Bike Cops Ticketing Cyclists
#26
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A red light is a red light...I agree BUT: how many commuters actually stop and wait for red lights to change to green on small (2 lane) side streets with NO traffic? I know, it doesn't make it OK. I'm sure every rider here complies with every traffic law. Patrolling via bike would have the same effect without needing to hide in the shrubbery.
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There are 5 stop lights on my commute and I stop for them. They are all on busy roads so I'd be a fool not to stop. There are also stop signs, mainly on quiet side streets. At a couple I come to a complete stop - too risky not to, a couple I track stand, and one that I track stand at only if there is someone near by. That last stop sign - my sister did the same thing in her car last week and got pulled over by a cop that was hiding around the corner, so maybe I should be more vigilant.
#28
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Funny how cyclists demand to have all the same rights as cars, but not all the same responsibilities [it's not a direct response to the previous post, just a comment]
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[QUOTE=AdamDZ;14006591] but not all the same responsibilities [QUOTE]
I get your point. But a bike does not carry the same responsibility as a car. The damage you do on a bike has significantly less consequences then a htat of motor vehicle in the same manuever. Hence a cyclist is not required to carry liability insurance.
Not arguing that anybody needs to run stop signs or redlights. These should only be argued on a case-by-case basis, as I also have many lights that I stop at, and many stop signs that I treat as yield signs on my regular routes.
I get your point. But a bike does not carry the same responsibility as a car. The damage you do on a bike has significantly less consequences then a htat of motor vehicle in the same manuever. Hence a cyclist is not required to carry liability insurance.
Not arguing that anybody needs to run stop signs or redlights. These should only be argued on a case-by-case basis, as I also have many lights that I stop at, and many stop signs that I treat as yield signs on my regular routes.
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Hey squirtdad I'm in the SJ area too!
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
#31
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If he really wanted you there would have been a cruiser waiting for you at the top of the hill. Can't outrun a radio.
#32
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Hey squirtdad I'm in the SJ area too!
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
It seems as if more states are passing some sort of "dead red" law for just such an occurrence.
Yrs ago on a motorcycle I walked over to the walk button and pushed it. As I did a city engineer pulled up and asked me why. I told him the light wouldn't trigger for my bike. He insisted that all lights were on a timer. I just had to wait. I knew that light. He was fibbing.
Nowadays, I pull up to a light at 5ish and the don't walk sign starts blinking like it's going to change so I wait. When it's counted down and stops counting it goes back to "Walk" for the other direction and I don't get the light. I've tried to get to the button before it stops counting down but each time it ignores me and must start a timer before changing the light. If there's no traffic in any direction I go (most of the time). If there is anybody coming, going or waiting with me I walk my bike to the walk button. I'm not telling others what to do. It's what I do.
#33
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On foot and on a bicycle I totally disregard traffic rules IF I AM SURE IT IS SAFE. I know I'm only putting myself in danger when breaking the rules and It's my fault-my ass on the line.
When driving a car: I couldn't forgive myself for killing/hurting anyone. So I respect all the rules. And it is frustrating to see how badly, slowly, carelesly most people drive in my country.
On a motorcycle I respect most rules, except for filtering bans - I filter whenever I believe it is safe (cars are stopped and I see where the drivers are looking).
North of Italy was a driving paradise for me. Almost all the drivers drive fast, safe, respecting bicycles, motorcycles (allowing filtering whenever possible by making space for them). Good roads, good drivers, good speed limits, few cameras and cops. Dolce vita!
When driving a car: I couldn't forgive myself for killing/hurting anyone. So I respect all the rules. And it is frustrating to see how badly, slowly, carelesly most people drive in my country.
On a motorcycle I respect most rules, except for filtering bans - I filter whenever I believe it is safe (cars are stopped and I see where the drivers are looking).
North of Italy was a driving paradise for me. Almost all the drivers drive fast, safe, respecting bicycles, motorcycles (allowing filtering whenever possible by making space for them). Good roads, good drivers, good speed limits, few cameras and cops. Dolce vita!
#34
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Personally, I applaud the efforts of these officers and their departments. ***holes on bikes are no better than **holes in cars. There are responsible ways to deal with stubbon lights, but blowing them is not one of them.
#35
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Agree. As long as they treat everyone equally and don't just pick on cyclists and let the drivers get away. During my daily commute I see more ***holes on bikes than in cars. So yeah, I'm totally for that.
#36
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Edit: I'm allowed to say ass but not a-hole? Odd.
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#37
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If vehicles are around *at all*, I wait at red lights, and stop at stop signs.
