Etiquette at traffic lights

Rob McIvor · June 2007

Am I the only person who gets fed up with people who ride up behind and then squeeze past me when I'm already waiting at traffic lights and then set off really slowly, blocking the road so I can't overtake them? Had some twit do this to me on the approach to Tower Bridge last night and I was stuck behind him all the way across. What's the etiquette here? Is it so hard for them to understand that they should line up behind the first person to arrive at the lights, or alongside them only if there is space?

Roastie · June 2007

That would really annoy me. I would shout something rude at the said cyclist, like possibly, "Get a move on, lardar$e!"

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

Funny I was just thinking this on my commute today.

Had a cyclist and a bus in front of me at Bank Junction and also the same near Liverpool Street.Didn't want to overtake him at the lights and stop in advance.

Didn't want to go behind him as I thought this would put me at risk from the bus.(I was right)

Stuck behind the bus and still caught it up again at Liverpool Street for a repeat performance.The bus left me plenty of space to scoot up the inside of him but said cyclist was in the way again so I stayed back.[:)]

Slightly in reverse to your thread but I had a cyclist push in front of me at Lower or upper gateway going towards Tower Bridge.When she set off she proceeded at approx 6mph all the way to Tower Gateway and I couldn't get past her.[:(!]

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gaterz1981 · June 2007

you obviously dont wear enough lycra for them to see how quick you are [:p]

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Greenbank · June 2007

Do the same to them at the next set of lights and say "See...f***ing annoying isn't it." and cycle off.

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spen666 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Rob McIvor

Am I the only person who gets fed up with people who ride up behind and then squeeze past me when I'm already waiting at traffic lights and then set off really slowly, blocking the road so I can't overtake them? Had some twit do this to me on the approach to Tower Bridge last night and I was stuck behind him all the way across. What's the etiquette here? Is it so hard for them to understand that they should line up behind the first person to arrive at the lights, or alongside them only if there is space?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You simply push them off their bike and then stamp on them with your cleats and warn them not to mess with a real cyclist like you[:D]

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

Jaded · June 2007

If it is a bloke you tell him his arse is gorgeous and could he please pass you again.

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Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Someone did that to me five times, ignooring my "fool" as I passed him the third time, which escalated to "OI fatty, can't you ride?" then "Get out of my way @sshole" all of which were dismissed with the classic patented London Blank Stare.

Then after the fifth time I wasn't going to let him make it six, as he came up shoving through the other bikes, I very politely told him "OI S**TBAG, IF YOU DARE COME PAST ME AGAIN YOU'LL BE GOING HOME IN A F**KING AMBULANCE!!!"

He didn't go past me again [:D]

EDIT: This is not a recommended tactic! I did it just that once and spent the rest of the journey briking it that he was going to come and kick my ass. [B)][:p][:D]

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

Black Keith · June 2007

it always happens..
just pass them

if you're that fast, you'll get through the next set of lights before they do.

the other option is change your route a bit.
I always find mixing it up a bit keeps stress levels down, even if it's an extra mile or two..

but then I'm lucky in that I don't have to do the same journey every day for ever
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dondare · June 2007

As a dutiful red-light-stopper, it does annoy me when some trundler(s) pass me at the lights then get in my way for the 50 yards or so. However, in spite of their rudeness and ignorance I tend not to get too upset with them, and I can't help thinking that this is what many motorists must be experiencing all the time from cyclists.
Imagine you're waiting (in a car) at the lights, and while you're there several cyclists filter through and plant their bikes in front of you. The lights change and with painful slowness these engineless annoyances move off in a ragged bunch that is too wide to overtake.
Cyclists often act with impatient anger towards other cyclists and to pedestrians who "get in their way" and yet cannot understand how motorists can feel the same way towards them.

This sig is under construction.

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

It's only ignorance and lack of brains.Seems normal amongst cyclists nowadays.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

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b@kes · June 2007

I often go infront of people at the lights, but don't push through if there's no gap

99% of the time I'm riding faster than everyone so I think it's fine to do it

spen666 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

Someone did that to me five times, ignooring my "fool" as I passed him the third time, which escalated to "OI fatty, can't you ride?" then "Get out of my way @sshole" all of which were dismissed with the classic patented London Blank Stare.

Then after the fifth time I wasn't going to let him make it six, as he came up shoving through the other bikes, I very politely told him "OI S**TBAG, IF YOU DARE COME PAST ME AGAIN YOU'LL BE GOING HOME IN A F**KING AMBULANCE!!!"

