Forum Topic

Cyclists and red lights

Will you sign the pledge and Stop at Red? Will Boris? Went through 6 yesterday according to the Standard.

Peter Wright ● 6715d19 Comments

Will you sign the pledge and Stop at Red? Will Boris? Went through 6 yesterday according to the Standard.

Peter Wright ● 6715d

http://www.stopatred.org/index.php

Peter Wright ● 6715d

Write one hundred times,  'Test on Wandsworth BEFORE POSTING on Ealing'

Peter Wright ● 6715d

I definitely think that he should. If he has been seen doing this so often how come he hasn't been officially warned or stopped by the Police...

Philippa Bond ● 6714d

Apparently, if you dutifully wait for the light to turn green, you're far more likely to be knocked off your bike and injured. That's why there are more injuries among women cyclists than men; us fairer sex are more inclined to obey the rules.I'd rather seen cyclists prosecuted for riding on the pavement, failing to stop at pedestrian crossings and going the wrong way up one-way streets.

Susan Kelly ● 6714d

And I who was nearly knocked over by a cyclist overtaking and speeding through a red light would like to see them think about the pedestrians!

Philippa Bond ● 6714d

As a cyclist you quickly realise that it's the pedestrians are the most likely to wander aimlessly into the road in front of you or dawdle in the cycle lane.I would be less cynical about this website if there were similar places for car drivers to pledge not to use mobiles whilst driving, nor sneak into advanced stop zones, to give adequate clearance when passing cyclists, and if we are talking about traffic lights, how about not taking the light changing to red as a challenge to accelerate through before the crossing lane changes to green.  All of these are more dangerous to other road users than cyclists observing the state of the road and at their own risk going through a red.  So why are cyclists the target for such initiatives?

Tom Henderson ● 6714d

Boris is tackling the problem a different way - all of the TFL maintained traffic lights will be re-phased to give a better balance between the needs of road users (including cyclists) and pedestrians. Red Ken had the priority set to drive congestion and frustrate road users. Go Boris!

Ed Yelland ● 6714d

Tom is right about cars jumping red lights. It just gets worse and worse. I saw a lorry go through a red light on a busy junction on the North Circular this week, something like half a minute after it had gone fully red. We don't need more speed cameras; cameras at the lights would save more lives.

Susan Kelly ● 6714d

it does not take much for congestion and gridlock to set in - good example this morning a diesel spill at Hyde Park Corner and the whole West End ground to a halt.All road users need to be more rule obeying - after the latest stop and search campaign perhaps we can have a mega purge on all road infractions with someone on each box junction for starters

Colin Izzard ● 6713d

Reading this, the phrase that sticks in my mind is "Two wrongs don't make a right".I try to be a conscientious motorist.  Admittedly I do sometimes make mistakes, but on the whole think I'm considerate enough to other road users.  Yet the less considerate are always cited by other inconsiderate types to justify their breaking of the rules.The general standards by the various road users are constantly getting worse.  Any such initiative should make people think about what they do and improve things for everyone else, instead of trying to shift the blame elsewhere and continue in their bad habits

James Lockwood ● 6713d

Talk about congestion, the North Circular this evening at 7.30 was congested, the Western Avenue was congested heading out of London and why? Because there was a police van with cameras looking at registration numbers at the Target Roundabout underpass, it added about 45 minuets to pick-up round. I had to have a stiff drink when I got home to get over the stress of it all.

Peter Wright ● 6713d

But I am not saying I cycle through red lights because motorists drive badly, and I am asking why there is this righteous attitude to cylists transgressions.I am not 'inconsiderate' when I cycle either.  I would not block someone elses right of way (compare with the many motorists who block box junctions).  I may pass to the front of the queue at a red light and wait over the stop line so that I can away in front of left turning cars etc.  This is self-preservation.  I might even jump a red light occasionally, for example a pedestrian crossing with no-one on it, not as a policy, but by observing what is going on.  When you are cyclist you realise that every stop and start requires more energy, so judging when it is safe not to stop avoids you getting knackered.

Tom Henderson ● 6712d

My objection to the speeding Lycra lads and lasses who fail to stop at red lights, is the danger they pose to pedestrians. To see a cyclist speeding past cars, with head down, in tunnel vision mode and heading toward a crossing, gives me the willies every time I see it.It's the perceived 'Holier than thou' and there's nothing you can do to stop me anyway, attitude of a few cyclists that annoys motorists and pedestrians alike and one would hope other cyclists. Surely a bit of PR like this 'Sign the Pledge, Stop at Red' can only be good for all concerned, trying to defend the indefensible is not doing anybody any favours.Just talking - like we are on this Forum - helps us all to understand other viewpoints.

Peter Wright ● 6712d

http://tinyurl.com/3wphrxThe Sunday Mirror published the original article. Their website even includes a video.

Francis House ● 6712d

And Red Top reporters are such angels, aren't they?

Peter Wright ● 6712d

I suppose one should be philosophical about such things Peter, if Police action takes off the road, the non insured anachists, who it would appear care nothing for the well being of the law abiding majority, easy to say when your stuck somewhere like that though.

Colin Vaughan ● 6712d

I'm fully supportive of the police action Colin, just slightly bemused by its effect.

Peter Wright ● 6712d

Yes well I would take the same view as yourself Peter. More power the Police if it all makes things safer, a little inconvenience is a small price to pay.

Colin Vaughan ● 6712d