RLJing

Harry B

I'm finding myself doing more and more RLJing :?

It started by going through pedestrain crossings which were red but had no one crossing and its gone on from there.

I'm very careful and never go through large junctions or if I can see that there are cars or people crossing. But once the traffic has stopped and you know your lights are shortly to change I think its safer to go through them whilst they are still red rather than try to get clipped in and away at the same time as the cars.

I might be wrong but I think unless you're reckless or stupid its probably the safer think to do. The only downside I can see is that a few drivers get pissed of about it :roll:

il_principe

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dog Breath

I drive to work, but I think that I'll start RLJ-ing as to some it seems to be the perfectly acceptable thing to do.

Let anarchy rule....

DB

DonDaddyD

I RLJ less and less these days....

Gazzaputt

Don't feed the troll.

Slow Downcp

Harry B wrote:

The only downside I can see is that a few drivers get pissed of about it :roll:

...and then they get all anti-cyclist, putting all cyclists in the same RLJ bracket. They then drive too close as it's safer for them to do so than face oncoming traffic - after all, as long as they're careful and don't actually make contact, they're not doing any harm are they?

Respect has to be earned - that includes cyclists wanting it from motorists.

bigmat

Re SlowDown's comments above, a lot of that is just conjecture isn't it? There's an argument that people who hate cyclists hate them for all sorts of reasons and the whole RLJ issue is just a handy excuse. What I think probably really annoys them is having to slow down for cyclists riding in primary position and generally following the "Cyclecraft" rules. So I'm not convinced by the whole "if you jump a red light it upsets motorists who then drive more aggressively blah blah blah" argument. The OP's comments seem pretty fair on the whole, although not sure we need to have this debate again!

lost_in_thought

Il Principe wrote:

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

+1

Kieran_Burns

<troll>
nom nom nom
</troll>

blu3cat

I might be wrong but I think unless you're reckless or stupid its probably the safer think to do. The only downside I can see is that a few drivers get pissed of about it

Yes you are wrong.

MrChuck

Harry B wrote:

But once the traffic has stopped and you know your lights are shortly to change I think its safer to go through them whilst they are still red rather than try to get clipped in and away at the same time as the cars.

I might be wrong but I think unless you're reckless or stupid its probably the safer think to do. The only downside I can see is that a few drivers get pissed of about it :roll:

In 20 years of getting around by bike I've never really got this argument.

DonDaddyD

MatHammond wrote:

There's an argument that people who hate cyclists hate them for all sorts of reasons and the whole RLJ issue is just a handy excuse. What I think probably really annoys them is having to slow down for cyclists riding in primary position and generally following the "Cyclecraft" rules.

+1!

Riding in the centre of the lane is extremely defensive cycling. I do it to ensure my safety and to p*ss off the motorist behind me by holding them up. I get more grief positioning my bike in front of a motorist than for going through a red light.

Many motorist I've spoken to have said that they prefer cyclists to go through red lights at crossings where the road narrows to simply get out of their way. - When I'm driving I'm inclined to agree.

I stop at red lights for my own reasons. Not p*ssing off motorists isn't one of them.

Jay dubbleU

MrChuck wrote:

Harry B wrote:

But once the traffic has stopped and you know your lights are shortly to change I think its safer to go through them whilst they are still red rather than try to get clipped in and away at the same time as the cars.

I might be wrong but I think unless you're reckless or stupid its probably the safer think to do. The only downside I can see is that a few drivers get pissed of about it :roll:

In 20 years of getting around by bike I've never really got this argument.

Its dangerous, its illegal and it gets the rest of us a bad name - end of story :x

sarajoy

There's one cheeky junction where I know the road I'm on will go green /just/ after the pedestrian tinklings have stopped.

So when all the pedestrians have crossed and the way is clear, I go.

But I know it's naughty...

leoccp

Not aimed at a specific post, but more what often is said on these threads.

The "safety" argument as I see it: Often on my commute cyclists are so preoccupied with getting to the front of a queue at a junction that they put themselves in a position where they have to jump the light to remain visible / safe. Join the queue further back and this is unecessary. I'm starting to think that London's unenforced ASLs actually make the roads more dangerous (i.e. filter to the front, find vehicle in ASL, jump light).

