"Invincible" cyclists breaking traffic lights

Toby Take a Bow · 15-08-2011 10:51PM

This is pretty mental. Seems like everyone's at fault here.

blaze1 · 15-08-2011 10:52PM

The amount of car drivers who brake red lights is more likely to cause an accident. They see the lights changing and put the boot down when they've more than enough room to slow down.

Why dont you try cycling around in town op... I'm sure you'll find that if you have any common sense and good vision you'll work out when its ok to head on through a red light.

saa · 15-08-2011 10:56PM

Yeah forget the risk of injury its a 500 euro fine if you get brought to court.

Most of the time I see cyclist going through lights in fairness they're at the side of the road anyway unless theyre going through a junction (couldnt be more of an eejit in that case) so in my experience I've felt more at risk making a right turn at a cross section, saying that I wouldn't go through red lights just incase and beside why would you really be in that much of a rush, you're on the road stop for lights if you don't think you have to then you have to be slightly arrogant eh.

Cyclist are using the road but in my experience pedestrians are just as forgetful if not more than drivers, someone walked out to cross traffic infront of me with his back turned to me never looked because there was grid lock and nearly got ran over I pulled the brakes and got a wallop myself with the back of the bike going up in the air, myself nearly over the handlebars... luckily it was only a case of replacing a wheel.

Just saying its not always drivers are to blame, no cyclists are.. etc.

stovelid · 15-08-2011 10:59PM

Saw two cyclists blithely cycling through a red light chatting away a while back while muggins here was sat behind the wheel of the car obeying the law.

Both were wearing boards.ie cycling tops.

Let's just say I wasn't exactly bowled over in surprise.

Crow92 · 15-08-2011 11:05PM

Reading some of the posts from other cyclists complaining about the red light jumpers (I'd be a cyclist myself complaining about them) reminds me of this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3PJF0YE-x4

Paparazzo · 15-08-2011 11:08PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

I cycle to work most days and I can say that I whizz through certain sets of lights on my commute, regardless of their colour.

I have nearly been hit a few times on some dodgier junctions but at this stage I know the lights I can safely break.

O'Connell Bridge for example, if the pedestrian lights are green and there are no pedestrians crossing, will I sit there and wait?

I most certainly will not thank you very much, I'll happily scoot my way through!

I'm sure there are lots of other cyclists who will tut-tut at this, but to Hell with them.

Looks like a darwin award could be on it's way to you soon.

stovelid · 15-08-2011 11:13PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

lastlaugh wrote: »

I cycle to work most days and I can say that I whizz through certain sets of lights on my commute, regardless of their colour.

I have nearly been hit a few times on some dodgier junctions but at this stage I know the lights I can safely break.

O'Connell Bridge for example, if the pedestrian lights are green and there are no pedestrians crossing, will I sit there and wait?

I most certainly will not thank you very much, I'll happily scoot my way through!

I'm sure there are lots of other cyclists who will tut-tut at this, but to Hell with them.

Looks like a darwin award could be on it's way to you soon.

On the plus side, if a motorist manages to speed up slightly and run over him, we might get away with it if we feign the bare requisite amount of regret.

tightropetom · 15-08-2011 11:14PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xjTZ0FGwO8

bluto63 · 15-08-2011 11:20PM

People seem to be complaining about people breaking through the lights at top speeds, but for most cyclists, this is not the case. Myself, if I see cars crossing the junction, I'll stop, same with pedestrians. But if there's no cars coming, I'll slow down, look both ways and keep going safe knowing that no one will get hurt. What's wrong with that?

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:23PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

Imagine that, your poor bonnet.

You seem like the type who would check to see if your precious car was alright before the cyclist you just ran into.

Sad really.

HOOOOOLD your horses there now, sunshine!

I didn't "run into any cyclist", remember ?

We're talking about a situation in which they (you) ran into me because their light was red and they took a stupid and dangerous chance. Their fault, their loss.

So no, I've no reason to check if they're OK. And since they're 100% responsible for the accident incident (it's not an accident if it's caused), of course I'm entitled to be compensated for their ignorance and stupidity.

If I accidentally hit someone who is carefully obeying the rules, then of course I'll check if they're OK.

But don't you DARE go accusing me of hitting anyone; you're the one who's advocating being a dangerous prick on the roads, and that's the scenario we're talking about - one in which I didn't hit anyone.

lastlaugh · 15-08-2011 11:24PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

Looks like a darwin award could be on it's way to you soon.

That maybe so. I've evolved from a typical lazy ass motorist.
I don't sit on my ass in a car congesting the roads for a few mile journey.

And occasionally I go through a Red light, it's not as if I'm weaving through oncominf traffic.

It funny how righteous and militant some people get.

The King of Moo · 15-08-2011 11:24PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

I wait for the litlle Red man to appear, once he is there I feel I have the right to start off, although some people will still just amble accross.

There is about 10secs between the man turning Red and the light to turn right goes green. This is the light I break.

I have had a few near misses both through my own and motorists fault over the lasr few years, but once you know the order the lights change, you can determine what is 'safe' to break...

