Originally Posted by
aley
Speak for yourself.
Most cars don't accelerate away from lights all that fast - I regularly outsprint most cars across intersections (not, of course, if they're trying to race me, but most aren't). Even the ones that do "jackrabbit" starts are not really launching all that hard. So I avoid the situation of being passed in the intersection by staying close behind the car in front (if there is one) or sprinting hard enough to surprise most drivers that I'm out of the way (if I'm at the front of the line). By the time they've realized that I'm not ambling across the intersection like I don't have a care in the world, I'm on the other side doing 25 mph.
It's not like I'm some sort of super sprinter - just a middle-aged, somewhat overweight guy on a bike. I don't find it hard to beat cars for 30-50 feet, though.
Thats good for you. Unfortunately other commuters out there are not that fast from a stop and even if they are could not possibly out sprint cars every day for the whole year. Factors like fatigue, injuries, common cold, etc. etc. comes to play. Besides, filtering is one of the biggest advantages of riding a bicycle. The advantage is there so why not use it.