Red light jumping here I come!

elevensees

Right, I've just about had enough! I've been commuting by bike for 14 years solid now, admittedly in the early days I was a bit naughty and jumped a few, but over the last 5/6 years I've mellowed, I've got 2 lovely kids, wife, mortgage, etc, etc to think about and upto today I've sat and waited and been considerate. But, no more. Three weeks ago today I was run into, from behind, on a 50mph road, by some idiot who has explained it away as a "momentary lapse in concentration". Luckily, (I don't know how) I escaped with no broken bones, plenty of tendon/ligament damage in my arms and legs, but feeling very lucky indeed. I ventured back out onto the bike this week not wanting to stand on a sweaty bus for an hour, when my normal ride takes 30 mins. I've taken it really easy, 45 mins either way, I was happy with that. Now it might be me being extra cautious and aware but I'm sure I've had more incidents this week than I have for a long time, but I've let them slip by me with a shrug and a tut and a "oh well, at least I'm still on my bike", until this morning. I was sat waiting at a red light, I go straight on, to a bike only lane. The lights opposite changed to red, I waited for green and set off only to have the driver at the front of the queue coming from the left (behind the now red light), look right at me and set off, to join the queuing traffic 2 car lengths in front of him. I rode in front and calmly said I'm sure that was a red light. "F*CK OFF" was the response I got. As he couldn't go any further than another car length, I rode round to his open window to shout at him, basically how can he tell me to **** off when he was the one who just came through the red light. I got a blank stare back! How do you react to that? I just felt pity that he was so dumb and rode off in a mild rage!

Sorry for the long ramble, but from now on I feel like riding for my own safety only and if that means red light jumping, then I'll do it (except pedestrian crossings, I wouldn't put anyone else under pressure).

Then again, after writing this I've calmed down a bit and probably won't, but no doubt I'll be straight back to being annoyed again when someone tries to kill be on the way home.

Ride aware and keep safe.

will3

But I thought all car drivers were law abiding angels and it was only the evil cylcists who broke the law all the time?

dang65

I've been commuting by bike for 20 years and I've been seriously noticing a huge increase in aggression from drivers over the last few months. I'm getting deliberate ultra-close overtakes, beeping when I'm simply cycling along a straight road, getting cut-off at junctions. All far, far more than I've experienced previously.

I don't know if this is somehow related to higher fuel prices putting more "amateur" cyclists on the road who are winding drivers up more. Or if it's the media's coverage of cycling, which is almost entirely negative. Or maybe it's just that those higher fuel prices are sending drivers into a rage when they see someone on free transport.

It's certainly time to seriously up the game with the defensive cycling.

boybiker

I don't know if it's just because I am not riding round London but I don't see many aggressive drivers trying to kill me.I get drivers letting me in and I smile at them and everyone is happy. I even had a driver patently driving safely behind me as I struggled into a headwind and the pissing rain.
Maybe its 'cos they get a look at my legs in my lycra and it makes em happy :roll:

dondare

As far as the accident is concerned the perhaps you've had your share of bad luck now and nothing so bad will ever happen to you again.
As far as the lights are concerned, take your cue from those of us who do it right, not from ignorant, abusive arseholes like that driver. (And unfortunately like too many people who ride bikes.)

dondare

boybiker wrote:

I don't know if it's just because I am not riding round London but I don't see many aggressive drivers trying to kill me.I get drivers letting me in and I smile at them and everyone is happy. I even had a driver patently driving safely behind me as I struggled into a headwind and the pissing rain.

My experience too, at least most of the time.

boybiker wrote:

Maybe its 'cos they get a look at my legs in my lycra and it makes em happy :roll:

As they'd say on BFC; PICS OR BAN!

Clever Pun

I'm sure some drivers hang behind me so they can check out my buns of steel...

JoeSoap76

dondare wrote:

take your cue from those of us who do it right, not from ignorant, abusive arseholes like that driver. (And unfortunately like too many people who ride bikes.)

And I'm sure that the drivers who get frustrated watching as the bikes cut through the same red that they are waiting at are making the distinction between those who get it right and those who don't...

Anyway - I' reckon that RLJ is like not wearing a helmet. You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over. Just try not to do it like this guy, eh?

dondare

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Anyway - I' reckon that RLJ is like not wearing a helmet. You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over. Just try not to do it like this guy, eh?

RLJing is illegal, helmet wearing is optional. RLJers do sometimes reform and I'm certainly not going to get off their case.

boybiker

Photo or ban?
I didn't know it was that kind of forum :shock:

Ive been wolf whistled at while riding up a hill out of the saddle, kind of made my day except it was a bloke :?

iainment

dondare wrote:

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Anyway - I' reckon that RLJ is like not wearing a helmet. You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over. Just try not to do it like this guy, eh?

RLJing is illegal, helmet wearing is optional. RLJers do sometimes reform and I'm certainly not going to get off their case.

Yawn.

dondare

boybiker wrote:

Photo or ban?
I didn't know it was that kind of forum :shock:

Ive been wolf whistled at while riding up a hill out of the saddle, kind of made my day except it was a bloke :?

It isn't that kind of forum. But if you've got the kind of arse that even blokes whistle at how can you not share?

dondare

iainment wrote:

dondare wrote:

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Anyway - I' reckon that RLJ is like not wearing a helmet. You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over. Just try not to do it like this guy, eh?

RLJing is illegal, helmet wearing is optional. RLJers do sometimes reform and I'm certainly not going to get off their case.

Yawn.