Also, if you only jump lights 'when it's safe' that means you now have a decision to make at every red light, where if you always stop you don't (I'd rather concentrate on what's going on at the junction than have the additional "is it safe?" question).

I've also noticed negativity about police enforcing RLJ cyclists at junctions, my question is if people are not aware of the police at the junction, how are they able to safely RLJ?

:?

Rockbuddy

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion, as we seem to be having the same threads over and over, that the numpties who RLJ and think that it's safe will keep doing so no matter what is said or done. Where as the people who do the right thing will no doubt still get frustrated by the antics of people that RLJ (bike or car) but still not participate. Notice, no winks or smily faces just a big yawn and a :roll:

tardington

Maybe some sort of device that delivers an electric shock through the keyboard?

R, L and J are all fine, until you type them in order... Zap!

Porgy

this week I cycled home at a half decent hour and saw lots of other cyclists on my route. From Holborn, via London Bridge, out to Rotherithe I did appear to be in minority of one with respect to stopping at red lights. :x

I kept having to overtake the same people - only for them all to pass me at the next set of lights.

rolf_f

RLJ is basically unconstructive. It is against the law, doesn't really save any significant time and antagonises car drivers. If there is a genuine safety benefit then that needs to be proved and the proof then used to lobby Parliament to change the law (which, of course, they will do just like they always do when reasonably conclusive scientific evidence is placed before them........)

blu3cat

Makes me wonder, would the poeple who RLJ berate a pedestiran who blocked their path on a pedestrian crossing if the light was green for road traffic.

If they would, then they should STFU and stop RLJing as they are undoubtedly hypocrites.

Roastie

(I know I really should just leave this thread alone, but...)

Stopped at a ped crossing the other day, a girl came past and connected with a ped who was had just stepped onto the crossing.

Fortunately the dude was much bigger than her, and she wasn't going *that* quickly, so while she went A.O.T., he was just a bit stunned but otherwise OK.

Now, I greatly doubt that she intended to do that, and I also think that she probably thoiught that she only jumps reds "when it is safe to do so".

As someone said earlier - much easier (and safer) to just follow the rules than have to make that split second judgement every time.

leoccp

RLJing when peds aren't around I don't find frustrating per se, it's just that it's unconstructive as noted earlier. Riding across Zebra crossings when people are trying to cross the road is though is just rude (or perhaps dangerously unobservant).

m0scs

Out in the sticks of Hertfordshire I rarely encounter traffic lights, deliberately choosing to ride my bike in more rural areas.

I have cycled in London once. I soon became completely peed off at my lack of progress due to red lights, sitting there like a lemon while every other cyclist RLJ'd. :roll:

So while not a good idea, for obvious safety reasons, I do kind of understand why people do it, even from my very limited perspective.

Its your life and your choice.

.

teagar

When I look for a fight I never RLJ, and shout at those who do.

When I'm chilled out, i never RLJ.

When I'm ripping the sh!t out of my bike, I RLJ, when I know the sequence and the junction.

Harry B

m0scs wrote:

Out in the sticks of Hertfordshire I rarely encounter traffic lights, deliberately choosing to ride my bike in more rural areas.

I have cycled in London once. I soon became completely peed off at my lack of progress due to red lights, sitting there like a lemon while every other cyclist RLJ'd. :roll:

So while not a good idea, for obvious safety reasons, I do kind of understand why people do it, even from my very limited perspective.

Its your life and your choice.

.

that pretty much sums old my thoughts entirely. I never RLJ at the weekends when out of London

Nuff said

biondino

I came across a roadie last night at Sloane Square who immediately pissed me off by squeezing past me to filter through some traffic entering the square. I pissed *him* off by then squeezing back through when he was slowed by a car. But that's not the point...

When we were halfway down Kings Road, this guy, who had been doing the stopping/slowing right down kind of RLJing, tried to do so again having ascertained that the lights on the cross road were changing. He didn't anticipate the cab who decided to try and squeeze through at the last (or possibly beyond the last) moment and let out an almighty roar as the cab headed straight towards him. He missed being knocked over by about 2 feet as the cab slammed on its brakes.

