Do you disregard traffic laws during your commute?
#51
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Simply 100% true. Cyclists who are on their bike in a cross-walk and who expect others to yield for them are either ignorant or ass-hats.
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Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
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#53
Virgo
At a vehicle actuated sensor light, if there is no traffic in sight I’ll typically treat it like a 4 way stop. If there are cars approaching the intersection that will trigger the light I’ll wait for the light. If there is traffic approaching the intersection that won’t trigger the light I’ll wait until it passes then proceed when it’s clear. I never sit around and count seconds. In Indiana the dead light law is 2 minutes. One alligator, 2 alligator, 3 alligator ... 120 alligator - seriously?
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#54
I agree, and when appropriate, that's what I do. If I have to some to a complete stop, I have to dismount anyway, so then, as appropriate I either ambulate like a pedestrian, or re-mount and continue as a driver.
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#58
Senior Member
Ahh--you know, I deal with bipolar disorder and, unfortunately, I do not laugh very much anymore. It's probably one of my meds. Anyhow, you just really made me laugh! Thank you. And sorry, I shouldn't laugh. But I did. So, thanks. You did your good deed for the day.
#60
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Then again, later on I injured my right ankle in a fall and couldn't put weight on it, so instead of unclipping with my usual right foot at stops, I had to make an adjustment and unclip on the left. It took only a day to get used to the switch. Pain avoidance is a great motivator.
Ironically it was more painful to walk than it was to bike, so I had no choice but to continue riding into work until the ankle was healed.
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Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Last edited by Archwhorides; 11-24-19 at 06:57 PM.
#61
Callipygian Connoisseur
My commute riding is sharply focused on safety and conducted with a nuanced balance of practicality and legality. I do nothing which would compromise my safety. Well, aside from the fact that I place myself on a public roadway on a bicycle.
-Kedosto
-Kedosto
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#62
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#65
Senior Member
There are some traffic laws I break routinely - mostly I don't signal turns if there is noone close enough to be affected by my actions. I also usually start moving just before the red lights go out, to get a bit of head start on cars. On rare occasions I blow red lights too, but only if it's safe to do so. Breaking the speed limits is mostly a non-issue, but I have done it a few times. And I'm pretty sure that I occasionally exceed the blood alcohol limit when riding home from the pub.
#66
Full Member
Rolling most stop signs. I stop only at busy intersections.
Does anyone else notice that when you come to a stop at a stop sign, and a car stops, they have no idea what to do? As in they fully expect you to not follow the rules and go?
Does anyone else notice that when you come to a stop at a stop sign, and a car stops, they have no idea what to do? As in they fully expect you to not follow the rules and go?
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#67
Senior Member
Yeah, that's happened to me quite few times, usually the driver ends up waving me through. Occasionally I wave the driver through.
#68
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I yield to the legality of cyclists riding in Latvian cross-walks.
This is a solid urban cycling rulebook. Now is it illegal to ride a bicycle while partially intoxicated? If so, I am "braking bad" more than I knew before.
What if it's legal? Which it is here, provided you don't exceed the speed of pedestrians while crossing on a cross-walk.
There are some traffic laws I break routinely - mostly I don't signal turns if there is noone close enough to be affected by my actions. I also usually start moving just before the red lights go out, to get a bit of head start on cars. On rare occasions I blow red lights too, but only if it's safe to do so. Breaking the speed limits is mostly a non-issue, but I have done it a few times. And I'm pretty sure that I occasionally exceed the blood alcohol limit when riding home from the pub.
There are some traffic laws I break routinely - mostly I don't signal turns if there is noone close enough to be affected by my actions. I also usually start moving just before the red lights go out, to get a bit of head start on cars. On rare occasions I blow red lights too, but only if it's safe to do so. Breaking the speed limits is mostly a non-issue, but I have done it a few times. And I'm pretty sure that I occasionally exceed the blood alcohol limit when riding home from the pub.
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Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
#69
Senior Member
#70
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#71
If there is a stop sign where I can clearly tell there isn't a car in sight, I'll slow down and coast through it. Otherwise, I obey the law that bicycles are vehicles and are subject to the same laws as cars. We can't complain about motor traffic not taking us seriously if we don't ourselves.
#72
Senior Member
Agree. Interestingly recent traffic studies have shown that cyclists do break traffic laws and that motor vehicles break them more often.
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#73
Junior Member
I’ve been off a bike for decades but am just now getting back on one.
As a driver my biggest peeve is being behind a biker l, waiting until it is safe to pass, only to come to a light or stop sign and have him (almost always a him) pass me on the curb and then take a full lane in front of me again.
As a driver my biggest peeve is being behind a biker l, waiting until it is safe to pass, only to come to a light or stop sign and have him (almost always a him) pass me on the curb and then take a full lane in front of me again.
#74
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I have two lights right now that I routinely run. One is at a MUP/street intersection and the "Walk" sign is currently broken, so I would be there all day if I waited for it to change. That light would never change. I tried. So, I just wait until it is safe, and I go. The second, is a light that a cyclist cannot trip, I guess due to our low weight. I am usually there at around 5 in the morning most days. I treat it like a Stop sign and when it is clear, I go. Don't feel bad one bit.
Almost all Stop signs I come to a complete stop at, because, where I ride, these are places motorists routinely blow through. There is, however, one Stop sign on one of my routes that is in a deserted part of town. I am usually there at about 0520 or so. Every once in awhile, an early work person is there, heading out, but almost never. I can easily see fifty yards both directions and I routinely run this Stop sign because it is just a deserted area and there is no need to stop and re-clip. In my view, that is.
I don't like clipping out and in 5000 times on a two-hour ride. It seems unnecessary. But I do it. Am now very proficient at clipping in. It is a ton of starting and stopping in town. But it is required most of the time.
Almost all Stop signs I come to a complete stop at, because, where I ride, these are places motorists routinely blow through. There is, however, one Stop sign on one of my routes that is in a deserted part of town. I am usually there at about 0520 or so. Every once in awhile, an early work person is there, heading out, but almost never. I can easily see fifty yards both directions and I routinely run this Stop sign because it is just a deserted area and there is no need to stop and re-clip. In my view, that is.
I don't like clipping out and in 5000 times on a two-hour ride. It seems unnecessary. But I do it. Am now very proficient at clipping in. It is a ton of starting and stopping in town. But it is required most of the time.
#75
Senior Member
I expected to get mostly support from my fellow Bike Forumers on this, as I had behaved defensively and cautiously in a vehicle encounter that quite obviously could have injured me, since the driver ultimately failed to stop as required by law. I did get some support, but I also got some comments essentially placing the responsibility for the driver running a stop sign on my defensive riding. The general idea I think was that my "hesitation" basically must have frustrated the driver and so he quite wisely and correctly ran the stop sign as a result. Okay. It's all good. Everyone is entitled to their world view. I don't share that urban cycling world view, but it's good. We're good. I do appreciate the feedback. As Voltaire said, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."