing in front of me. I stop at other stoplights, but frequently "jump" them if there is no traffic. Sitting there in the 110* sun, with no traffic, is just too much for me to tolerate, especially when the lights are slow, or need to be manually triggered. I can trip one of them on my commute with my steel bike, but not with the carbon frame. So I push the button, and if it is taking awhile and there is no traffic, I'm out of there. So count me as one of us that is irritating the car drivers.

The cost in fuel and emmissions of cars sitting at stoplights is a major hot button of mine, and one of the primary reasons I bought a hybrid. It is (slightly) less frustrating to be needlessly sitting at a light when your engine isn't running. Sophisticated sensors and traffic control algorithms would go a long way in reducing both oil consumption and road rage.

Other traffic or pedestrians around, definitely. Tumbleweeds blowing through the intersection, less likely.

I sometimes treat red lights as a "Give way" but i'm careful about it, english red lights sometimes have you waiting around for ages for no good reason but i would never ride on the pavement(sidewalk).

Depends. As a fellow NYC rider, I've become more cautious as a result of both the recent police crackdown on bicycling scofflaws and my own desire to become a safer commuter. I almost NEVER try to run reds across the avenues. That's a recipe for disaster since the lights are timed to let cars pass through intersections at 30mph, but many will be flying faster than that. Running reds across the streets I'll do, but only if it's an "Idaho Stop" situation; I have a clear view of whatever cars, pedestrians, other cyclists are in the intersection, and know I can make it across safely.

Good rule of thumb: if you can't afford the near-$300 ticket that the cops will hand you in NYC for running a red or stop sign, make sure that you can see at every intersection whether or not a cop is there! That will almost always force you to do an Idaho Stop.

Most of the time. Red lights, oh yeah always pull slightly left into the line of traffic, then when the light turns green, pull back to the right and continue on my way. One way streets, yes, and I stay off sidewalks as well. If turning left at a light, I will box the corner (go through the light, get off, turn the bike 90 degrees, then when the light changes, go through). Stop signs, depends on if there is traffic, if there is I stop, if not, then maybe not. Now that I live in the country it's not such a big deal, there is only 3 lights in town and maybe half dozen stop signs.

Stop lights. Pretty much always. Stop signs, if in a busy area or there is a car around, yes. Speed limits? Pretty much always :)

I obey all stop signs (stop and scan for bandits) and traffic lights (Pavlov - red = stop, green = go). It's such a deeply ingrained habit that I'm amazed by people who seem to have been able to train themselves out of it. I suspect that this behavior has some connection to bicycles being thought of as toys, for recreation or sport instead of transportation. Or maybe that crackhead "right turn on red allowed" law that seems to mean that anyone waiting behind you is required to honk broke people's conditioning?

The sight of someone on a bike blowing a stop sign or light never bothered me until I started riding. It bothers me a lot now because I worry that one of these people might hit me. People's pattern recognition, it seems, is much better at spotting cars than bikes. My right of way gets violated often enough to keep this hypothesis alive, and more commonly by bikes than by cars. Also, through chaotic behavior, these folks increase my scanning workload.

My behavior results from habit and sociatal taboo. However, there is also a rational justification. I think of safety as something adaptive and multilayered. The first layer is procedural (everyone should follow practices that minimize conflict potential). The next layer is anticipatory (scan and find targets that may otherwise come too close and make adjustments), and the final one is avoidance (turn or brake to avoid a target that threatens to collide). My goal is to resolve as many conflicts as I can with the first two layers.

Paul

I pretend I am in Idaho: full stop and then go if safe at lights, slow roll through stop signs. I never go through a light if there is substantial traffic. I know this offends some drivers - virtually all of whom regularly exceed the speed limit, turn into the wrong lanes, etc.

I consider myself and every other cyclist to be advocates for safe "Share the Road" practices.

I always follow the traffic rules as if my vehicle is a car. I have noticed that auto drivers are becoming accustomed to seeing me out there and I and several other area riders have noticed that drivers are becoming much more curteous and patient towards cyclists. I firmly believe that cyclists following the rules of the road helps to reduce drivers animosity towards cyclists. Just my opinion, of course.

In the interest of full discloser, I am striving to get a speeding ticket though.

Don't ever leave NYC . . . . there's a whole real world out there.
When you get hit by a cabbie let us know (if you're able) . . .

In town, I typically obey all traffic laws. Out in the country, I'm a bit more "lenient".

About the same here.

When out in the country I always stop at intersections if there is a car in sight. I don't want them to see a cyclist blowing through a stop sign.

