Red Light Jumpers - Should I say anything?

Niffleman

After commuting to work by bike for the last few weeks I am faced with a bit of a dilemma. I have seen quite a lot of red light jumping amongst other cyclists but I don't know whether I should say anything to them. I tend to take a slightly dim view of skipping red lights, as it seems to give motorists another stick to beat us with and it can be quite dangerous for pedestrians. What do people think? Should I say anything, or keep quiet?

dangerousjules

as an experiment why don't you monitor how many cars,vans,motorbikes,lorries roll through red lights when they should stop, i'm certainly not excusing cyclist that red light jump but let it be very clear if a cyclist jumps a light it's usual his/her life that is in danger when they do so, can the same be said if a large vehicle rolls through when they should be stopping!

prj45

I've shouted after a couple "Doing it slowly doesn't make it right!".

Swannie

People know what they should be doing.

They have made a concious decision to jump red lights. I am a bit of an amber gambler, and occasionally that means I run through reds. Usually when there is a car behind me who doesn't sound like they are slowing down!!! (i.e. feel safer riding through than stopping and the guy behind rear ending me.)

Left turns are the most common. It is understandably a much lower risk to the cyclist to jump the light than a car. If they choose to, that is their choice. A shouted comment is not likely to change their mind!

hoathy

Left turns are the most common. It is understandably a much lower risk to the cyclist to jump the light than a car. If they choose to, that is their choice. A shouted comment is not likely to change their mind!

I dunno, when I screw up when i'm riding in the city and someone shouts/looks disaprovingly i feel guilt for a least a couple of hours. i hate people thinking that i'm a tosser who thinks the rule don't apply to me.

prj45

I couldn't help myself the other day, a guy shot past me, straight through a red light, he hogged the left hand of the road to avoid cars coming from his right, he was trying to ride so hard his foot slipped off his right hand pedal and because he was so close to the railing to avoid said cars proceeding on their green his handleber caught them and the next thing I saw was him flying backwards over his handlebars with a puzzled look on his face. No helmet, if he had turned more in his flight he would've landed smack on his head, as it is he landed on his shoulders.

I asked if he was OK, he was standing up by that time, then I told him he was cycling like an idiot, because he was.

Swannie

Hoathy wrote:

I dunno, when I screw up when i'm riding in the city and someone shouts/looks disaprovingly i feel guilt for a least a couple of hours. i hate people thinking that i'm a tosser who thinks the rule don't apply to me.

And you know what? I'd hazard that you aren't the sort of rider that jumps red lights with any frequency? :-)

hoathy

Swannie wrote:

Hoathy wrote:

I dunno, when I screw up when i'm riding in the city and someone shouts/looks disaprovingly i feel guilt for a least a couple of hours. i hate people thinking that i'm a tosser who thinks the rule don't apply to me.

And you know what? I'd hazard that you aren't the sort of rider that jumps red lights with any frequency? :-)

you're right, i'm a stickler for the rules... ha ha
it really annoys me when people break them, in cars, on bikes or walking. like when you're riding and someone walks out infront of you and you nearly die trying not to crash into them, i hate that stuff.

andrewc3142

Back to the original question, how about "Good morning"?

DavidTQ

My opinion its probably not worth saying anything, they in all likely hood know the rules, why break your inner calm with a slanging match. Unless of course you happen to be in the mood for a good shout...

always_tyred

Use some judgement -

If its a guy on a 20 year old mtb, with a 4 pack of tennants hanging from the bars, wearing dark clothing, its probably not worth the effort.

If its someone who looks to have made some effort to be a "cyclist" - commuter in street clothes or otherwise - a little peer pressure might be worthwhile.

I did this the other week to a guy who'd rationalised that ped crossings with the bike symbol on them could be cross on red (in the direction of traffic) if you were on a bike. I when I passed him next, I said "nice bit of PR mate"

He tried to explain the rationale and seemed genuinely surprised that I didn't agree. I think this may have made a little difference to his riding.

Kafka\'s Doll

I won't mind you moaning at me for turning left on a red if you won't mind when I come back and piss on your wheels.

Honestly, no wonder the world at large thinks cyclists are smug wankers. You probably are the kind of people who'd report someone for flushing a toilet twice.

BentMikey

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

I won't mind you moaning at me for turning left on a red if you won't mind when I come back and wee-wee on your wheels.

Honestly, no wonder the world at large thinks cyclists are smug wankers. You probably are the kind of people who'd report someone for flushing a toilet twice.

Your reaction shows that you know you're wrong and shouldn't be doing it, it's barefaced fcuk the consequences and anyone else.

I say something, I also used to be a red light jumper and was convinced not to by others on a forum.

prj45

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

I won't mind you moaning at me for turning left on a red if you won't mind when I come back and wee-wee on your wheels.

Honestly, no wonder the world at large thinks cyclists are smug wankers. You probably are the kind of people who'd report someone for flushing a toilet twice.

