I accidentally ran a red light and almost got hit....

[TwoFourOne]

It was on this weird intersection where the sidewalk crossing is hidden by some trees, so the cars that are behind you, turning right, can't really see the crossing until they're on top of it.

I waited for the light to change, and it did (the cars in the lane behind me started to go), but I couldn't see if the turning right lane had a green light or not (I was stupid and didn't check to see if I could see the traffic light from my position by the crosswalk, like normal. If a situation happens like this where I can't see the traffic light, I usually wait by the light to be able to see if it's green or not). The crosswalk sign was red for me, too.

So I waited to see if any turning cars were coming from behind (visibility sucks because of the trees hiding the road like I said, and because the intersection is right after a hill - so the cars are coming uphill and then right as they make it over, they turn right). A few cars turned right, but the crossing sign didn't turn green for me yet.

Then there weren't any cars at all in the lane anymore. I assumed it was safe to go and that the green light was still on. Halfway through me crossing the intersection, the cars on my right (waiting on the light) started to go. I quickly realized what happened but I was already moving and couldn't really stop and turn around. 2 of the three cars stopped for me, and the middle lane was empty. Then a car came driving up on the middle lane and I barely made it across before it passed me. If I was a second slower it definitely would have hit me.

I felt terrible about it because I normally wait at every red light and hate red light jumpers. I was stupid and didn't make sure that the light was green before crossing - I just assumed. The broken crosswalk sign didn't help at all. The adrenaline kicked in and I didn't really comprehend that I almost got hit by a car until a few blocks down the road. It's a lesson, I guess.

[lostarchitect]

Ok.

[TwoFourOne]

Ok.

[bluegoatwoods]

I'm having a hard time picturing the scene; the blocked lines of sight, etc.

But the best of riders will make an occasional error. I'm glad it didn't turn into an accident.

Maybe you should make this crossing in the traffic lane?

[TwoFourOne]

The positioning of the crosswalk is weird, it's hard to describe. And yes I probably should have taken the lane, but I didn't think it through enough. I guess I learned that you always have to be alert, cautious, and read the situation.

[Chris516]

It was on this weird intersection where the sidewalk crossing is hidden by some trees, so the cars that are behind you, turning right, can't really see the crossing until they're on top of it.

Just from saying that alone, I can picture a few intersections local to me, that are like that.

I waited for the light to change, and it did (the cars in the lane behind me started to go), but I couldn't see if the turning right lane had a green light or not (I was stupid and didn't check to see if I could see the traffic light from my position by the crosswalk, like normal. If a situation happens like this where I can't see the traffic light, I usually wait by the light to be able to see if it's green or not). The crosswalk sign was red for me, too.

Go by the crosswalk sign, unless you are actually on the road.

So I waited to see if any turning cars were coming from behind (visibility sucks because of the trees hiding the road like I said, and because the intersection is right after a hill - so the cars are coming uphill and then right as they make it over, they turn right). A few cars turned right, but the crossing sign didn't turn green for me yet.

That really bites.

Then there weren't any cars at all in the lane anymore. I assumed it was safe to go and that the green light was still on. Halfway through me crossing the intersection, the cars on my right (waiting on the light) started to go. I quickly realized what happened but I was already moving and couldn't really stop and turn around. 2 of the three cars stopped for me, and the middle lane was empty. Then a car came driving up on the middle lane and I barely made it across before it passed me. If I was a second slower it definitely would have hit me.

Ouch!

I felt terrible about it because I normally wait at every red light and hate red light jumpers. I was stupid and didn't make sure that the light was green before crossing - I just assumed. The broken crosswalk sign didn't help at all. The adrenaline kicked in and I didn't really comprehend that I almost got hit by a car until a few blocks down the road. It's a lesson, I guess.

The broken crosswalk sign needs to be taken care of by the DOT ASAP!!

[HBxRider]

I hate it when you're in this grey area, where you are in a high gear, going fast, and the light turns yellow just as you're coming up to the limit line and you have to decide wether to slam on the brakes, or haul ass to make it through before opposing traffic. You don't want to have to downshift, clip out and back in, put wear on your brakes, etc...

But as cyclists, we really need to play it on the safe side.

[Chris516]

I hate it when you're in this grey area, where you are in a high gear, going fast, and the light turns yellow just as you're coming up to the limit line and you have to decide wether to slam on the brakes, or haul ass to make it through before opposing traffic. You don't want to have to downshift, clip out and back in, put wear on your brakes, etc...

But as cyclists, we really need to play it on the safe side.

You reminded me, of a light I was approaching yesterday. When it went red, I was a good ways back. So I was just coasting a bit, waiting for the light to go green again. When it did, I got back into a middle gear to start with. Once I started to have more rotations in my cadence, I switched into a high gear for more speed to make the light.

[chandltp]

You don't want to have to downshift, clip out and back in, put wear on your brakes, etc...

I don't know how you managed it, but you made that sound hard.

Maybe I have a different perspective since most of my riding is in dealing with stop signs and red lights, it's just part of getting where I'm going.

[SuncoastChad]

I'm glad the story ended "no blood, no foul". I rarely "make" lights and around here even if you "take" the lane and if you cross in the traffic lane there's a good chance you'll get someone turning right on red...but, that's life in a congested area like Clearwater.

I've noticed a real change in my commuter attitude the last few months. I don't "train", I don't log miles, etc. I commute to work. I don't especially care if I have to wait at lights (though some here are in excess of 5 minutes per cycle -- that is a bit of a drag!), stop at signs, etc. However, that's my current position - I used to ride hard on my commutes and "cared" about time and efficiency and all that.

So, again, glad you are OK. Don't beat yourself up. Contrary to belief here in A & S, just about everyone screws up once in a while!

[Commodus]

Didn't really follow the OP, but I did (sort of) the same thing a few weeks ago!

Some cager was blaring his horn at some other cager for something off to my left, and I looked for a moment too long to figure out if I was about to get killed. When I looked up, the light had turned red and I was rolling through the intersection. I think the opposing traffic was still on red as well, but it shook me up a bit. As does the OP, I hate running reds and it bugs me when others do it.

[Dan The Man]

I did something like that going over one of the three lane bridges where the middle lane changes direction depending on the time of day. So there are a line of green lights in the middle saying that it's okay to use, and I was focusing on those and totally didn't look at the red traffic light at the entrance and blew right through it with a honk or two from the side.

[TwoFourOne]

Ah, I guess it happens to everyone. I was just feeling bad yesterday after that for unintentionally being the kind of cyclist I dislike.