My behavior results from habit and sociatal taboo. However, there is also a rational justification. I think of safety as something adaptive and multilayered. The first layer is procedural (everyone should follow practices that minimize conflict potential). The next layer is anticipatory (scan and find targets that may otherwise come too close and make adjustments), and the final one is avoidance (turn or brake to avoid a target that threatens to collide). My goal is to resolve as many conflicts as I can with the first two layers.

Paul

The opposite approach is what works for me. I assume the lines in the road will be violated, that every car is turning regardless of the lack of signal, and that, essentially, everyone is out to get me. I become part of that chaos, taking actions I deem will get me through it as safely as possible, even if those actions violate traffic laws. I scan constantly. I believe that crossing an intersection alongside cars is very dangerous, so I try not to do that. If possible (like when I am first to the red light), I get in a position off the right front of the car furthest to right except for turn lanes, and go through the intersection ahead of the first car. This also allows a right turning car to get past me while the light is red. I jump the light if that will help and doesn't increase my risk. Once through the intersection, I move to the side and yield the lane. I have a similar approach to left turns. I get ahead and to the right (of the turn lane), which generally puts me in the crosswalk, so that I get through the intersection ahead (and to the side) of the cars behind me. This also lets them move up enough to trip the coil and get us all a left turn arrow, increasing safety. If I was in the lane and back, that wouldn't happen.

I am proud to exceed the speed limit of 25mph when coming down a very residential hill - but I have never gotten a ticket there (here's hoping!). Otherwise I obey the laws, except in the immediate neighborhood where there is an absolute dearth of cars, and I may go slowly through a residential stop sign.

But, I am not really a "city" rider.

I stop for people
whose right of way I honor,
but not for no one.

In town, I typically obey all traffic laws. Out in the country, I'm a bit more "lenient".

I, too, am Mr. Law-Abiding in the heart of the city.

My only concern is safety. When safest is illegal, I do it.

I've been riding 30 years. Never been hit. Only one ticket.

If a quiet, residential intersection is empty, I'll slow and put my hands on the brake levers, but keep rolling. If a higher-traffic intersection has fast traffic or a street with four lanes, I'll stop and put a foot down.

I stop at all lights, but sometimes I will proceed through during my early morning commute if I know that it will not change because I haven't signaled and no other motorists are in sight. For stop signs I balance for a few seconds and then proceed if no-one is coming. It's odd that some drivers seem surprised that I actually stop. I sense that they hold back a bit because they assume that I will go through.

-Gary

Riding solo, my intent is to follow the laws. Sometimes there is a little relaxation. I can't expect drivers to respect my rights if I blatantly abuse theirs.

In a group ride, I am admittedly am a lemming.

Most of the time, yes.

Thanks all for your input!I do want to clarify my own methods.I'm not a total scofflaw with no respect for the law. I do however modify it as i see fit.Generally i treat all Stop signs and red lights as yield signs with a thorough checking of all traffic before I proceed.Understand that new York is somewhat unique.There are 20 blocks to the mile so there are also 20 traffic lights to the mile.And the general pace is as fast as you possibly can go,so this influences the mind set here towards speed rather than courtesy or protocol.There is however boundaries and this chaos somehow is both manageable and predictable.That's why i've never heard of a ticket issued for jaywalking and tickets for bikes are a generally new phenomenon.Also,I avoid riding in new York streets as much as i can as it's nerveracking and often infuriating,sticking to the excellent MUPs we've developed in the last few years.

I consider myself and every other cyclist to be advocates for safe "Share the Road" practices.

I always follow the traffic rules as if my vehicle is a car. I have noticed that auto drivers are becoming accustomed to seeing me out there and I and several other area riders have noticed that drivers are becoming much more curteous and patient towards cyclists. I firmly believe that cyclists following the rules of the road helps to reduce drivers animosity towards cyclists. Just my opinion, of course.



I agree 100% with C.O.D. I want everyone in cars and trucks to look at me and see it being done correctly

I always follow the traffic rules as if my vehicle is a car.

I try, but going 5-10 over on the rural highways is just too much for me on the bike.

I've rolled through a few intersections (4 way stops) when there were no cars within sight distance.

When I ride in town I always stop at every red light and stop sign. Out in the country where I ride most often I'll frequently slow roll through stop signs, especially 4 way stops only after making sure no cars are approaching.

i follow the rules, though my stops may not always be complete.

i did once ride around a railroad gate to beat the downtown trolley. it's so slow, i just couldn't bring myself to wait that long.

If there is no one around, Igenerally go through stop signs and red lights. I often ride on sidewalks to avoid being on bUsy streets, but up here in Montana no one walks on them. In fact, no one walks, period. If it's safe and no one is around, I generally ride as I want.