So, you don't mind people driving cars exceeding the speed limit if they think it's safe to do so?

iainment

Niffleman wrote:

After commuting to work by bike for the last few weeks I am faced with a bit of a dilemma. I have seen quite a lot of red light jumping amongst other cyclists but I don't know whether I should say anything to them. I tend to take a slightly dim view of skipping red lights, as it seems to give motorists another stick to beat us with and it can be quite dangerous for pedestrians. What do people think? Should I say anything, or keep quiet?

:roll:


Don't get distracted by other road users, concentrate on riding safely and leave them alone. If they're adults presumably they've decided to rlj and you're not going to change their mind.

always_tyred

BentMikey wrote:

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

I won't mind you moaning at me for turning left on a red if you won't mind when I come back and wee-wee on your wheels.

Honestly, no wonder the world at large thinks cyclists are smug wankers. You probably are the kind of people who'd report someone for flushing a toilet twice.

Your reaction shows that you know you're wrong and shouldn't be doing it, it's barefaced fcuk the consequences and anyone else.

I say something, I also used to be a red light jumper and was convinced not to by others on a forum.

That's an interesting point. So, you know how most roadies go through a "weight weenie" phase of purchasing over priced lightweight equipment that breaks much faster than the cheap stuff, and that you eventually get over it when you've lost all sensations in your testicles after 20 minutes on your 120g carbon shelled saddle?

THEORY - all cyclists go through a RLJing phase. The more time you spend cycling in traffic the more likely you are to get over it. (Yes, back in the days when my friends called me "Mostly Tyred" I pushed the interpretation of the Highway Code rather more than I do now).

And, just to be clear, Kafka's Dollyoutthepram - if there's any smugness, its your smug "I'm all right Jack" attitude. The only reason I don't like RLJers, because they don't affect me in any other way (unless you did, in fact, urinate on my bike), is because a reasonable percentage of brown trouser moments I've had recently have been a result of self-justifying motorists using their vehicles to make a point. They aren't in the right, but its something that happens. And, if you look as if you should know better, motorists will treat you as if you should know better.

prj45

Always Tyred wrote:

THEORY - all cyclists go through a RLJing phase.

Nope, never have in my adult cycling life, and I don't think I even did it as a kid, bang goes that one.

always_tyred

prj45 wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

THEORY - all cyclists go through a RLJing phase.

Nope, never have in my adult cycling life, and I don't think I even did it as a kid, bang goes that one.

Oh well. I didn't as a kid either. Just went through an impatient phase with unoccupied pedestrian crossings. Now its restricted to late night magnetic light sensors that a bike can't trip.

What about over priced lightweight road parts?

karl j

back to the orig question - it's a pointless waste of time saying / shouting anything.

Just as pointless as shouting at a car for doing it. They won't hear you, or if they do they'll just ignore you

It also (momentarily) takes your concentration away from what you are doing

always_tyred

karl j wrote:

back to the orig question - it's a pointless waste of time saying / shouting anything.

Just as pointless as shouting at a car for doing it. They won't hear you, or if they do they'll just ignore you

It also (momentarily) takes your concentration away from what you are doing

This is predicated on actually catching them up, you know. I mean, if they are half way across a big junction on red, you probably don't want to bother them unnecessarily.

Has Darwin been mentioned on this thread yet?

hoathy

Always Tyred wrote:

karl j wrote:

back to the orig question - it's a pointless waste of time saying / shouting anything.

Just as pointless as shouting at a car for doing it. They won't hear you, or if they do they'll just ignore you

It also (momentarily) takes your concentration away from what you are doing

This is predicated on actually catching them up, you know. I mean, if they are half way across a big junction on red, you probably don't want to bother them unnecessarily.

Has Darwin been mentioned on this thread yet?

no, but we did manage the answer to the life long question of science vs religion...

hambones

Of course if 'they' ever get around to allowing 'turn left on red' it'll be tears before bedtime for some on here!

Kafka\'s Doll

prj45 wrote:

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

I won't mind you moaning at me for turning left on a red if you won't mind when I come back and wee-wee on your wheels.

Honestly, no wonder the world at large thinks cyclists are smug wankers. You probably are the kind of people who'd report someone for flushing a toilet twice.

So, you don't mind people driving cars exceeding the speed limit if they think it's safe to do so?

The question wasn't whether I minded, it was whether moaning at them was a good way of getting them to stop.

BentMikey

karl j wrote:

back to the orig question - it's a pointless waste of time saying / shouting anything.

Just as pointless as shouting at a car for doing it. They won't hear you, or if they do they'll just ignore you

It also (momentarily) takes your concentration away from what you are doing

I'm pretty certain this is incorrect. I've seen numerous posts from people who got convinced not to red light jump, and I'm one of these people. All right, most of the convincing happened on the 'net, but some of the encouragement came from other road users.

It makes a difference - say something to RLJers.

Eat My Dust

BentMikey wrote:

It makes a difference - say something to RLJers.

I try BM but they never hear me through their bus windows!!!

BentMikey

LOL! That's so true. I'm tempted one day to film as many buses RLJing as I can, put it on youtube, and then email it to Boris. Bus drivers jumping lights is something that makes me cross!!!!!

Parkey

How about saying "LOOK OUT FOR THAT..." (*crunch*)