Originally Posted by
trekker pete
He has come to the conclusion that if you rely on anyone else to keep you from being smushed, you will eventually be smushed. Assume you are the invisible cyclist, because in reality, it's not far from the truth. And being invisible, you are reliant on getting yourself out of the way. So long as you have some sort of forward speed, you have the ability to do this. When you are stopped at a light, one foot on the pavement, you're a sitting duck, make that invisible sitting duck.
+1 on this.
Lights don't kill cyclists, cars do. It is important to know what is happening with the lights, but it is WAY more important to know what the cars are doing. That said: paying attention to the traffic does not excuse you from paying attention to lights and signage, you need to be aware of EVERYTHING, cars, pedestrians, cyclists, suicidal-delivery-cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders, dog-walkers, motorcyclists, potholes, signage, lights ... all of those things can take your life from you if you don't maintain acute awareness at all times.