Originally Posted by ghettocruiser
So to summarize, if you don't signal, you might get a ticket, if you do signal, the rear-view mirror of a speeding cube van might break your arm. If you run a yellow light, you might get a ticket. If you stop for a yellow, expect the SUV behind you to nearly hit you as they run it. It happened twice this week so far.
The only lesson I can extract is that riding a bike in Toronto is moronic.
I guess I won't be learning my lesson.
There's always one person who over-simplifies and condescends. Technically, cyclists should signal. I admit I only use my signals when there is traffic around that would be affected. But, yes, I technically should signal every stop, every turn and run the risk, like every vehicle operator who doesn't signal) of a ticket if I don't. Cops, rarely, if ever, ticket for something like that, however (perhaps it's too easy to successfuly fight).
if you do signal, the rear-view mirror of a speeding cube van might break your arm.
How long are your arms? Making a right hand signal does not extend much beyond the width of your vehicle and if you are that close to a van (because you always look behind you first) don't signal right then, wait for him to go by. Sheesh. You shouldn't be signalling a left-hand turn from the right, so that eliminates getting your arm broken like that. If an SUV decides to run a red, let him: you likely have had the sense to move to the right anyway. I've rarely experienced what you have twice this week and I commute 10 miles per day, every day for 25 years.
And the highway/traffic act states that you must come to a stop on an amber light if you can do so safely. So, if you go through one, fine, but if you had time to stop behind the line, then you should have. You, like any vehicle operator, risk getting a ticket if you don't. What's so hard about that? It's simple common sense.
900,000 season cyclists in Toronto would disagree it's moronic to ride in Toronto. Maybe it's only moronic for morons.