traffic lights

projectsome

does anyone stop at them anymore? I've been riding to work early this week and have seen a lot more cyclist. I'm suprised at the amount of people that jump the lights?

I wonder if they think they're above the law or don't actually realise they're supposed to stop?

Hercule Q

i dont like loosing momentum so if i can make it i go for it

projectsome

Hercule Q wrote:

i dont like loosing momentum so if i can make it i go for it

and if a car cuts across you and hits you how does this affect your momentum?

Soul Boy

Perhaps in the wrong section, this has been done to death on the Commuter pages.

But yes, I stop 99.999999% of the time (a lot of traffic lights in London), but there is the odd occasion, and its got to be very odd.

I don't think theres anyone out there that isn't aware of traffic laws, but then again there are some REALLY stupid people out there.....

bomberesque

not stopping gets us all a bad name.

That said, I tend to take a "proceed with caution" approach, especially out of town.

I stop. Then, assuming there is LOADS of room and I'm not inconveniencing anyone, I will proceed across. Exactly the same way I would as a pedestrian. Tbh this is what I believe the law should be but god forbid they pass any actual laws relevant to cyclists.

projectsome

Soul Boy wrote:

Perhaps in the wrong section, this has been done to death on the Commuter pages.

But yes, I stop 99.999999% of the time (a lot of traffic lights in London), but there is the odd occasion, and its got to be very odd.

I don't think theres anyone out there that isn't aware of traffic laws, but then again there are some REALLY stupid people out there.....

I could have put it there as well but alot of people ride to the trails but might not neccessarily be commuters thoug

Si78

If i'm riding on the road, I follow the rules of the road.

When I'm driving I've lost count of the number of times riders have jumped lights and ridden across right in front of me.

On the other hand, when riding the bike on the road I'm amazed at the number of cars that pull out from side roads in front of me, thinking they can make it in time.

It's only a matter of time before I head-butt one of them thru their side window lol

Soul Boy

projectsome wrote:

Soul Boy wrote:

Perhaps in the wrong section, this has been done to death on the Commuter pages.

But yes, I stop 99.999999% of the time (a lot of traffic lights in London), but there is the odd occasion, and its got to be very odd.

I don't think theres anyone out there that isn't aware of traffic laws, but then again there are some REALLY stupid people out there.....

I could have put it there as well but alot of people ride to the trails but might not neccessarily be commuters thoug

Right you are, but reackon they'd have to live in a cave in the woods to not know what a traffic light is.... and then they wouldn't need to go onroad to get offroad

.blitz

I never ride my MTB on the road but in Wolverhampton* traffic lights are merely advisory. Your lights go red-amber-green and traffic from the adjacent road is still piling through.

* the UK's #2 nuclear test site

Hercule Q

most traffic lights in town are red from little shites pressing the button and running away everything else really is a roundabout

Airwave

If you don't stop at red lights you have no right to expect car drivers to respect the law either.You can't have it both ways-to quote a famous meercat "SIMPLES"

DrWorm

I ALWAYS stop at them. If I am using the roads I follow the rules of the road. Simple as. I know cyclists would be the first to moan if a car jumps a red light and plows into them.

I also shout after cyclists if they do blaze through a red light, impolitely reminding them they are idiots and red generally means to stop.

Those that say they don't like to lose their speed, momentum...sorry but that's rubbish! Just remember to tell your kids/spouse that when they are cleaning you out a buses radiator grill. :roll:

weeksy59

Traffic lights ? Dunno, i do mountain biking...

Not seen a set.

supersonic

Always stop. I obey the laws of the road, and have consideration for others for both our safetys.

It shocks me the amount the jump red lights, don't indicate, weave in and out of traffic, undercut dangerously.

I don't drive, but can really see why some motorists don't like cyclists, and out of the two I think drivers are generally better behaved on the roads.

cat_with_no_tail

Hercule Q wrote:

i dont like loosing momentum so if i can make it i go for it

[rant] So when you are driving, do you also drive straight through red lights because you dont want to change down gears and lose momentum?

Were you dropped on your head as a baby or something?

Bet you are one of those fktards who will mount the kerb as and when it suits arent you.

Sorry, but this kind of behaviour really pisses me off. People like this are the reason some motorists fkn hate cyclists :evil:

You either want to be considered as a road user or you dont, you can't just chop and change as it suits. If you do, obey the rules of the road, if you dont, then stay off the fkn road altogether.

[/rant] :roll:

weeksy59

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Hercule Q wrote:

i dont like loosing momentum so if i can make it i go for it

[rant] So when you are driving, do you also drive straight through red lights because you dont want to change down gears and lose momentum?