As I followed him down the road, I toyed with all the things I could say to him at the next lights (assuming he stopped for them), about hoping he's learned his lesson. I didn't, in the end. It would just have been petty :twisted:

I ended up completely pwning him on Putney Bridge. Felt great

MrChuck

biondino wrote:

I came across a roadie last night at Sloane Square who immediately pissed me off by squeezing past me to filter through some traffic entering the square. I pissed *him* off by then squeezing back through when he was slowed by a car. But that's not the point...

When we were halfway down Kings Road, this guy, who had been doing the stopping/slowing right down kind of RLJing, tried to do so again having ascertained that the lights on the cross road were changing. He didn't anticipate the cab who decided to try and squeeze through at the last (or possibly beyond the last) moment and let out an almighty roar as the cab headed straight towards him. He missed being knocked over by about 2 feet as the cab slammed on its brakes.

As I followed him down the road, I toyed with all the things I could say to him at the next lights (assuming he stopped for them), about hoping he's learned his lesson. I didn't, in the end. It would just have been petty :twisted:

I ended up completely pwning him on Putney Bridge. Felt great

This really captures something about RLJing I think- the assumption that it's OK for the RLJer to do it, but absolutley not for anyone else to be doing it.

What's needed in these situations is some sort of simple, universally-recognised system to let everybody know who has right of way...

lost_in_thought

MrChuck wrote:

biondino wrote:

I came across a roadie last night at Sloane Square who immediately pissed me off by squeezing past me to filter through some traffic entering the square. I pissed *him* off by then squeezing back through when he was slowed by a car. But that's not the point...

When we were halfway down Kings Road, this guy, who had been doing the stopping/slowing right down kind of RLJing, tried to do so again having ascertained that the lights on the cross road were changing. He didn't anticipate the cab who decided to try and squeeze through at the last (or possibly beyond the last) moment and let out an almighty roar as the cab headed straight towards him. He missed being knocked over by about 2 feet as the cab slammed on its brakes.

As I followed him down the road, I toyed with all the things I could say to him at the next lights (assuming he stopped for them), about hoping he's learned his lesson. I didn't, in the end. It would just have been petty :twisted:

I ended up completely pwning him on Putney Bridge. Felt great

This really captures something about RLJing I think- the assumption that it's OK for the RLJer to do it, but absolutley not for anyone else to be doing it.

What's needed in these situations is some sort of simple, universally-recognised system to let everybody know who has right of way...

Yeah, I think MrChuck's on to something here... just throwing this out there, but what about some kind of thing with coloured lights?

Jay dubbleU

lost_in_thought wrote:

MrChuck wrote:

biondino wrote:

I came across a roadie last night at Sloane Square who immediately pissed me off by squeezing past me to filter through some traffic entering the square. I pissed *him* off by then squeezing back through when he was slowed by a car. But that's not the point...

When we were halfway down Kings Road, this guy, who had been doing the stopping/slowing right down kind of RLJing, tried to do so again having ascertained that the lights on the cross road were changing. He didn't anticipate the cab who decided to try and squeeze through at the last (or possibly beyond the last) moment and let out an almighty roar as the cab headed straight towards him. He missed being knocked over by about 2 feet as the cab slammed on its brakes.

As I followed him down the road, I toyed with all the things I could say to him at the next lights (assuming he stopped for them), about hoping he's learned his lesson. I didn't, in the end. It would just have been petty :twisted:

I ended up completely pwning him on Putney Bridge. Felt great

This really captures something about RLJing I think- the assumption that it's OK for the RLJer to do it, but absolutley not for anyone else to be doing it.

What's needed in these situations is some sort of simple, universally-recognised system to let everybody know who has right of way...

Yeah, I think MrChuck's on to something here... just throwing this out there, but what about some kind of thing with coloured lights?

Hey - we could call them road lights - no thats been taken - how about traffic lights?

tardington

TBH, I reckon this needs mine and Jay dubbleU's last post's deleted, the whole thing locked and the topic name changed to "ENOUGH PLEASE" 8)

fungus_the_muffin_man

I have a problem with one set of lights on my way home just outside work which leads me on to a short dual carriage way. When I'm leaving work at half 8 at night it's really quiet no cars come out of work the way I do. The lights however just don't realise I'm there. I actually waited upto nearly 10mins one day till I thought f**k it and went as soon as it was clear. What else could I do? Yet If i was spotted by a cop they'd have me :?