I tend to slow enough that I could stop at stop signs but I don't always put a foot down. Red lights are a different story. If the light is red I stop. If it doesn't change in a reasonable amount of time I might ride through figuring it won't trip. But I don't know of anyone that was ever hit running a red light saying, I saw that car but I pulled out anyway. It is almost always, I didn't see it coming. As far as riding on the wrong side of the road I feel anyone who does deserves to have tire tracks for a racing stripe.:D

i ride mostly in the north suburbs of chicago. i find that almost all cars will stop & yield to me & and other cyclists as i approach an intersection despite any stop sign. when i see any cars at an intersection with a red light i stop. if none r anywhere visible i go thru very carefully. a few times i have experimented & tried to wait out cars yielding to me at stop signs & saw that the drivers became confused & sometimes even upset often waiving at me in an agitated manner. most would not move until i gave up and went thru. i think most people naturally respond to bikes as if they were more like pedestrians than motor vehicles. i certainly do when i'm driving. i yield to cyclists in all situations unless i have a green light & and they r stopped waiting for me to proceed. i don't pretend bikes are cars. i will not stop on my bike at a red light in the middle of the lane waiting for a light change because cars don't see bikes. a woman in my area was recently hit & killed doing just that. it is much safer to go thru or when there r cars present to wait on the side allowing those turning right to go first. cyclists have to balance a bike. it is safest to keep moving in order to do that. the times i have fallen on my bike have invariably been when i was forced to ride very slowly. other cyclists have echoed this experience. i agree that cyclists have a great responsiblity to ride safely however we are not really "like" a car and motorists need to appreciate that. thankfully most do.

I follow the traffic laws.... I think?

I stop at the stop signs and red lights etc. each and every daxn time. Signal when I need to and stay off the side walks.

Many years ago, I got into the habit of stopping, unlike when I was a kid, since I was often using those stupid quill, clips and toe strap things and I always found it impossible to do anything other than crash when the pressure was on. I figured I was going to die if I came to a stop sign and wasn't able to physically stop IF cars were there at the wrong time.

I always defer to the cars, whether or not who has the right of way. Often they wave me on, and I thank them, but I don't get upset if it's the other way round.

Yes.. And I get angry at those who don't. Not that I don't understand the frustrations of stop lights being every 200 feet.. Should that be the case seek out a bike path outside the city , if possible.. Reason I get angry at them.. We who do obey the law suffer the wrath of motorists who encounter cyclists who don't..
One time a member of our tour group made a left on a red light. Little did he know a cop was two cars behind.. I saw the cop, my bike buddy didn't..
I was in range of the cops comments and the cop gave me a ton of crap..He was hot... Had I back talked the cop, I am sure he'd gone after Mike.. I just pretended I didn't know Mike.. I really don't know why the cop didn't pursue my friend.. ? I told the cop, heah, that 's not me.. Most of us ride by the rules.

Except for some families with small children I never see cyclists making a complete stop at a stop sign with no traffic present. We cautious riders do slow way down and check carefully.

I can't get over the idea that if I want to be given the same right of way as other vehicles on the road that I have to behave like the other vehicles on the road. In fairness though I'm off road most of the time so perhaps I'm just a novice roady.

I live in a small town with no traffic lights, but would generally stop at a light if riding elsewhere.

As far as stop signs, I treat them as yield signs. I'm a returning biker, so my general cruising speed is well under 15mph, giving me plenty of time to look both ways (3-4 times!) before blowing the sign.

This happened yesterday around where I live and work; I drive on that street everyday. @7:39 PM there is no traffic on that road. The cyclist was on the sidewalk and going against the traffic; the direction is uphill. It happened in front of the entrance into residential subdivision; stop sign, no light.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18575937?source=rss

When rideing in the city I stay in an easy gear and stop at all stop signs and signal lights. Sometimes I put a foot down at stop signs but most of the time I do a California roll.

When rideing in the city I stay in an easy gear and stop at all stop signs and signal lights. Sometimes I put a foot down at stop signs but most of the time I do a California roll.

I love California rolls.

I've been known to roll through stop signs out in the country; but even then I slow down more than most of my riding partners. I've seen a few close calls by guys who were certain the 'coast was clear.' In town? Always I stop. And especially that means not crossing against a light. That's a little kid maneuver; adults should know better.

Yes.
Inconvenient as if might seem, I don't see how we cyclists can ignore the laws "when it's safe" and be surprised when motorists decide to do the same?

Yes.
Inconvenient as if might seem, I don't see how we cyclists can ignore the laws "when it's safe" and be surprised when motorists decide to do the same?

Where have you been? Motorists do that all the time. And law enforcement people are the absolute worst at following the laws themselves. Everyone's an exception, haven't you noticed?