He didn't go past me again [:D]

EDIT: This is not a recommended tactic! I did it just that once and spent the rest of the journey briking it that he was going to come and kick my ass. [B)][:p][:D]

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."
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What a big hard man you are

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

jel · June 2007

If someone is passing you six times they are effectively going at the same speed as you, suck it up, sit behind them and chill.

You should never, ever go in front of people at lights because that is blocking them in, trundlers do it a lot and sometimes I've had a word to explain wht they've done and why they shouldn't but the best thing to do is go past them very quick so you never see them again. This is also why I always wander to the front of traffic queues and why I like ASLs.

spen666 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jel

If someone is passing you six times they are effectively going at the same speed as you, suck it up, sit behind them and chill.
....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That doesn't always follow- you may sit at lights for a minute or more when they catch up with you. especially in London where lights can be every couple of hundred yards in places, you can be cycling much faster than them, but the lights enable them to catch you up if you keep hitting them as they turn red

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

jel · June 2007

Effectively, the word is effectively. You need to go faster to beat the phasing of the lights or you might as well save your energy and enjoy the view.

spen666 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jel

Effectively, the word is effectively. You need to go faster to beat the phasing of the lights or you might as well save your energy and enjoy the view.
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Obviously a difference of approach- I don't want to tootle alonmg at 6mph. I'd rather stop at the light and speed ( although clearly not at a dangerous or excessive speed as I wouldn't want to break any laws)between them

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

jel · June 2007

I understand completely.

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

I find a quite a few RLJ's are slow so you end up overtaking them many times and they only overtake me again as I tend to stop at reds and they don't.Don't care abut the faster than me.Good riddance.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

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Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">By Jel
If someone is passing you six times they are effectively going at the same speed as you, suck it up, sit behind them and chill.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are of course totally correct, although I kind of see the flipside of what you have said. Yes, I could have sucked it up and sat behind this guy as he took off from each set of lights at a snail's pace and ridden with him to the next set and squeezed through the gaps he did to get to the front.

OR

He could have sucked it up, not pushed past me, and ridden behind me. Or just not got in my way. If he had pushed into the ASL's and sat next to me I would have zipped off the line and left him behind, and both of us would have cycled as normal and not interracted at all.

How someone wants to cycle is their business, but if it affects me it becomes my business too. I take my safety seriously, and part of that for me is using my ability to cross junctions very fast and leave the messy rabble of bikes, cars and scooters to sort it out and then overtake me.

As I said, this was an exceptional event, and I wasn't exactly happy with how I dealt with it to say the least. On the few occasions it has happend since I have managed to get far enough ahead the lights work in my favour, I have also started sitting one or two cars back in the queue much more often. This completely solves the problem as the car speeds up slowly to pass the rabble, I follow easily, and when they (the car) outpace me all I have to do is drop slightly towards to curb to get to my normal riding position and I'm ahead of the bunch, where I want to be.

Violence and agression don't solve anything, they only cause more.

EDIT: To sort out dodgy use of italic!
_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

spen666 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">By Jel
If someone is passing you six times they are effectively going at the same speed as you, suck it up, sit behind them and chill.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are of course totally correct, although I kind of see the flipside of what you have said. Yes, I could have sucked it up and sat behind this guy as he took off from each set of lights at a snail's pace and ridden with him to the next set and squeezed through the gaps he did to get to the front.

OR

He could have sucked it up, not pushed past me, and ridden behind me. Or just not got in my way. If he had pushed into the ASL's and sat next to me I would have zipped off the line and left him behind, and both of us would have cycled as normal and not interracted at all.

How someone wants to cycle is their business, but if it affects me it becomes my business too. I take my safety seriously, and part of that for me is using my ability to cross junctions very fast and leave the messy rabble of bikes, cars and scooters to sort it out and then overtake me.

As I said, this was an exceptional event, and I wasn't exactly happy with how I dealt with it to say the least. On the few occasions it has happend since I have managed to get far enough ahead the lights work in my favour, I have also started sitting one or two cars back in the queue much more often. This completely solves the problem as the car speeds up slowly to pass the rabble, I follow easily, and when they (the car) outpace me all I have to do is drop slightly towards to curb to get to my normal riding position and I'm ahead of the bunch, where I want to be.

Violence and agression don't solve anything, they only cause more.

EDIT: To sort out dodgy use of italic!
_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."
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The first bit I highlighted- is the classis symptom of society today- me me me me me me me - its MY way don't get in it- seems to imply some sort of ownership of the way- just like our friends do in their motor vehicles. This sort of attitude is everywhere- not just on the roads- it is the sort of attitude that says I wanttherefore I am going to have and sod how it affects others (By the same token- the cyclist pushing past you at the lights is doing exactly the same!!!)

