I bomb them all the time. I slowly approach them, scope out the situation and take them. If the traffic is heavy, I will a wait =)

NEVER, as a rule but when I sit at a light early in the morning twice and I see no one approaching, I take off. I was also told by law enforcement here(NC) that if you get off your bike and walk it across, you don't need to wait. That's if the way is clear.

3ss

I never try to run red lights and I always attempt to follow the law and rules of the road to a T whether I'm riding or driving my car.

Very seldom, there's only one traffic light on my commute that I will not wait for when red, and that's usually early on Saturday mornings when there's no traffic around to trigger the signal since my bike cannot trigger it.

I never say "never".

The thing is, the safest intersections I've ridden through as a cyclist have separate signals for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. If your particular signal says to stop, you stop; when it says to go, you go. You don't end up sharing space with other forms of traffic.

Since we still don't have such intersections here in the US (not many, anyway), I'll go when it's safest for everyone involved.

Every ride. There are a few I stop for, but those are one big main roads, and I will run those if there is nobody coming, but that is very rare.

Otherwise, I run, if they are red, about 5 each way each day.

z

I don't like to run red lights but there's one on my commute that will not detect my bike. If a car doesn't come up to trigger the sensor, I'll go when it is clear. I really dislike being seen running a red light, so even if the sensor is malfunctioning I prefer to wait until no one is around before I go.

My 12 mile commute only has 4 lights.

I do it occasionally, but it's not really "run". When I'm at an intersection and the light turns red, with no car crossing right away, I extend my neck like a giraffe and look carefully, if all drivers appear very cautious and start slowly, I may give it go. But I never speed up suddenly--which can be very dangerous. Anyway, I understand this is still a dangerous action, and will refrain from it.

Never. I didn't get to be a 52 year old bike commuter by doing stupid things in traffic.

When I feel like it. It tends to be a rare occurrence lately.

Never.

Paul

If blinking red lights count, every day. Actual red lights i come to either a near stop of a full stop (depends what time of day) then go on my way. In idaho you only have to stop before you go through a red light.

How often do you run red lights?

Whenever they are red.

Kidding. Usually never. I just wait it out. Once n a while when I'm in a real hurry, I just gun it wherever.

Where I ride we have only country roads and stop signs. On a 40 mile ride I might be passed by 5-10 cars. Visibility is excellent all ways and so I typically ride through stop signs if no traffic around. If I approach a sign at the same time as a car approaches, no matter from which direction, then I stop and proceed according to the laws.
I was in Chicago this summer and did a lot of city riding- whole different experience. I was amazed at the number of cyclists blowing through busy intersections and at the number of cops who paid no attention to it. I guess they have more important things to do than ticket cyclists.

I have this at one intersection on my commute. Unfortunately, it is where I turn left onto a somewhat busy street with poor visibility, and it's where I've seen a car doing at least 70 (speed limit is 30 I think), slowing only slightly to go around the cars stopped at a red light! So I usually try to wait for a car to come from the opposite direction and trip the sensor.

Usually never, and I hit the crosswalk button to be sure the light changes.

Stop signs, on the other hand, are suggestions to me. If no cars present, then I run them. If cars are present I slowly roll up and take my turn with the next car in my lane.

I ran a red in my car yesterday.

Naw, no big deal...just stop twice at the next red light or make it up in your bicycle next time.

+1

So this is the basic rule for running or not running red lights:
Never, ever, run a red light, unless it is necessary.

I agree with this savvy Caps fan.

I can't read every reply and I doubt anyone will read this one. Make it a poll next time so people can quickly see how the respondents to the thread align.

The magnetically controlled intersections that won't register my presence. Usually at the local Chinamart. Wait for a good clearing in traffic and go on. Local police have witnessed it and waved. Guess they were waiting on bigger fish.

I never run red lights. It doesn't count if the light is defective and won't change for a bike; those I call in to the public works department so they have something else to not do. I actually stop at stop signs. However, I don't put my foot down. I'm not sure where the silly notion started that cyclists should stop by putting a foot down, but I will do it when they require the other vehicle operators to do it. (I did see one motorist do it once. He was sliding along on the ice; just before he slid into the intersection he opened his door and put his foot down. It provided all the extra friction he needed and he stopped.)

I run then every time I want (another) $170 traffic ticket from DC's finest