First group road ride. Not comfortable with the red light running...
 

I went out the other night with a couple of guys from the LBS. They pushed me hard which i loved, but they ran every red light. I am a cautious driver and an even more cautious cyclist. I rode motorcycles for tens of thousands of miles and I know the kind of damage a car can do to someone on two wheels first hand. They weren't interested in waiting for me or stopping at lights for me once they saw I like to stop for red.

1. Should i harden the **** up and ride how they ride?
2. Should i keep safety in mind and catch up after every light?
3. Should i find a group to ride with who respects traffic laws and safety the way i do? Does that exist?

option #3,

http://azbikeclub.com/content.aspx?p...item_id=177133

"Event Rules: Helmet is required and all riders are expected to follow the rules of the road."

Find another group. Their callous decision to disregard traffic laws, safety and common sense is appalling. Don't follow the pack in this case. They give a cyclists a bad name and make it worse for the rest of us. Follow your gut and do the right thing.

Were they/you riding in a heavy or sparse traffic area?

Nuther moto rider here. Half a ton, or more (SUVs), of rolling metal trumps a bicyclist every time with deadly consequences.

Commo, riding in an industrial area between downtown Phoenix and our closest suburb, Tempe. It's one of the busiest roads in the city until 7pm and rides on a brand new surface next to light rail. After about 11pm you don't see many cars. We rode at 9pm.

Busy or not, it doesn't feel right.

Definitely #3. Biking is supposed to be fun, and safe. What you're describing is neither!

Absolutely #3. I have the same problem with the group from my LBS and since it is the only LBS in town I pretty much decided to ride on my own from now on. I do not even feel comfortable being associated with them as I know there are kids that look up to these guys and I am sick of the bad example they are setting for our youth. I tried to mention it to them but they just told me they didn't care. I hope you find some good riding companions as I am still in search of such around here.

One of the joys of living in a city of almost 5 million people is there will always be others to ride with. Thing is, I ride with this same shop on mtn rides and the employees/customers who go on the mtn rides behave totally differently. We still cross major roads against traffic, but they stop before they cross and look both ways like mom taught me.

Most group rides, especially the fast ones, are going to go if there is no one coming on the side street. I doubt you will find many "A Group Rides" that will stop at a red with no cross traffic. Not saying its right, just the way it is.

Option 3. No excuses for running a light. If you want to go fast go out to the hinterlands and avoid traffic and traffic control devices.

If there are no cars or pedestrians coming, I would personally say it's fine. It doesn't hurt anybody. I think you should ALWAYS be cautious and slow down at the light/sign to make sure there's no one coming, but other than that it seems like fair game to me.

But really, it's not about what I or any of us think. It's about you, your own beliefs, and your decisions in the long run.

Until, at least, that one car they didn't see gets them. I'd feel free to ride hard with them, but the first red light they ran, I would wave good-bye.

invisible cars?

Just last week there was a newspaper article here in Phoenix about a guy who crossed the street mid block. He died at the hospital after being hit by a car, but in the ambulance he told paramedics he didn't see the car that hit him coming.

It happens.

Yeah I hate when rides simply yell "all clear!" and everyone just rolls thru a stop light. Found a ride around my house that doesn't do this, much more comfortable for me.

I'm with butthash on riding techniques and also think you should find another group. When your not comfortable with a pace and style of riding, move on.

Call the police and ask them if bicyclists are required to stop at red lights. Then tell them you saw some cyclists running red lights and riding erratically on (date/time).

Gotta go with #3 too. Luckily all the group rides in Austin seem to start with these final words, "be safe and remember to follow all the traffic laws."

I think mayberry police might respond to that but i live in a big city.