Don't worry about him, all his posts pretty much have that same nose-thumbing attitude :lol:

I'm on Bladeforums too, which is a good place to go if you are really interested in interpretations of local knife laws. Here's a thread discussing carry laws in SF: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...isco-knife-law

Please note: SF bans all autos (CA law bans 2" and over), and has an interesting part of the code prohibiting loitering while carrying a weapon, which, per other SF code, includes knives with blades over 3". This gets interesting because over 3" (and not an auto or other prohibited knife) isn't outright banned, but is classed as a weapon, and you are expressly prohibited from loitering with it. Also of note in the thread is a discussion of concealed/pocket-clip/open carry. Worth looking at if you are interested in legal ramifications. Over-all, it appears most pocket knives are legal, to include the spyderco native that is my primary carry.

No worries, that is what the forum is about....
I have lived in both SF and austin.
And ridden in houston, san antonio, dallas, new orleans, baton rouge, memphis, and more, at all hours of the day and night.
And operated a pedicab professionally for 9+ years in downtown austin bar/UT football, music festivals, etc... with all kinds of motorists/cyclists/pedestrians in all sorts of states.
My experience leads me to believe that most accidents late at night occur at intersections. And I have seen some bad ones.
I am going to move right through them and minimize my time in those very same intersections.
Not to mention the strange and/or nefarious characters I have seen late night in our inner cities.......

Yeah I was just riding with a few others yesterday down around Mallory and Florida St. and there were quite a few... interesting... characters down that way. And that was still with some daylight left. No way in hell would I be down there on a bike at night, by myself. Not even in a car by myself at night.

"hayyyyy baybuh can I ride behind yo bike, man y'alls look good on dem bikes" lol you probably know the type :p

OP, it appears that you know and understand the law. You also understand the penalty for breaking the law. The only thing you are looking for is support from others to tell you to break the law.

Ethics are what you do when no one is looking. Do what you think it right to do?

If you don't believe you are safe then try to do something about it. If you lived in a free state, I would tell you to carry a gun. Since you don't live in a free state, ...... If you believe the laws for bicycles should be different....

Cyclists are bad enough but what really pisses me off is seeing pedestrians jaywalking. Those scofflaws make all pedestrians look bad!!!1!!!!!

:rolleyes:

One positive thing about red lights is that it gives me an opportunity to practice trackstands.

I live in Seattle and had to commute 15 miles across town via downtown. For most part there is no problem stopping at lights. How ever I have been downtown early 3 or 4 am and it seem that there is a lot of activity that I felt danger, when that happens I did stop for light but did not wait for the light to change, if clear go. If it just quiet than I would do correct with all traffic signals, wait etc...

I often do this for awhile and then jump the light when it's clear.

:lol: Whenever car drivers mention the scofflaw cyclists, I ask them if they know anyone who drives over the speed limit. That shuts 'em up.

My old route, my old bike, I knew I could trip all the induction loops and therefore would stop at each and every light. New route, new bike and I can't get a single light to detect me, so I'm left with no choice but to run 'em all.

I let the motorists practice their "trackstands" while I go about my business down the road.

Pffft. People who run red lights know that they are responsible for their own safety and act accordingly. FAR fewer cyclists are hit deliberately running reds than all the tens of thousands are are hit when they are completely in the right of way! Hospital... ... really. Honestly the logic of the goody two shoes set never fails to amuse me.

H

I know your type as well. Why am I not surprised at what this post reveals. You seem to have a real problem with me. You may not be the only one. You are the only one who constantly takes my name in vain, however. Please stop. You've got ZERO high ground to look down on me from.

:thumb:

I don't know what you gather from my post, and I don't know anything about you other than the attitude that comes across in almost all your posts, that if others don't behave and cycle exactly like you then they should GTFO, as if they are beneath you or something.

:lol:

I commute in Las Vegas and all the good bike routes put you at traffic lights with ridiculously long cycles, even if there are cars present. Hitting the pedestrian button does no good.

For one commute at night, I now ride a couple blocks over so that I cross the big 6-lane surface streets at stop sign intersections. Even if there is traffic, a wave clears in much less time than the light would take.

I just started biking as my main mode of transportation about 2 weeks ago (in Austin, Tx). I took me about a week and a half to develop a complete and utter disregard for traffic laws... :D

That being said, I always give the right of way and yield to pedestrians and cars. If I'm not relying on traffic signs and lights to protect me, then I'm taking it upon myself to be extremely defensive.

I see other bikers do it too in Austin, just not a brazenly as me (sometimes I don't even slow down, if it looks completely clear). Most people seem to come to a complete stop at lights, look both ways, then run them. I figure if you're running it, you're running it... why bother slowing down, it's not going to reduce your fine, I don't think.

Anyway, good thread. I've been curious about this for a while; wondering if I'm doing something horribly frowned upon or something.

I almost always stop, and ALWAYS at least slow down, before a red light, just because I don't always have a clear enough view, far enough back to be able to just blow through it. If I'm the only one there, and I know I'm not going to get a green (because there was a left turn arrow and no other cars going straight or something), then I'll run it to get through before the other directions get their green.

Stop signs I rarely blow through. I almost always slow down, and definitely stop if there are other cars present.

Why not turn right at the light, then uturn back and continue on? If a police officer stops you, you could at least say you thought you were turning there then realized it wasn't the correct street. I do this occasionally. I don't like running straight through lights. We complain all the time about motorists respecting us, but then we think we can just do what we want. Maybe it's a cop out, but at least if you turn left then back, it's a plausible explanation :)

I've seen people do this and it looks as dumb as it sounds. You fool no one. Worse, if the person that witnesses this is law enforcement... I know I'd be p***** if someone blatantly tried to insult my intelligence in this fashion. Just run the light. Or don't. They are going to hate you whichever way you go if they are haters.

H

All those lights and signs are just a suggestion....:)...come to L.A. and watch the traffic.....SEE!

I don't think it's dumb at all. Running the light is a black and white scenario, clearly against the law. In the left turn u turn right turn option, the only questionable post is if the u turn is legal. Maybe a police officer will chime in, but I think they would see it as the cyclist maybe bending the rules as opposed to blatantly ignoring them. So it's just a matter of odds and I think it's both safer and has a lower chance of getting you a ticket. I've heard that when you drive past an officer while speeding, it's better to hit the brakes than to try and coast or not slow down at all. It shows your intent and that you acknowledge what you were doing instead of trying to conceal it. Just my opinion, I'm not a police officer

And types like you are why many motorists hate bicyclists. You give those of us that follow the rules a bad name. I also am not sure about where you live, but where I live most bicycle/car accidents are the result of cyclists not following the law.