If you read the comments on message boards written by people condemning Howard for killing the girl, half of them mention red light jumping. It's not just that it makes them hate us, it adds to their arguments that cycling needs to be as heavily regulated as motoring, with tests, licences, number plates, tax discs and insurance. If any of these get imposed on us it won't be because one person a year is killed in a freak accident involving a bike, but because so many bike-owners behave so badly.
You stand to lose the freedom that cycling gives you if you can't obey the few rules that do apply to us.

boybiker

Definite throwing down of gauntlets going on I feel
I might call your bluff next time I am on

dondare

I look forward to that.

jedster

You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over.

actually I reformed as an RLJer in response to arguments on these boards FWIW[/quote]

iainment

dondare wrote:

iainment wrote:

dondare wrote:

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Anyway - I' reckon that RLJ is like not wearing a helmet. You either do or don't and you aren't going to persuade somebody from the other side of the fence to hop on over. Just try not to do it like this guy, eh?

RLJing is illegal, helmet wearing is optional. RLJers do sometimes reform and I'm certainly not going to get off their case.

Yawn.

If you read the comments on message boards written by people condemning Howard for killing the girl, half of them mention red light jumping. It's not just that it makes them hate us, it adds to their arguments that cycling needs to be as heavily regulated as motoring, with tests, licences, number plates, tax discs and insurance. If any of these get imposed on us it won't be because one person a year is killed in a freak accident involving a bike, but because so many bike-owners behave so badly.
You stand to lose the freedom that cycling gives you if you can't obey the few rules that do apply to us.

If you say so.

boybiker

Don't blame me it was dondare who wanted me to show my arse, never one to back down on a challenge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28466291@N07/2655642021/

it's probably not suitable for the infirm or small fluffy animals to view :evil: :twisted:
it will prolly get me banned now

JoeSoap76

boybiker wrote:

Don't blame me it was dondare who wanted me to show my ars*, never one to back down on a challenge

I think that he meant in the lycra you mentioned... boy did I just get a shock!

dondare

Errr...

thanks.

No wonder people whistle.

boybiker

Sorry, you've got to admit it was funny though
it made me laugh anyway :twisted: :twisted:

dondare

boybiker wrote:

Sorry, you've got to admit it was funny though
it made me laugh anyway :twisted: :twisted:

Indeed. I can see how you'd be a killer in lycra leggings.

I shall now have to think of a new challenge for you, but for now we'll let this thread get back on subject.

Tariq

I've said this before but I feel the need to repeat it!

Cycle for your own safety, often this means ignoring the highway code. I often (but not always): ignore red lights, ride on the pavement, ride the wrong way up a road, ride up one-way streets and make all manner of other SAFE but illegal riding moves.

To be safe you have to get into a situation where no other vehicles/pedestrians/street furniture are close to you: keep a good space around yourself and you'll be fine. Ignore the highway code, ride with safety in mind.

dondare

Tariq wrote:

I've said this before but I feel the need to repeat it!

Cycle for your own safety, often this means ignoring the highway code. I often (but not always): ignore red lights, ride on the pavement, ride the wrong way up a road, ride up one-way streets and make all manner of other SAFE but illegal riding moves.

To be safe you have to get into a situation where no other vehicles/pedestrians/street furniture are close to you: keep a good space around yourself and you'll be fine. Ignore the highway code, ride with safety in mind.

Ignoring the Highway Code is one thing, disobeying the law is another.
How are riding through red lights, the wrong way up one-way streets or on the footpath safer? Some of these give an illusion of safety but are actually more risky.

dirk_van_gently

I can't view Flickr sites from the office, as it's banned.

I am very grateful of that :?

For the record, I don't RLJ, I do wear a helmet, and generally I get good and patient motorists, of course there are always eejits out there, so be careful folk.

choppertron

Nevermind Helmets, RLJing or the Highway Code, some of this thread is technically GROOMING isn't it? :!:

dondare

choppertron wrote:

Nevermind Helmets, RLJing or the Highway Code, some of this thread is technically GROOMING isn't it? :!:

I can't think what you mean.

graham_g

Is it a naked arse pic?! That's f**king brilliant LOL

dondare

Graham G wrote:

Is it a naked ars* pic?! That's f**king brilliant LOL

It certainly explains why boybiker has problems fending off drunken girls (as he has described in another thread.)

victor ludorum

As angry as elevenses story makes me, it isn't a justification for RLJing.

The idiot who hit elevenses could just have easily done it in moving traffic, he could have come out of a side road without looking, or change lanes suddenly on top of him, cutting into a bus lane/cycle lane without looking or signalling. This morning I had a taxi driver so close alongside me that I could have reached in and retuned his radio. Since it was a wide-ish road, with no-one within two hundred yards of us in either direction, I felt this was unjustified. When I politely pointed this out to him his response was complete surprise that I had appeared as if from nowhere, followed by him angrily demanding what I thought I was doing undertaking him when there wasn't enough space(!?)

I see hundreds of cyclists RLJing every week while I'm out riding. I can honestly say that only one or two might be able to argue that doing it is safer or that they have done it out of fear for their lives. The vast majority do it because they don't want to have to kick off from a standing start. I've seen people risk their lives (and on one occasion, lose it) because they ran up through a traffic queue to run a red light.

Yesterday morning I saw an incident that summed the whole thing up. I was riding through Fulham yesterday, and as I approached a set of lights, they changed. It was marginal, but I decided to stop. The taxi in the lane next to me kept going. Two seconds later, a guy on a crappy hybrid ghosts up behind me (but not going so quickly that he couldn't have stopped) and passes through the red light. He was so busy looking left for oncoming traffic (there was some) that he failed to notice that the taxi had stopped just beyond the edge of the box junction and he ploughed straight into the back of it.

It isn't safer, it doesn't really make the journey that much quicker (very rarely have I failed to pass an RLJer even after a long wait) and it's inconsiderate to other road users. Whinging that other road users are sometimes inconsiderate to you does not justify it.

Rant over.

boybiker

Ive removed my photo now so no more nasty shocks for peeps