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Do you disregard traffic laws during your commute?

Old 11-24-19, 11:54 AM
  #51  
Archwhorides 
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Originally Posted by KraneXL
Just so we're clear, you can only behave like a pedestrian if you are a pedestrian. That means full dismount bipedal movement.
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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Old 11-24-19, 12:00 PM
  #52  
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Here's a good demo of how to ride on streets with lots of traffic, pedestrians, and traffic lights plus, of course, cross-traffic.


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Old 11-24-19, 12:06 PM
  #53  
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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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Old 11-24-19, 01:48 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by KraneXL
Just so we're clear, you can only behave like a pedestrian if you are a pedestrian. That means full dismount bipedal movement.
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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Old 11-24-19, 01:49 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Archwhorides
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.
Also true.
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Old 11-24-19, 02:09 PM
  #56  
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Many people posting in commuting sub forum are asshats, and often not cyclists at all.

Since we’re making “true” statements.
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Old 11-24-19, 02:51 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by bpcyclist
Aha! Right, huh?

Well, I am right-handed all the way. But I always, always unclip the left. Wouldn't even know how to do the right.
Me too. The one time I tried clipping on my right I fell over.😦 Good thing no witnesses.
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Old 11-24-19, 03:57 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
Me too. The one time I tried clipping on my right I fell over.😦 Good thing no witnesses.
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.
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Old 11-24-19, 04:07 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by bpcyclist
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.
That's okay. I think it was funny too.
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Old 11-24-19, 06:53 PM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
Me too. The one time I tried clipping on my right I fell over.�� Good thing no witnesses.
Been there, done that (opposite side though). There were about 30 onlookers at the time.

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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Old 11-24-19, 11:19 PM
  #61  
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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
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Old 11-24-19, 11:24 PM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
That's okay. I think it was funny too.
You're a better man than I. When I unclipped right and leaned left, funny was the last thing on my mind. I just lay there in the middle of the road accessing the damage. Turns out I was uninjured -- except for my ego. 😩
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Old 11-25-19, 04:46 AM
  #63  
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I do when commuting at 4 am, but obey them when commuting home at 3 pm. When more people are out.
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Old 11-25-19, 08:42 AM
  #64  
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Originally Posted by hefeweizen
Do you?
Aggressively, often and with great relish.
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Old 11-25-19, 09:27 AM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by Archwhorides
Cyclists who are on their bike in a cross-walk and who expect others to yield for them are either ignorant or ass-hats.
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.
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Old 11-25-19, 10:08 AM
  #66  
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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?
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Old 11-25-19, 10:28 AM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
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?
Yeah, that's happened to me quite few times, usually the driver ends up waving me through. Occasionally I wave the driver through.
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Old 11-25-19, 11:16 AM
  #68  
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I yield to the legality of cyclists riding in Latvian cross-walks.

Originally Posted by subgrade
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.
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.
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Old 11-25-19, 11:18 AM
  #69  
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https://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ug...-the-influence
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Old 11-25-19, 11:22 AM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by liampboyle
Yeah, that's happened to me quite few times, usually the driver ends up waving me through. Occasionally I wave the driver through.
That is always my preferred method.
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Old 11-25-19, 11:41 AM
  #71  
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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.
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Old 11-25-19, 12:23 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
No. The law is the law. Breaking it makes you "one of those ______ bikers" that everyone, not a cyclist, kvetches about incessantly claiming we need banned from roads---and you only prove their negative stereotype true.
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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Old 11-25-19, 12:47 PM
  #73  
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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.
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Old 11-25-19, 12:49 PM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by bpcyclist
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.
Have you told your city's public works department about the issues? Stoplight sensors are actually inducers(?) geared towards detecting metal; try leaning your bike over a bit when you stop. If that doesn't work, contact the city to report it and they can adjust the sensitivity. Also tell them about the places where drivers blow through intersections. These guys rarely get feedback, and they can't be everywhere, and likely not on bikes.
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Old 11-25-19, 01:40 PM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
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?
I posted almost exactly this very thing happening to me last week. In that case, I kept my eyes on the driver because, while slowing, he was not yet stopping as he moved toward the line. I actually did not have a stop sign (so that's a bit different), he did. But I ride assuming every driver and cyclist is out to kill me. I do this because I have been hit before and because experience tells me that drivers and cyclists not uncommonly completely blow through stop signs in my town. That is the reality. So, I slowed and waited. Then, the driver suddenly turned and looked directly at me, hit the accelerator, and totally blew threw his stop sign--looking at me the whole time.

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."
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