AlphaDogg

I was riding today, and about 2 miles from home, I stopped at a stoplight. I smelled something weird, so I looked around. I noticed smoke coming off of the nearby telephone pole. Once the light turned green, I got going and I hit the middle button on my iPhone headphones to tell voice control to call 311. 311 is the number to call the city. 311 connected me to 911 after I told them what I observed, and 911 connected me to Denver Fire. Denver Fire sent out a firetruck and that as that. As I came back the same route to get home (I would've taken a different route, but I wanted to check on it), I noticed it was still smoking (but not as much). It was strange to me that the traffic light there was still working. I continued on my way and came to the next traffic light. There was a TON of traffic backed up there. I treated it like a stop sign and continued on my way (turning left, so I had to wait a little longer to allow vehicles to go straight). The next light (residential area) was also out, but it wasn't as bad. I then came to the last light on my route and it too was out! I was dreading this because it is a pretty busy street and I was afraid cars wouldn't let me go. This was not the case; motorists were more lenient with me, allowing me to turn without waiting forever. When this light is functional, I normally have to wait there for 5-10 minutes before it changed. So I was pleasantly surprised.

AEO

you treat it like a stop sign.

It's amazing how many people don't know what to do when the lights are out at an intersection.

It's even more surprising the ones you encountered did know. :shock:

JTGraphics

Same as you did or sometimes I'll hook up with a car (stay close) thats going my way this way I use it for cover.
You treat it like a stop sign.

DannoXYZ 

I treat out-of-order lights just like regular ones that are working: "No cars? No cops? Fair game, run it !!!"

echotraveler

exercise caution

AlphaDogg

Terrible idea.

Ndw76

Here in Thailand if it is a T intersection and you are not turning right, across traffic (we drive on the left hand side of the road over here) but going straight through you can usually just go straight through. This seems to apply especially when the lights are out. Just have to be extra vigilant of cars, busses, motorcycles, old ladies, dogs...

bsektzer

I don't know how universal this is, but out here in CA, disabled traffic lights or ones that are flashing red continuously in all directions are supposed to be treated as regular 4-Way stop signs. This seems to be pretty widely understood and followed, at least in my neck of the woods.

Stealthammer

I don't know where you live, but "when a traffic signal fails, treat it like a four-way stop" has been in California's driver handbook and exams since at least the mid-60s. Anyone who doesn't know that law should not be allowed to drive or ride on city streets.

One of the things I have learned after reading all of the cycling forums across the net, is that we do indeed need to require an operators permit to allowed to cyclists to ride on public streets. We just have way too many cyclists who are just too effin stupid to even ride a bike on public roads.......

SPlKE 

Same here.