Fahrenheit531 

Yes.

Full disclosure: Sometimes it's only so I can retain the moral high ground when asked exactly this question. But yes.

Bald Paul

Originally from eastern Massachusetts, where running red lights at speed in your car has become some type of sport, it seems. As a result, I will still stop at red lights, and give myself a 1-2-3 count once it turns green, with a look both left and right, before I venture across an intersection. Most lights here in my new location are at major intersections, and the only time I will ignore a red is at some of the lights where a 'side road' crosses a more travelled route, and the light is tripped by sensors, which don't pick up the bike. You can either wait for a car to pull up beside you, or die from starvation waiting for the light to turn green. There, a prudent stop, wait, and then proceed against the light when it's safe is the only way.
I approach stop signs slightly differently, as most of them are on less travelled roads. If I'm approaching one, have a clear view of the intersecting roads, and there is no traffic, I'll do a 'slow and roll'.

Rollfast

I don't ride well dead.

MikeyMK

Here, they're not the same for cyclists as they are for cars. The speed limits don't apply to us, we're even exempt from the drink driving limit. Of course, that doesn't mean it's okay to ride at 40mph past a school at 3pm whilst drunk..

I'm pretty sure traffic lights apply to everyone, though.

timtak

I generally stop at lights unless it is very early in the morning and there is no one around.

However, here in Japan, bicycles can now legally ride on the pavement/side-walk slowly, or on the road.

So this leaves me in a quandary




What is okay to do at stop lights

For example, when using the left hand side of the road, as we do in Japan and the UK,

1) when approaching a T Junction with a turning to the right with a red light, I sometimes slow down, become a pedestrian, and rejoin the road after the lights, and effectively run the light.

2) when approaching a T Junction with a turning to the left with a red light, I very occasionally, slow down, cross the road as a pedestrian, move through the junction as a pedestrian, cross the road again as a pedestrian and, effectively, run the light.

3) When approaching T junctions, or crossroads, with a red and wanting to turn right, I quite often, or usually, become a pedestrian (or take the corner off the turn) and turn right on red lights.

4) When approaching T junctions, or crossroads, with a red and wanting to turn left, I sometimes become a pedestrian, cross the road, and then rejoin the road.

There may be more of these.

I almost always give way to cars in these situations.E.g. I do not make cars coming out of the side road wait for me if performing 2 (in fact if there were cars coming out of the side road, I would not perform 2). I let cars go first even when performing 3.

But feel almost sure that car drivers hate me for using my status as semi-pedestrian and 'car-part-of-the-road' user.

MVTee

Never thought about this much as 100% of my riding is done on a MUP and or neighborhood so lights are a non-starter. We pass one of the 2 constables posted in the neighborhood all the time but i don't think it's happened at an intersection w/ a stop sign. I'm genuinely curious now if either would ticket/warn us for what we normally do in slowing down approaching the the intersection but rolling thru slowly if no cars were present.

flangehead

Since the this thread started in 2018, Oklahoma law has changed. Bicycle operators may slow and proceed if clear at stop signs, and stop and proceed if clear at traffic lights.

79pmooney

Also allowing the rider to do a quick acceleration and spend less time in the intersection. I've found the road past the intersection safer than the stretch between the stop lines. I can get to safety a lot faster and with less chance of slipping off a pedal if I stay strapped or cleated in and to do that, I must keep some forward speed. (Not a wheelstand whiz.)

No, I do not run stop lights and signs at speed and I am always prepared to stop but if I don't have to, I don't. More courteous to the drivers behind me also. Putt[ng a foot down is like turning off the ignition in a car. (And funny, there are new cars I gain a couple of feet on now while their motors restart on the green light.)

mackgoo

I don't "blow through them", but I rarely stop unless I have to.

MVTee

Decided to look up Texas statutes on Bikes and there were a couple noteworthy things

• Yes i could get ticketed for rolling thru the intersection via Sec. 551.101. RIGHTS AND DUTIES. (a) A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle, unless.... (insert a couple exceptions)
• Cop could ticket you for not using a bike lane if there is one. Found on a texdot.gov page on bicycle safety "Because a bike is required to stay as far to the right as practicable, this could be interpreted to mean if there is bike lane, a cyclist would be required to ride in it, as it would be the far right side of the road." Sec. 551.103. OPERATION ON ROADWAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway....

flangehead

I have this problem frequently with an unrideable bike lane on my commute. My policy is that if use of the bike lane is not safe, I do not use it. I take the lane at intersections if I need to prevent a right hook or to increase my conspicuity. In 18 years commuting in Texas, I have never been pulled over by law enforcement.

