I saw a forum user jumping a red light today

junglist_matty

gabriel959 wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

JoeNobody wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

If riding through an amber is RLJ'ing, then that's news to me;

I'm quite happy to be proved wrong on this, and I haven't checked the Highway Code, but I believe this is correct. At least, the only colour you should be proceeding under is green. All others pretty much mean "stop if safe to do so". Just you're unlikely to get in to trouble for proceeding on amber. That's just my understanding though and, as I said, happy to be proved wrong

In that case, I hold my hands up; didn't know amber was RLJ'ing.

Even so, the Chinese students "pedestrian crossing RLJ'd", and is the only reason I remember the incident fairly clearly as they simply walked straight across the junction right in front of me without a care in the world.... I looked up and the man was clearly still red.

You looked wrong. It was green.

Sorry buddy, how the hell did you see what colour the pedestrian lights were? AND see the colour of the traffic lights you claim I jumped?


So I'm guessing you were behind me or something? Therefore, you stopped at the lights you claim I jumped? If so, the view of the pedestrian crossing lights you would have had was this:



Zoomed view of the right hand lights:


and the left hand lights (this is the said crossing where the pedestrians walked straight out from to get to the central reservation)...


Unless you have mirror folding vision capabilities as well as community officer special powers, I don't believe you could see the colour of those lights? ....Just saying

rjsterry

Indeed. I've had plenty of instances where I could have stopped, but it was clear that had I done so, would have been punted through the lights by the tailgating motorist or indeed other cyclist. Actually, now I think of it, I've had at least one driver screech to a halt behind me and then comment that he didn't expect me to stop, plus several shunts from inattentive cyclists. I'd argue that the perception that cyclists are likely to jump red lights is actually making it more dangerous for us. That said, I'd challenge anyone, motorised or otherwise to swear hand on heart that they've never run a red, even if unintentionally.

jedster

Confession, I knew that, according to the letter of he law, you shouldn't squeeze through lights on amber but I still do it. I'm in the camp that thinks, if done sensibly, riding through red lights doesnt have to be dangerous BUT it is rude and obnoxious and pisses people off so I dont do it. My feeling is that most people are much more tolerant of squeezing through on amber (because nearly everyone does it to some extent) and therefore it doesn't have the same negative consequences.

I do think swerving through peds on a crossing is beyond the pale though.

seanoconn

rjsterry wrote:

Indeed. I've had plenty of instances where I could have stopped, but it was clear that had I done so, would have been punted through the lights by the tailgating motorist or indeed other cyclist. Actually, now I think of it, I've had at least one driver screech to a halt behind me and then comment that he didn't expect me to stop, plus several shunts from inattentive cyclists. I'd argue that the perception that cyclists are likely to jump red lights is actually making it more dangerous for us. That said, I'd challenge anyone, motorised or otherwise to swear hand on heart that they've never run a red, even if unintentionally.

I can say hand on heart I've never run a red. Although under scrutiny I will fold, admit to it and in my defence, pretend not have read or understand the Highway Code.

notsoblue

jedster wrote:

I do think swerving through peds on a crossing is beyond the pale though.

Some people cycle pretty recklessly around pedestrians. I saw a grown man try and squeeze through a rapidly closing gap between someone pushing a pram and an elderly couple under Wellington Arch yesterday, he had to dismount the bike to prevent an accident and then he had gall to berate the pedestrians for not looking out where they were going.

Only an idiot would attribute that kind of behaviour to the fact he was a cyclist, and assume other cyclists are the same. He was a tosser before he got on the bike.

seanoconn

Have the police been alerted? Or at the very least, Matthew's parents?

I'm prepared to be a witness and can back the OP's statement 100% if necessary.

sketchley

junglist_matty wrote:

I didn't realise you had to stop on amber,

I wouldn't worry too much about not knowing, around 25 million motorists don't know either.

meanredspider

I'm slightly touchy because someone in an Astra who just thought he'd squeak through a recently changed light hit the front of my car at 50mph. If I'd been a split second quicker away from the lights myself, he'd have hit my door and I'd have been dead for about 25 years. That, coincidently, was on Cherry Hinton Way in Cambridge.

Kieran_Burns

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

<scrape> <scrape> Whut? <scrape> <scrape> (checks blade edge.....)

but we've not a had good Witch hunt in aaaaages.... A bit of unreasoned vituperation is good for the soul.

<scrape> <scrape>

junglist_matty

notsoblue wrote:

jedster wrote:

I do think swerving through peds on a crossing is beyond the pale though.

Some people cycle pretty recklessly around pedestrians. I saw a grown man try and squeeze through a rapidly closing gap between someone pushing a pram and an elderly couple under Wellington Arch yesterday, he had to dismount the bike to prevent an accident and then he had gall to berate the pedestrians for not looking out where they were going.

I 100% agree with both comments.

Let's clear this up..... When OP said "swerved through pedestrians" (or however it was worded), this is what actually happened: A bunch of chinese students were walking in groups towards the crossing; a few who got there first noticed there were no cars and had already started crossing as I went through the amber light. Thinking the others would see me and wait to cross, they decided they would follow suit and just walk straight out right in front of me. As I swerved around them, I also glanced over at the light to double check and it was a red man light... That's the only reason I remember this incident.

I'm not saying I wasn't at fault at all, maybe the light changed to red as I passed through it (it was definitely still amber when I looked as I was very close to going though).

meanredspider

Kieran_Burns wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

<scrape> <scrape> Whut? <scrape> <scrape> (checks blade edge.....)

but we've not a had good Witch hunt in aaaaages.... A bit of unreasoned vituperation is good for the soul.