Were you dropped on your head as a baby or something?

Bet you are one of those fktards who will mount the kerb as and when it suits arent you.

Sorry, but this kind of behaviour really pisses me off. People like this are the reason some motorists fkn hate cyclists :evil:

You either want to be considered as a road user or you dont, you can't just chop and change as it suits. If you do, obey the rules of the road, if you dont, then stay off the fkn road altogether.

[/rant] :roll:

LOL you're old aren't you ?

supersonic

This motorbiker got a rude awakening when he jumped a red:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXpEt_Tsgo

cgarossi

I generally get off the bike, walk across the road if its clear and carry on.

Si78

supersonic wrote:

This motorbiker got a rude awakening when he jumped a red:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXpEt_Tsgo

Love the way the chap in the 'right' was doing a wheelie away from the line lol

supersonic

This little chap though - he just hit the traffic light:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9e9NAq20X0

Haha! face plant.

cat_with_no_tail

weeksy59 wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Hercule Q wrote:

i dont like loosing momentum so if i can make it i go for it

[rant] So when you are driving, do you also drive straight through red lights because you dont want to change down gears and lose momentum?

Were you dropped on your head as a baby or something?

Bet you are one of those fktards who will mount the kerb as and when it suits arent you.

Sorry, but this kind of behaviour really pisses me off. People like this are the reason some motorists fkn hate cyclists :evil:

You either want to be considered as a road user or you dont, you can't just chop and change as it suits. If you do, obey the rules of the road, if you dont, then stay off the fkn road altogether.

[/rant] :roll:

LOL you're old aren't you ?

I'm 26, not sure if that makes me old or not, suppose it depends on who is asking. Although I fail to see how age is in the slightest bit relevant to the discussion.

antfly

Speaking from experience going through red lights because you think it is safe is a dangerous habit to get into because sometimes traffic appears from nowhere or the lights let traffic through that you are not expecting.I`ve nearly been killed a couple of times because of this so often I just wait at the lights these days.

cee

Si78 wrote:

supersonic wrote:

This motorbiker got a rude awakening when he jumped a red:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXpEt_Tsgo

Love the way the chap in the 'right' was doing a wheelie away from the line lol

looks like he saw the guy coming through the red and floored it to try nd avoid a collission...shouldve hit the brakes!

paul.skibum

pretty sure this arguement has been done to death elsewhere but I generally stop at lights, I do however try and get the drop on the traffic by starting before my lights change but after the others have gone to red as the cars behind me will stand more chance of a good get away with me already moving especially if I stopped in a stupid high gear as I often do. If its a ped crossing rather than a junction I will jump it if I am clear to do so, again justification is its better for everyone if I am 30 yards up the road doing 10mph than wobbling at the lights when they go green.

Personally I try to treat each set of lights as a mini sprint so rag it from one to the next stop and do it again.

There is one set I ride through everyday - its a 4 way stop with green man - I can see there are no peds on my entry and exit to junction so I go - I justify it by saying I could get off, walk and remount but why bother? It also means that when traffic is running I am generally through the bottle neck of parked cars and into the nice wide street where I can be passed with ease.

I dont jump red lights at crossroads or on roundabouts. Yeah I still break the law but to me my infractions are justified by my safety and the benefit to surrounding road users.

During tube strikes the other day I overtook the same woman 5 times on one stretch - she rode the whole thing at about 5 miles an hour on an ageing shopper going through each red light while I did my sprint stop thing. The daft bint hardly noticed until I pointed out to her that she was a danger to herself and everyone else on the road.

Whytepeak

supersonic wrote:

This motorbiker got a rude awakening when he jumped a red:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXpEt_Tsgo

That is rather nasty :shock: .

I always obey the laws of the highway, stop at red, and race cars through green.

I have little respect for the average car driver as I have been hit twice, both completely their fault.

The Northern Monkey

I've never seen traffic lights on a mountain trail before :?

Whytepeak

bigbenj_08

says the one whose just gone and bought a road bike

The Northern Monkey

Whytepeak wrote:

bigbenj_08

says the one whose just gone and bought a road bike

but this is MTB General......

Whytepeak

Oh will you pipe down , and the topic of the post is...?

The Northern Monkey

Whytepeak wrote:

Oh will you pipe down , and the topic of the post is...?

In the wrong section?

I've never ridden my MTB on the road.... that'd be commuting and I'd have to keep changing tyres!

Just though it was a bit silly tbh

KnightofCydonia

Always. I'd expect people to stop if I was the pedestrian and therefore as a road user I behave as such.