Bike Forums - View Single Post - Wife's Mad at Downtown, Discourtious Cyclists

09-11-05 | 10:16 AM

#21

Roody

Sophomoric Member

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 24,192

Likes: 13

From: Dancing in Lansing

Quote:

Originally Posted by james_swift

Blowing a red light in city traffic is not only above the law, but can get you flattened right quick.

One time I was following a group of riders who had blown a redlight, while I stopped and waited for the green. When I caught up with them again, they were stopped at the next intersection's red light. Wondering what in the world came over them to suddenly want to obey the law, I noticed a cop on a motorbike parked at the crosswalk, poised as if just daring one of them to jump the red.

So obviously, these cyclists didn't consider themselves "ABOVE the law"...just only during situations when the law was glaring DOWN on them!

Let's make it standard across the board, folks. Obey the law. That includes stopping at red lights and not disrupting traffic. It really doesn't need to be any more complex than that. The best advocacy is through example. Quit the biker-tantrums...we're all adults here. Use your better judgement and PROVE to motorists and pedestrians that you're worthy of their respect and courtesy. Stop doing the exact opposite. My simple guideline is this: if you wouldn't do it in front of a cop, then don't do it.

Do you sit forever at red lights when there is no traffic? Many signals will not activate for bicycles. You could sit there in the hot sun all afternoon and never get a green light. I think there is room for a little common sense. On a bike, you are in a good position to know when it is safe to blow a red light. Cagers will thank you if you make theur wait a little shorter, and you will thank yourself too.

Most cyclists are too impatient (too smart, maybe) to go to quite the extremes that you do. So you just go right on thinking you're a better human, if that makes you feel nice and warm inside.

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