<scrape> <scrape>

It's more fun than a helmet debate

ETA You WERE wearing a helmet weren't you, Matty....?

notsoblue

meanredspider wrote:

It's more fun than a helmet debate

RLJ is much safer if you're wearing a helmet.

Headhuunter

Kieran_Burns wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

vituperation

Is that word of the day? Are you on a drive to increase your vocab by learning and using a new word every day?

pitchshifter

Meanwhile over on the OWN channel, there is an exclusive:

Oprah: Yes or no. Did you, in any of your 3 years of commuting, jump a red light to gain an advantage..?
Pitchshifter: Yes

Oprah: Yes or no. Did you in any of your 3 years of commuting break the speed limit in Richmond park..?
Pitchshifter: Yes

Oprah: Yes or No. Did you ever do any other boo-boos you are deeply ashamed of.?
Pitchshifter: Yes


Now for some ads... Stay tuned for more exclusive revelations about this disgraced cyclist.

MonkeyMonster

pitchshifter wrote:

Meanwhile over on the OWN channel, there is an exclusive:

Oprah: Yes or no. Did you, in any of your 3 years of commuting, jump a light to gain an advantage..?
Pitchshifter: Yes

Oprah: Yes or no. Did you in any of your 3 years of commuting break the speed limit in Richmond park..?
Pitchshifter: Yes

Oprah: Yes or No. Did you ever do any other boo-boos you are deeply ashamed of.?
Pitchshifter: Yes

Now for some ads... Stay tuned for more exclusive revelations about this disgraced cyclist.

BURN THE HERETIC!

Kieran_Burns

Headhuunter wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

vituperation

Is that word of the day? Are you on a drive to increase your vocab by learning and using a new word every day?

Maybe you could look up patronising, or possibly supercilious.

Headhuunter

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

vituperation

Is that word of the day? Are you on a drive to increase your vocab by learning and using a new word every day?

Maybe you could look up patronising, or possibly supercilious.

No, you lost me... Too many syllables

gabriel959

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

+1

It wasn't my original intention although in hindsight I appreciate that was always going to be the outcome to some degree.

junglist_matty

meanredspider wrote:

ETA You WERE wearing a helmet weren't you, Matty....?

Nah, I'm far too Evil Kinevil for helmets

junglist_matty

gabriel959 wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

I dont think that we should turn this into a witch hunt against J_M. It was clearly a mistake and he was unaware of the rulez, as was I!

+1

It wasn't my original intention although in hindsight I appreciate that was always going to be the outcome to some degree.

Well, the next time you see me (probably at a RL - I'll be the one jumping it ), feel free to say hello; I don't hold any grudges!

gabriel959

seanoconn wrote:

Have the police been alerted? Or at the very least, Matthew's parents?

I'm prepared to be a witness and can back the OP's statement 100% if necessary.

I called Batman the other day and he is on his way. :twisted:

gabriel959

junglist_matty wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

JoeNobody wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

If riding through an amber is RLJ'ing, then that's news to me;

I'm quite happy to be proved wrong on this, and I haven't checked the Highway Code, but I believe this is correct. At least, the only colour you should be proceeding under is green. All others pretty much mean "stop if safe to do so". Just you're unlikely to get in to trouble for proceeding on amber. That's just my understanding though and, as I said, happy to be proved wrong

In that case, I hold my hands up; didn't know amber was RLJ'ing.

Even so, the Chinese students "pedestrian crossing RLJ'd", and is the only reason I remember the incident fairly clearly as they simply walked straight across the junction right in front of me without a care in the world.... I looked up and the man was clearly still red.

You looked wrong. It was green.

Sorry buddy, how the hell did you see what colour the pedestrian lights were? AND see the colour of the traffic lights you claim I jumped?


So I'm guessing you were behind me or something? Therefore, you stopped at the lights you claim I jumped? If so, the view of the pedestrian crossing lights you would have had was this:



Zoomed view of the right hand lights:


and the left hand lights (this is the said crossing where the pedestrians walked straight out from to get to the central reservation)...


Unless you have mirror folding vision capabilities as well as community officer special powers, I don't believe you could see the colour of those lights? ....Just saying

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

junglist_matty

gabriel959 wrote:

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

Were you in a hot air balloon!?

veronese68

junglist_matty wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

Were you in a hot air balloon!?

Do they have to stop at red lights?

junglist_matty

gabriel959 wrote:

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

Were you in a hot air balloon!?

corriebee1

junglist_matty wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

Are you a Chinese student?!

mroli

Headhuunter wrote:

I think "little" misdemeanors by motorists like speeding, parking illegally, talking on the mob whilst driving etc are somehow accepted as the norm and somehow harmless...

Seriously dude? By people on here? I don't think so! I think people on here are pretty consistent about their vitriol for law breaking generally...

fat_tail

corriebee1 wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

I wasn't in any of those places, and I was moving at that point

Are you a Chinese student?!

In other news, I jumped a red light today but in my defense there were no Chinese students or other persons crossing nor would I have been hit by another vehicle.

Headhuunter

mroli wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

I think "little" misdemeanors by motorists like speeding, parking illegally, talking on the mob whilst driving etc are somehow accepted as the norm and somehow harmless...

Seriously dude? By people on here? I don't think so! I think people on here are pretty consistent about their vitriol for law breaking generally...

No I meant outside this forum, in the big wide world... Well certainly in London, if you ever look at the comments section after an article about cycling it's all anger and vitriol about cyclists RLJing, running down peds, causing motorists to crash, not paying road tax etc etc. If an alien came down and was able to read these comments without actually knowing what a "cyclist" or a "motorist" they could be forgiven for believing that cyclists were the evil killers on the road responsible for death and destruction across London

rubertoe

Anyway,

Are we still lynching J_M?