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Violence and agression don't solve anything, they only cause more.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">"OI S**TBAG, IF YOU DARE COME PAST ME AGAIN YOU'LL BE GOING HOME IN A F**KING AMBULANCE!!!"

He didn't go past me again
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now it could be said that the phrase in capitals is an expression of violence & aggression could it not?

22nd March can't come soon enough, neither can 26th May 2007

Carbon Footprint what Carbon Footprint?

The Bosscp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jacomus-rides-Gen

Someone did that to me five times, ignooring my "fool" as I passed him the third time, which escalated to "OI fatty, can't you ride?" then "Get out of my way @sshole" all of which were dismissed with the classic patented London Blank Stare.

Then after the fifth time I wasn't going to let him make it six, as he came up shoving through the other bikes, I very politely told him "OI S**TBAG, IF YOU DARE COME PAST ME AGAIN YOU'LL BE GOING HOME IN A F**KING AMBULANCE!!!"

He didn't go past me again [:D]

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Do you ever make any posts that aren't a boast about your road-rage?

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CyclingIsPermittedAlongThisFootpath GenericPath

The Bosscp · June 2007

Maybe the cyclists who do this are normally motorists that want to give cyclists a taste of their own medicine.

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CyclingIsPermittedAlongThisFootpath GenericPath

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Exactly, that was my point, I reacted without using my brain. NOT the right course, and by doing it I spoiled that guys ride home, and my own.

I am human, and as such I have emotions that can be touched. The easiest of my emotions to touch is my sense of personal safety, and thoughtlessly impacting it caused me to react with prejudice. This still doesn't make it right, nor mean that I can write the incident off. The only good to come of it that the chances of me reacting like that again in a similar situation are now very low indeed.

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

the grinder · June 2007

This is one of the most irritating aspects of London commuting, happens most days I come up the Old Kent Road in the morning, annoying mostly by the need to swing out further to overtake whilst accelerating away from the lights. Usually involves squeezing up the inside of buses/taxis to reach the ASL, so stopping behind the bus/taxi when lights are red does cause these people annoyance and occasionally get rid of them once and for all (until I catch up with the group in front!)

Life is too short though really to worry too much about it.

getting there......

Simon L2 · June 2007

I confess I am annoyed by this. It's usually some dork with trousers cut just below the knee and a bike that looks like it came out of a skip - so they commit an offence against my snobbery as well.

In general they are sort of mid-range cyclists. Not too slow and not too fast. And, when you zip past them (I give them the 'to sser' signal - how intolerant is that?) they just don't get it.

In fairness it's nowhere near as horrible as those that jump on the pavement and off again to somehow circumvent a red light. What are they on?

dondare · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by The Boss

Maybe the cyclists who do this are normally motorists that want to give cyclists a taste of their own medicine.

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CyclingIsPermittedAlongThisFootpath GenericPath<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No, tho' they might be ex-mot'rists evading the congestion charge.

This sig is under construction.

dondare · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Simon L2

I confess I am annoyed by this. It's usually some dork with trousers cut just below the knee and a bike that looks like it came out of a skip - so they commit an offence against my snobbery as well.

In general they are sort of mid-range cyclists. Not too slow and not too fast. And, when you zip past them (I give them the 'to sser' signal - how intolerant is that?) they just don't get it.

In fairness it's nowhere near as horrible as those that jump on the pavement and off again to somehow circumvent a red light. What are they on?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Re-a-ly.

You need to learn to be slower.

This sig is under construction.

domtyler · June 2007

I had a great weekend with hours in the saddle whizzing through the lanes of Essex and almost every single cyclist I encountered had a cheery wave and a "Hi". What a shame that Monday morning is now upon us and we are back to slagging each other off. Where is the tolerance? Surely a bit of patience would not kill you guys?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Porridge not Petrol
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M6

Tynancp · June 2007

plain common sense, squeezing past is wrong, I'll pass someone and start in front if I know I'm quicker than they are, or pop up one lane and start from there or if I have to start two or three back, so be it, there's usually room to pass soon after if you get on the padals pronto

BentMikey · June 2007

What's wrong with going out further right in the lane? That way you'll be in the right position with a clear run to overtake them, as most cyclists don't dare (don'dare, LOL?) to ride that far out.

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Etiquette at traffic lights

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