Originally Posted by
pallen
Because as much as we want bikes to be treated as "vehicles", a bike is just different. A bike is not a pedestrian, and its not exactly a vehicle either. A bike is human powered like a pedestrian, the rider is more exposed to the elements like a pedestrian, a person on a bike weighs about the same a pedestrian. A person on a bike has the same level of visibility as a pedestrian that is very different from a driver in a vehicle.
None of which seems to make a difference in the context of going through a red light when no one's around
A person on a bike is more maneuverable like a pedestrian, can stop as fast as a pedestrian(when going slow).
Like most things, a cyclist falls in between pedestrians and powered vehicles in both maneuverability and ability to stop. When it comes to stopping in particular, I'd suggest that a slow moving car can stop just as quickly as a slow moving bike. A bike is certainly far less maneuverable than a pedestrian.
Rolling up to an intersection with sensor controls on a bike frequently doesn't trip the sensor the way "vehicles" do. (If I have to get over to the pedestrian button to get a light, I might as well act like a pedestrian.)
Which is a specific application where the equipment is flawed. How does this apply at ordinary intersections where the lights cycle on a timer? Since we were discussing "waiting for the light," not "waiting for a car to come and trip the light," my assumption is that these are not sensored intersections (or if they are, it's sensitive enough to detect the bike).
Going through a red light has nothing to do with "feeling silly".
And yet, the OP stated: "Sometimes I feel stupid waiting at red lights" as his justification for going through. (Sorry, when I was typing the first reply, I remembered it as "feel silly.") I am trying to understand why he feels stupider waiting for a light on his bike than he would in a car, since this seems illogical.
Its just as safe to roll slowly through a red light on a bike as it is for a pedestrian to jay walk. I don't really see a difference. I guess if you're a real stickler about jaywalking, then you should sit and wait.
Thanks. I don't jaywalk either, and I encourage other people to also use traffic signals to their advantage.