However, if no vehicle is to be seen within sight, I slow down, look both ways and continue through.
In Illinois, if you are waiting at a red light, you can continue through if clear. I won't do that if a car is behind me though, or a car is waiting to come from the opposite direction, since they'll trigger the light (that is, if they move up far enough!)
Pretty simple... just use common sense.
However, if no vehicle is to be seen within sight, I slow down, look both ways and continue through.
In Illinois, if you are waiting at a red light, you can continue through if clear. I won't do that if a car is behind me though, or a car is waiting to come from the opposite direction, since they'll trigger the light (that is, if they move up far enough!)
Pretty simple... just use common sense.
#38
Descends like a rock
I dont demand the same rights as cars. I dont belong on a freeway in rush hour, or on busy roads with fast moving traffic and no shoulder, etc. I want to be treated as a cyclist. Yeah, it might be illegal to stop at a red light, look both ways and proceed, but its also illegal to jaywalk, drive 2mph over the speed limit, etc. Not all illegal acts are dangerous in all situations. That's why you rarely see police enforcing jaywalking laws.
#39
You gonna eat that?
I basically follow Idaho law around here. That, and follow the philosophy in the haiku in my sig file. Once or twice I've crossed against a red light and noted the next car down was a cop. So far, so good; no one has stopped me. We don't have that much of a problem with scofflaw cyclists violating the right of way of motor vehicles, though, so I don't think most cops even notice cyclists.
#40
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I've talked to a few people who have received warnings from police in Ft Worth for running red lights. I think most of that was right after they put in all the new bike lanes in near southside and suddenly there were cyclist out on the road.
#41
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Just to show that sometimes they go after the other guys:
https://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/0...e-of-business/
https://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/0...e-of-business/
#42
You gonna eat that?
I got a ticket from a bike cop for an illegal turn in my car.
#43
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Good for you for pulling over.
The cop in the photo there was riding in the bike lane, then was forced to go around because of the double parked taxi. Justice!
The cop in the photo there was riding in the bike lane, then was forced to go around because of the double parked taxi. Justice!
#44
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#45
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2- I personally know a bike cop who is currently a sponsored racer. Please, please come to his jurisdiction (King County, WA) and try to run from him.
#46
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#47
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I dont demand the same rights as cars. I dont belong on a freeway in rush hour, or on busy roads with fast moving traffic and no shoulder, etc. I want to be treated as a cyclist. Yeah, it might be illegal to stop at a red light, look both ways and proceed, but its also illegal to jaywalk, drive 2mph over the speed limit, etc. Not all illegal acts are dangerous in all situations. That's why you rarely see police enforcing jaywalking laws.
#48
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#49
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Originally Posted by AdamDZ
Funny how cyclists demand to have all the same rights as cars, but not all the same responsibilities
We are driving ~30 lb. vehicles at low speeds, let's say 20 mph, (8.9 m/s) with an all-up weight of ~250 lbs. (113 kg) We are un-armored. Total kinetic available energy would be 4475 J. A typical car weighs ~3000 lbs,(1362 kg) and on a typical road in my area, is traveling at 50 mph. (22 m/s). Resulting energy imparted would be 338,157 J. The car is capable of causing 76 times as much damage.
Not only that, but it is very likely that almost all of the damage would be to ourselves, especially since we are riding surrounded by cars and trucks, and not pedestrians. So we ARE taking responsibility for our actions. We're sticking our necks out, simply by riding bikes among cars and trucks. It's a risk analysis.
A bike cop ticketing a cyclist for rolling a red light when it is safe to do so is not serving and protecting, he is hassling. Picking the "low-hanging fruit."
I do respect your idea that we should follow rules, but let's not pretend we have the same responsibilities or rights as motorized traffic. On paper, it may be the case or close to it. In reality, it is not even close to true.
#50
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Hey squirtdad I'm in the SJ area too!
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
Anyhow, I think the *bigger issue for me personally is how my bike won't trigger the green light no matter what I do. This was constantly a probably for me in Indiana on my motorcycle too. California roads are a little more sensitive, but I know for a fact that some roads will NOT trigger, no matter how many times I go back and forth on the sensor. I memorize every light that doesn't trigger and act as if it was a stop sign instead (if there's no traffic at all).
Is it legal? No... but I'm definitely not walking my bike to the sidewalk to push the pedestrian crossing button because the city put in pos sensors.
I have had moderate success with putting my steel frame right over the sensor wires.......but if the road is resurfaced and I can't see the wires (where they dimond sawed, put wires in and sealed) it it a lot less successful
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