TXDOT as an organization has a strong windshield bias. Any concern they express for pedestrians and cyclists that I’ve seen is window dressing, and their advice is often slanted in favor of motor vehicle operations.

FBinNY 

No!

I treat every intersection as unregulated, and ride accordingly. So, red or green, I'll slow, observe, and proceed when I judge it safe to do so.

My logic is very simple. Traffic signals are sort of a social contract. My green light is only meaningful if cross traffic drivers can be counted on to respect their red light. Since, they are not reliable enough based on the potential consequences, I consider the contract broken and ignore them.

BTW - the change to legal right on red has reinforced my opinion here, since I've had far too many instances of cars slowing or stopping then forgetting to yield right of way as I approach. This was always an issue at stop signs and merges, now it's everywhere.

To be clear, the above doesn't mean I "run" red lights, just that I proceed after observation and when I feel it's safe (for everybody) to do so.

veganbikes

FBinNY that sounds reasonable, this is bike forums please adjust your post to conform to the guidelines, you gotta be at least this crazy to enter. You know this!!! LOL

That is good advice be smart be aware of your surroundings it should be the case for any road user at all but sadly some don't.

MVTee

Hit the 5 post limit for the day so couldn't respond earlier but yeah i cut the FAQ answer abit short cause i didnt want to post a wall of text but it did say there were exceptions for not using it, safety being one of them. I just found it more noteworthy they could ticket you at all for not using the bike lane if they felt like being arseholes. For reference sake via txdot.gov:

Under the following conditions bicyclists may take the full lane of travel:

• The person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction
• The person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway
• When there are unsafe conditions on the roadway, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals or surface hazards that prevents the person from safely riding next to the curb or edge of the roadway
• The lane is of substandard width (less than 14 feet wide and not having a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane) making if unsafe for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side

That last provision pretty much guarantees you'll never get ticketed inside the loop heh.

Schweinhund

I don't run lights. I'll stop and proceed if safe.
unregulated four way stops, a qualified yes. If cars are present I won't run in front of them. If no cars are present, why am I stopping?

SurferRosa

No.

But I do treat others as I would want to be treated myself.

Schweinhund

Inusuit

I will stop at a red light, then proceed if clear. Tend to roll through stop signs if no traffic. My riding partner tends to ignore everything and has come close to a wreck for failing to stop at a blind MUP intersection. I am often playing catch up because I stop or slow down when he doesn't.

PaulH

Always, in a a car or on a bike. Still uncomfortable with right on red.

rydabent

I venturing into forbidden area here but if you ride a 3 wheel device, you are more likely to obey traffic signals. Stopping is a nuisance, but on them, you just stop and stay clipped in, and ride straight off when the light turns green.

FBinNY 

I don't think you understand the mental processes here...

If you have the strength and agility to turn pedals foe even s few minutes, putting a toe down isn't any effort at all. Plus, I doubt that clipping in is a factor, though I'd revisit that if data showed that those who clip in are less likely to stop.

The reasons cyclists like me don't obey traffic signals is more related to lost momentum, and needless waiting around for nothing. In fact, I'd venture that many drivers would gladly proceed against a red when it seems safe, were it not for fear of a ticket.

FBinNY 

I don't think you understand the mental processes here...

If you have the strength and agility to turn pedals foe even s few minutes, putting a toe down isn't any effort at all. Plus, I doubt that clipping in is a factor, though I'd revisit that if data showed that those who clip in are less likely to stop.

The reasons cyclists like me don't obey traffic signals is more related to lost momentum, and needless waiting around for nothing. In fact, I'd venture that many drivers would gladly proceed against a red when it seems safe, were it not for fear of a ticket.

Daniel4

It would be interesting to see who gives the right-of-way in this game of chicken when both stop sign-runners cross paths. Of better still, what kind of blame and finger-pointing are thrown at each other when a collision occurs.

FBinNY 

I posted earlier about my rules re: traffic signals. I disregard them and treat ALL intersections as unregulated, using common sense and courtesy, guided by experience. (see post 237 here)

I don't think about rights and/or possible finger pointing, and focus on avoiding collisions in the first place.

Daniel4

And then there are those who criticize nice-holes because they give up their right-of-way to let you run your red or stop sign.