Can cyclists run red lights

lifeandtimes

Hey Guys,

Can you refer to this thread and let us know the answer please?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056541201

Cheers
LT

petethedrummer

No. Next.

bcmf

For a sense of balance.
Yes.

















But the real answer is No.

galwaycyclist

In Irish law, a bicycle is a vehicle and a cyclist is a driver. If it is not legal for a motorist to do it then it is not legal for a pedal cyclist to do it.

kenmc

Surely it depends on how warm the green light is, no?












What time zone is it friday already?

snubbleste

Yes.
They just insert two AA batteries

MugMugs

Uh oh !

Cross posting !

Here's you answer anyway.

kenmc

snubbleste wrote: »

Yes.
They just insert two AA batteries

Mine all take AAA batteries.:P

Ray Palmer

Legally yes.

THe reason many don't is due conservation of motion and they are at little to no risk at certain places these lights are at. A pedestrian light with nobody on it being red doesn't stop many cyclists.

A red light where the cyclist is going left is little or no danger. In the US drivers can turn on red.

They really shouldn't do it legally but is it about enforcing a law or about what is actually dangerous?

There will always be thouse who take risk, cyclist,pedestrians and drivers. Cyclists aren't notorious for killing people on the roads and I think most cyclist accidents/fatalities turn out to be mostly the drivers fault.

Tenzor07

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Legally yes.

THe reason many don't is due conservation of motion and they are at little to no risk at certain places these lights are at. A pedestrian light with nobody on it being red doesn't stop many cyclists.

A red light where the cyclist is going left is little or no danger. In the US drivers can turn on red.

They really shouldn't do it legally but is it about enforcing a law or about what is actually dangerous?

There will always be thouse who take risk, cyclist,pedestrians and drivers. Cyclists aren't notorious for killing people on the roads and I think most cyclist accidents/fatalities turn out to be mostly the drivers fault.

Question answered then OP?

Ray Palmer

I meant legally no they can't break lights.

Tenzor07

A bit of google work would have given him the same conculsion, too many threads on this topic and all the same posts come up anyways.

Stollaire

I have to admit that when the pedestrian light comes on at certain large busy and dangerous junctions in Dublin I proceed with caution and slowly across the road on my bike, giving way to pedestrians crossing in front of me.
If I don't do this I'm forced into a Mad Max style road race with cars, vans and lorries jockeying for position around me.

I'm not going to stop doing this as it is the safest thing to do.

Captain Havoc

I would think that you could go through one of those lights that requires the weight of a car to change it, would it not be considered a light stuck on red which you are legally allowed to pass through with caution?

Alanstrainor

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I would think that you could go through one of those lights that requires the weight of a car to change it, would it not be considered a light stuck on red which you are legally allowed to pass through with caution?

Always wondered about this...tbh if I can't activate it i'll go through when it's clear.

*runs for cover*

Chips Lovell

I've never come across a situation whereby I felt obliged to break the lights to stay safe

Tenzor07

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I would think that you could go through one of those lights that requires the weight of a car to change it, would it not be considered a light stuck on red which you are legally allowed to pass through with caution?

Thought it was the metal of the car that activated it... Another reason to ditch Carbon frames?

Tenzor07

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I've never come across a situation whereby I felt obliged to break the lights to stay safe

Gang of drunk teens running after you throwing eggs?

doozerie

Vladimir Kurtains wrote:

I've never come across a situation whereby I felt obliged to break the lights to stay safe

You're clearly not cycling dangerously enough. Considerate antics like that GET CYCLISTS A GOOD NAME! Shame on you, etc.

Chips Lovell

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Gang of drunk teens running after you throwing eggs?

With sexy consequences?

Captain Havoc

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Gang of drunk teens running after you throwing eggs?

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

With sexy consequences?

Bunnyhopper

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

With sexy consequences?

You'd need to ask AstraMonti about that

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76674442#post76674442

Tenzor07

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

With sexy consequences?

I didn't mean a bunch of American Cheerleaders throwing Cadburys Cream eggs, no...

Lumen

Tenzor07

What if the light only went Green or Amber?

the-traffic-light

doozerie

Lumen wrote: »

I'm not well up on the traffic light food labelling system - do all three colours showing simultaneously indicate that that dog is a good food choice or a bad one?

tomasrojo

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I would think that you could go through one of those lights that requires the weight of a car to change it, would it not be considered a light stuck on red which you are legally allowed to pass through with caution?

Effective Cycling agrees with you, pretty much:

When you approach a traffic signal that doesn't respond to bicycles, treat it as a stop sign. However, be extra careful to see that you allow plenty of clearance between you and opposing traffic, because those drivers will be confident that they are protected by red signals. They won't be watching carefully for cross traffic, and even when they see you they won't be ready to steer or brake to avoid you. You action is not unlawful; you have no duty to obey inoperative traffic signals, and a traffic signal that will not give a green in response to a lawful movement is inoperative.

(It's talking about the USA, but the idea of treating an unresponsive traffic light as a stop sign seems sensible.)