"Those Bicyclists Blow Right Through Red Lights!"
09-12-16, 12:44 AM
#827
Cycle Year Round
You are correct in absolute terms, but part of the theme of this thread is perceptions towards cyclists. It's not the fact that he was going slow in general. It's that he used the sidewalk to bypass dozens of cars, then decided he would switch to the street while the sidewalk was still available, causing many cars that otherwise would have made the light to wait another cycle. Maybe the gridlock continued, maybe it didn't, but to folks trying to get home there's hope that things free up some beyond that light. Still a dick move in my opinion. Cyclists want the road, but not the rules. He's fortunate not to have gotten hit by the lead car. From that car's perspective he came from nowhere.
If the cyclist was illegally riding on the sidewalk, fine, but if the sidewalk riding was legal, then the motorist should shut up, smarten up and start cycle commuting, using a bicycle to its full legal advantage.
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09-12-16, 03:19 AM
#828
Me duelen las nalgas
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09-12-16, 08:18 AM
#829
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So is it a "dick move" when motorists block the bike lane so they can eventually make a right turn on red? No, I don't mean move into the BL to make a legal right turn, I mean cut into the BL well ahead of the turn, so they can pass cars on the right several hundred yards before the actual turn, and in doing so, block the BL from cyclists?
This was a regular move by motorists on Genesee Road south bound approaching Governor Drive in San Diego. The MV traffic always backed up the hill to the last cross street, Nobel. A cyclist moving at only 8MPH would cover that mile in minutes, whereas a motorist could take about a half an hour... motorists would often move right into the BL long before the turn at Governor and block the BL from cyclists.
This was a regular move by motorists on Genesee Road south bound approaching Governor Drive in San Diego. The MV traffic always backed up the hill to the last cross street, Nobel. A cyclist moving at only 8MPH would cover that mile in minutes, whereas a motorist could take about a half an hour... motorists would often move right into the BL long before the turn at Governor and block the BL from cyclists.
"People. Were. Furious. Though the post received many retweets and likes, it generated many more angry responses from San Diegans, cyclists and pretty much anyone who thinks the rules of the road are not voluntary."
-mr. bill
09-12-16, 08:41 AM
#830
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09-12-16, 08:51 AM
#831
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People in cars *and* people on bicycles mad at Peter King.
"People. Were. Furious. Though the post received many retweets and likes, it generated many more angry responses from San Diegans, cyclists and pretty much anyone who thinks the rules of the road are not voluntary."
-mr. bill
"People. Were. Furious. Though the post received many retweets and likes, it generated many more angry responses from San Diegans, cyclists and pretty much anyone who thinks the rules of the road are not voluntary."
-mr. bill
And yes, I have seen SDPD become involved... I recall one situation where a motorcycle cop parked on a bit of triangle buffer area and started pulling cars over that were in the BL... signaling cyclists to just keep going. He didn't ticket the motorists, he just redirected them back into the MV traffic.
From the saddle of my bike, it was just so cool to watch as I slowly approached my turn... impeded by the cars in front of me. This was on a 50MPH road, that was just clogged to capacity with single passenger cars... meanwhile cyclists where just trying to get on by...
Bottom line, cyclists rarely cause any real delays in traffic... the real delays are caused by all the single passenger motor vehicles that fill the streets twice a day.
09-12-16, 01:07 PM
#832
You gonna eat that?
There's also a fair amount of tribal knowledge you get from talking to other riders.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
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"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
09-12-16, 05:19 PM
#833
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True, dat. I've learned a lot from chattering with you and other folks at group rides. My bumbling around on my own or relying on Google maps and street view have been very hit or miss... lots of misses, like that thing a couple of weeks ago with Altamesa to Lakeside near Pecan Valley golf course. Yikes.
09-13-16, 08:42 AM
#834
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09-13-16, 08:49 AM
#835
Senior Member
Or maybe running red lights in a careful manner is not as dangerous as some people think. Just a random thought.
09-13-16, 09:51 AM
#836
You gonna eat that?
I'm reminded of traffic in Rome, Italy. To American eyes it looks crazy, but after some observation the unwritten rules of the road emerge. They don't follow the laws like we do at intersections and staying in lanes, but they know what the local norms are and people are largely consistent. So it works.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
09-13-16, 10:29 AM
#837
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1/4 bicycle accidents with injuries are because of aggressive people and/or distracted people DRIVING motor vehicles. (Most people are not aggressive btw. But the ones who are, ARE.)
1/4 bicycle accidents with injuries are from people in cars saying SMIDSY. (Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.)
1/4 bicycle accidents with injuries are DOORING (People in cars not looking, cyclists trying to stay out of the way of the above, or even being bullied there.)
1/4 bicycle accidents with injuries are from people on bicycles running stop signs and red lights.
You won't want to believe that of course.
Because Boston (and Our Fair City - Cambridge - MA) drivers are so predictably unpredictable, everyone has to watch out to deal with the (somewhat predictable) conditions. We are simultaneously "so bad" that we are "sort of good."
So, what would result in a crash in many places "only" ends up with a slam on the brakes and maybe lay on the horn event, or a dodge-em. It often takes two oblivions to come together in a crash.
BTW, it's totally possible to obey the law *and* be safe around here - while driving a car, while riding a bike, or while walking. Pointing to the scofflaws and emulating them bends us away from where lots of us would like to be.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 09-13-16 at 11:49 AM.
09-13-16, 10:29 AM
#838
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03-08-17, 12:32 PM
#840
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We'll see what happens
New bill would let bicyclists roll through stop signs - The San Diego Union-Tribune
New bill would let bicyclists roll through stop signs - The San Diego Union-Tribune
03-09-17, 03:26 PM
#842
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We'll see what happens
New bill would let bicyclists roll through stop signs - The San Diego Union-Tribune
New bill would let bicyclists roll through stop signs - The San Diego Union-Tribune
03-09-17, 05:26 PM
#843
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Proud of my city (New Orleans) for not requiring tedious legislation on this matter. NOPD has better things to do and are always short handed. Never heard of anyone here getting a citation for rolling a stop sign safely on a bicycle. Even right in plain view of NOPD. They do not care.
here the cops are even more supportive. I treat red lights and stop signs as unmarked intersections, ie. check for cross traffic and proceed if/when safe.
But if there's a police car there I'll stop and wait with them. Over half the time, the officer will crank down his window and ask me what I'm waiting for.
Around here (except in parts of NYC proper) the police are very happy to let bicyclists stay below the radar until/unless they make nuisances of themselves.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-10-17, 10:01 AM
#844
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Proud of my city (New Orleans) for not requiring tedious legislation on this matter. NOPD has better things to do and are always short handed. Never heard of anyone here getting a citation for rolling a stop sign safely on a bicycle. Even right in plain view of NOPD. They do not care.
-mr. bill
03-16-17, 10:30 AM
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03-16-17, 10:57 AM
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(But yes, the article was really talking about east of City Park, wasn't it?)
-mr. bill
