JoeyBike

If you are the only one playing by the rules then perhaps you should reconsider your position. Just throwing that idea out there. Crossing safely on red lights has been working for me for 35 years every day, day in day out. I calculated that in an average year I run 16,000 red lights x 35 years = 560,000 lights and not even a scratch. It's exactly the same technique you would use crossing an intersection where there is no traffic signal at all. Look both ways - twice or more - then proceed when the coast is clear. Easy as pie.

I wish everyone followed the rules as pertaining to bicycles mixing with cars. Wish in one hand, spit in the other, and see which one fills up first.

GamblerGORD53

+1 This design is goofy, get on the line between the lanes at the crosswalk.
I can see what the planners were getting at. They don't want an X crossover like the new bike lane fad in Portland.

Running reds there in rush hour is totally daft.

noglider 

The officer's comment about cycling being dangerous sounds like he thinks one shouldn't cycle. That's the most annoying part of the story, for me. You're going to get the guy to pay for the repairs, right?

Leisesturm

Not hate. Tough love. You always felt safer the way you were doing it... and now? I frequently encounter the situation you described. I always move to the left (why would you move to the right?) and share the straight through lane with whatever car(s) are there so right turning traffic is not held behind me. No, they won't kill me if I don't move but... I really don't see the harm in letting them go. Rules of the road do not apply equally to cycles and cars. They never will. Again, in light of what you have experienced, has nothing changed re: your "thinking" about red lights as somehow sacred? But... you know... just saying... no one in this thread seems to have flashed to the realization that you could have completely defused the tense situation that was escalating between you and the driver behind you by going around behind him putting him in front of your bicycle. No running the red, no sharing the straight through lane with ... gasp... cars...

H

Jimi77

Agreed. I would have got on the sidewalk myself, but then again, I'm pretty paranoid when it comes to dealing with traffic.

acidfast7

It only takes one error when running a red.

As a scientist, I'm quite impressed with your zero failure rate in the running of 500,000 red lights.

However, statistically, I would say that you're due for a failure.

In addition, I don't believe your 500,000 red light estimate. That would be 1 light every 1/10 mile for 50,000 miles (roughly 1500 miles/year for 35 years) or 1 light every mile for 500,000 miles (roughly 15,000 miles/year or roughly 40 miles/day every day for 35 years).

Something here smells quite fishy

JoeyBike

Yes, but it's MY error, not some other person's responsibility who may be drunk, on the phone, eating, fooling with the radio, or just plain stoopid. I trust my judgment in traffic more than anyone else on earth.

My bad. I included running stop signs too. I run 16 to 32 red lights a day (5 days a week, 50 weeks a year) depending on my route and how I catch them. I actually PREFER to catch them red for various reasons other red light runners will understand.

Been hearing that for 20 years too. I just look both way before crossing the street. A monkey could do it.

Like I said above, my bad...I counted stop signs too. Cut the red light number in half. Let's just round it off to 200,000 with no problems.

Blindly obeying ignorant laws that increase the danger for cycling is quite a smelly topic for sure.

I know every person who ever posted on BF has crossed a busy intersection that has no stop light whatsoever. Maybe just a 2-way stop sign. Crossing an intersection with a traffic signal, green or red in color, is EXACTLY the same level of thought. Make sure nothing can hit you, ride across. If you do this, you have more of a chance of being struck by a meteorite than a crossing motor vehicle. Stop at a light and you are a sitting duck.

acidfast7

I have a feeling that if we continue this dialogue, we can reach a situation that approximates reality. Exaggeration undermines one's credibility.

JoeyBike

Count up how many lights and stop signs you encounter in a day of commuting round trip. Then multiply that out. It's going to be a lot if you commute through any city grid. New Orleans is an old (300+years) city with small blocks and zillions of lights and stop signs. I started the car free/car light lifestyle at 15, began commuting full time at 25. I'm 55 now. I bike 7 days a week for work or utilitarian purposes, exercise, and travel. The miles and the traffic signals pile up over time.

Add yours up. You might be surprised.

I came clean. Your turn.

baron von trail 

I give cars all the room they need. Battling with cagers just isn't worth the trouble. I would have either moved further right, to the curb, so people could make their right turns on red in front of me, or moved I would have stopped left of the turn lane so they can pass me on the right and turn on red. More often than not, I move to the curb. i don't much like cars on both sides of me.

aidzbelty

I feel bad for you bro since I've been crossing to Richmond daily in my commutes, and it ain't bike-friendly compared to Vancouver..

There's a story back then that old Asian people living there who did not speak or write English just paid off their papers to get a driver's license, just saying..

Bike looks ride-able, that is if you brought your tools just remove the rear fender.. Though if my confidence was shattered that day I'd probably just ride the bus the rest of the route..

From my experience, in any kind of intersection I just stop up to the line and way into the side so I could stand with my right foot on the curb.. I'd rather deal with the rocks and sand in the curb than get that kind of situation..

wphamilton

Ever estimate how much time you'd have spent waiting, if you did stop for all those lights?

I estimate 30 seconds per light, but that's a wild guess. With all the variables such as light cycle, amount of traffic, light synchronization, how you approach them etc you'd really have to stop and time a lot of waits to actually know, but I think 30 seconds is a pretty good ballpark.

So that would be around 70 days total for you, or two days per year that you haven't wasted at lights.

CommuteCommando

Not giving the driver a pass by any means, but this is why I always stop to the left of the right turn lane when stopped for a light. This allows cars to turn right on red, otherwise they could try to cut around to my left and cut in front, or do what they did in your case.

Mr. Hairy Legs

This is the kind of stuff I have to deal with on a daily basis:


Never malicious, just oblivious. The OP's story seems pretty unusual to me.

CenturionIM

Thoroughly loved the video.

squegeeboo

I'm suprised you use the seperate bike lanes (unless you have to legally?) In NY, you only have to use a bike lane/MUP if it's physically attached to the roadway. In those cases it's seperate, and works out basically the same as biking on a sidewalk in terms of right hooks/driveways etc.

MikeRides

Wow, some people shouldn't have a driver's license... It's fools like that guy that jacks up everyone's insurance. I hate approaching intersections on the bike, because there are a lot of idiot drivers out there who think driving is a right and not a privilege, but when I do I never take the full lane. I'd rather have a car sitting to the left side of me than directly behind me. Of course I only ride in low to moderate traffic, so I have no experience in large Metropolitan cities.

RidingMatthew

I am sorry you got hit while riding your bike. I have read a lot of peoples responses and I think in a ideal world you should have been okay but when i looked back and saw someone close I would have moved out of his way. I think Liestrum is right if you had time move your bike behind him might have been a good way to difuse the situation. I wish you a speedy recovery.

RidingMatthew

do you ride with lights on flash during the day? just curious.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I am technically allowed to take the road there, but it's very narrow and also a regular bus route. It's only a 2 mile stretch, and those who refuse to use the MUP (roadies) at rush hour are generally despised for holding up traffic. I prefer not to have people breathing down my neck whenever possible.

Mr. Hairy Legs

No. I probably should.

squegeeboo

To each their own. I'd be pure road for those two miles. Cars coming up behind are easy to deal with. Random pull ins/outs, trash bins, etc are what worry me.

nismo604

Looks like Westminster Hwy and 6 Road. Richmond drivers is all I can say.

tigerteeuwen

Lol....

statistically yes, but Mathematically no, his chance is not increasing over time of having a "failure".

Mr. Hairy Legs

Yep. Many laughs, but I'd much rather ride in Richmond every day than Delta/Surrey.