genec

Sure if it's a close call while either biking or driving... I let them know, otherwise... it just doesn't matter.

And to be honest, I have never had a close call with a cyclist... I have had close calls with motorists... both while I was cycling and while I was motoring.

I have talked to cyclists while driving when I notice either an especially good light or an especially bad light... I found out about PB super flash that way... and I have seen that if one is carrying a backpack, the best location for a light is probably on the backpack, not the helmet. I have also noticed that two lights; one high and one low tends to make a cyclist vastly more visible, and thus have adopted that same methodology myself. (these days I use three lights... one steady and two blinkies; one high and one low)

BTW when I "pull over" a cyclist to talk about their lights... what I really do, if driving, is pull into a safe driveway or sidestreet and then get out of my car and talk to them as a pedestrian... yelling anything from a car just doesn't work, period... and seems quite rude besides.

dynodonn 

In my locale, as high as our collision stats are, cyclists that blow through red lights and stop signs with little regard for other road users are unfortunately culled out in short order.

jimincalif

First time experience on the Amtrak century ride yesterday, several of us were stopped at a light in Camp Pendleton, and another group of riders came up behind us. All but one stopped at the light, and several of those riders gave the runner a loud round of boos. As many of us passed the runner later I did not hear anyone say one anything directly to him.

Of course we ride thru Pendleton only with permission of the Marine Corp, so it's not cool to do things that might get the MPs upset and risk potential problems with base access for all cyclists. The alternative, the shoulder of Interstate 5, isn't particularly attractive.

rebel1916

9/10 dentists agree that that kind of nonsense is bad for your teeth.

JanisXenith

After taking note of the rider's Lance Armstrong Jersey so I can describe it later to the USADA, I then go immediately to help the blind man who got knocked over by said cyclist.

RoadTire 

Glass walls still standing, eh? I busted mine quite a while ago...feel kinda...nekked and silly now....

diphthong

no. i figure that they're in the ap version of collision course with death and/or have a waay better health insurance plan than i do.

JonnyHK 

It is a very small cycling community here, so often you either know the person or have friends in common. The actions of a few do reflect on the rest of us.

If a driver can justify in their head doing something stupid/aggressive to cyclists because of the poor behaviour of some individuals, then I'm not happy to let that occur. Why should I become a 'target' because of the actions of some other dip***** cyclist?

So yes, I do call other cyclists out for doing dumb stuff like clearly breaking traffic rules when motorists are around.

However, I do try to be polite!

mrodgers

Last night on the way home from a nice ride at the lake I didn't have time as I was locked up sliding and steering past the tail end of him as he blew through the stop sign at about 30 mph with me and others coming along at 55.

Looigi

Around here it seems all cyclists blow through stop signs and will stop and proceed through red lights if no cars are coming, and this isn't Idaho, where it's legal.

MMACH 5

I have two differing answers.

1. While on my own or even with a group, out riding. It is none of my business if others decide to blow a stop sign. If they don't interfere with my ride, they'll never hear anything from me.

2. As an LCI, if I have a student decide to blow a stop sign, then I absolutely will mention it to them. They are paying me to teach them the safest operation of a bicycle, and we will both be evaluated on what I've shared. I've never had it happen in a class, though.

CrankyOne

A bunch of cyclists from Twin Cities Bicycle Club blast through a 4-way stop at speed when a car already at the intersection has ROW. What will that driver now think of 'cyclists'? Will that driver feel like being charitable to other bicycle riders they encounter? Will they want to become one of these people themselves?

A young girl steps from a curb when she has ROW at a crosswalk and is nearly hit by a 'cyclist' blowing through the red light. Later on when she's driving, what will her attitude be towards 'cyclists'? Certainly all people who ride bicycles shouldn't be lumped together, but then again, there's reality.

If you don't say something to those 'cyclists', who will?

There's a vast difference in riding through a stop sign or light when there's nobody else in sight and doing so when it negatively impacts others.

gdhillard

I'm too busy on my bike to try to correct others. And not too interested in trying to take on that task. And I blow stop signs on a regular basis, when it seems right to do so.

Chaco

I generally detest the idea that any cyclist is a proxy for all of us, any more than a coal-runner spewing toxic smoke on a cyclist is a proxy for all drivers. This is just a ridiculous idea. And the idea that if we all "cleaned up our act" would somehow induce the bicycle hating drivers to suddenly love us is absurd. So no, if a cyclist I don't know runs a stop sign, that's his business. The only time I would intervene is if he/she were about to injure either themselves or a pedestrian.

The other exception is riding on Camp Pendleton, where all cyclists can ride through the base purely by the good graces of the base commander. Here is one place where every cyclist truly is a proxy for us all. So any cyclist there who is not following all the rules is endangering the rights of all of us. However, that is a very special case.

Chris516

Yes, If I am not on my way to an appointment. For me, it is indirectly personal. I don't want them to end up with the health problems I have lived my whole life with.

On account of them flounting traffic law. Just because they can't be bothered to stop.

spare_wheel

These threads always attract sadists who think that violation of a minor traffic law justifies their death fantasies.

joeyduck

There is one intersection I regularly cross a bike lane. The road has no stop sign and the bike lane/cross street does.

Cyclist regularly run the stop sign. I yell at them since I am coming down the hill at thirty kph or more and they are just blowing by in front of me.

spare_wheel

There is a vast difference between treating a stop sign or light as a yield and nearly assaulting a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

bbbean 

I deliver a deady payload of disdain by looking at them with a sour expression. They typically wither in my gaze, ride back to me and beg forgiveness for their transgressions.

lostarchitect 

First off, I have almost never seen someone "blow through" a stop sign or light. I often see people slow down, look, yield if needed, and then roll through the light. I know here in NYC pedestrians complain about cyclists "blowing" lights, but in my experience the actual issue is often that the pedestrians are not paying attention to their surroundings.

That said, why on earth would I call someone out on this? I don't call people out on road behavior that doesn't affect me.

CrankyOne

Agree.

gl98115

Each day, an average of 79 people receive organ transplants. However, an average of 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs. Healthy people who die suddenly in accidents can be good candidates.

Obviously you feel that organ donation is sadistic and a part of death fantasies. Others feel differently and have registered with their state donor registry.

organdonor.gov | State Organ and Tissue Donor Registries

Vintage_Cyclist

Self righteous people who get ridiculously indignant at low level gallows humor are very simple minded.

JGM411

I got scolded taking the right-of-way, aka I did not stop at a 4-way stop intersection. It was 5 am, a Sunday morning, side street in a very small town and the car beat me to the stop. I wasn't going very fast as I had slowed down. I suppose I didn't want to unclip, so just rode through the intersection.

I was in the wrong, but it wasn't as if the bovine (yea I am a bit annoyed about getting yelled at ...you ran a stop a sign... you ran a stop sign! in her screechy voice) had some place better to go in a hurry.

I did not respond.

EncinitasRider

I don't say anything, just dip my head because I know it's an enabler for the drivers with the "road rage" and I hope they don't end up getting smacked by a car. Keeping my average MPH up isn't worth the risk of getting hit by a car. But if someone is going to blow through a stop sign I doubt my words will hold much weight. But maybe that's the lazy way out.