So don't you think eventually you're going to have an accident?

I don't understand why people act so recklessly on roads for such small advantages like arriving at their destination a few seconds earlier.

Yes, it can be dangerous for cyclists at junctions because of bad drivers, but that's why we need to be extra-vigilant.

There are so many terrible drivers and cyclists on the roads that I'm always vigilant when I'm on the road.
When I'm stopped at a traffic light, I can always tell when there's an immature driver there as well who's determined not to be emasculated by letting a cyclist get ahead of them. It's like a drag race to these ****wits.
I don't get caught up in their childishness and let them leave first, delaying me by about a whole second.

I'll always wait till the light goes green, as I don't care about getting into pissing contests with drivers or saving myself a few seconds, and at most of the junctions I regularly stop at someone could easily walk out onto the road without me having the time to stop. Don't always assume pedestrians will follow the rules. There's a street in Galway between Eyre Square and Shop Street where people always suddenly cross the street without checking and it's hard to avoid hitting people sometimes no matter how alert I am or how slow I'm going.

Sometimes I think people should be made to take maturity tests before they're allowed near city streets, be they pedestrians, cyclists or motorists.

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:25PM

bluto63 wrote: »

Myself, if I see cars crossing the junction, I'll stop, same with pedestrians. But if there's no cars coming, I'll slow down, look both ways and keep going safe knowing that no one will get hurt. What's wrong with that?

Do you do that while driving a car ?

A car isn't allowed to do that, and neither are you.

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:26PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

It funny how righteous and militant some people get.

Funny that, I'd define "militant" as "breaking the law".

Kettle, pot.

bluto63 · 15-08-2011 11:26PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Do you do that while driving a car ?

A car isn't allowed to do that, and neither are you.

No but I do it when walking.

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:30PM

bluto63 wrote: »

No but I do it when walking.

Completely separate scenario, as explained earlier, and that wasn't the question.

What would you do while walking if a car broke a light ?

You do know that - both literally and metaphorically - you wouldn't have a leg to stand on if you condone running red lights ?

tightropetom · 15-08-2011 11:31PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Funny that, I'd define "militant" as "breaking the law".

Kettle, pot.

'Militant' doesn't mean breaking the law. It means
1. Fighting or warring.
2. Having a combative character; aggressive, especially in the service of a cause: a militant political activist.
n. A fighting, warring, or aggressive person or party.

ref: thefreedictionary.com

lastlaugh · 15-08-2011 11:33PM

bluto63 wrote: »

People seem to be complaining about people breaking through the lights at top speeds, but for most cyclists, this is not the case. Myself, if I see cars crossing the junction, I'll stop, same with pedestrians. But if there's no cars coming, I'll slow down, look both ways and keep going safe knowing that no one will get hurt. What's wrong with that?

At last, someone with a bit of sense.

Cianos · 15-08-2011 11:33PM

bluto63 wrote: »

People seem to be complaining about people breaking through the lights at top speeds, but for most cyclists, this is not the case. Myself, if I see cars crossing the junction, I'll stop, same with pedestrians. But if there's no cars coming, I'll slow down, look both ways and keep going safe knowing that no one will get hurt. What's wrong with that?

Same here. I'm well aware that as a cyclist I'll be the one one who will come out much worse off in a collision. I also don't want to put other road users at risk. I'll come up to a junction and make sure it's safe, if it is, I'll roll through. If there's another cyclist there waiting, I'll usually stop and wait, out of respect for them.

Paparazzo · 15-08-2011 11:33PM

tightropetom wrote: »

'Militant' doesn't mean breaking the law. It means
1. Fighting or warring.
2. Having a combative character; aggressive, especially in the service of a cause: a militant political activist.
n. A fighting, warring, or aggressive person or party.

ref: thefreedictionary.com

Basically, most cyclists when you give out about them

bluto63 · 15-08-2011 11:34PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Completely separate scenario, as explained earlier, and that wasn't the question.

What would you do while walking if a car broke a light ?

You do know that - both literally and metaphorically - you wouldn't have a leg to stand on if you condone running red lights ?

Well if he was like me and only did it when there was zero chance of danger, then fine, means nothing to me.

Regardless of that, a bike is not a car. It is separate. A bike can avoid danger more easily, doesn't go near as fast and can stop much faster. I think it's idiotic to compare the two

lastlaugh · 15-08-2011 11:35PM

tightropetom wrote: »

'Militant' doesn't mean breaking the law. It means
1. Fighting or warring.
2. Having a combative character; aggressive, especially in the service of a cause: a militant political activist.
n. A fighting, warring, or aggressive person or party.

ref: thefreedictionary.com

Kettle, pot???

More like,

Nail, Head

McCrack · 15-08-2011 11:37PM

I genuinely don't have an issue with cyclists breaking lights provided they do it sensibly. By sensible I mean by not putting themselves or others in danger and that can be done at many lights.

It's a perk of cycling I guess, use it but don't abuse it by doing silly things and getting up other people's noses.

I always give bikes or motorbikes room when they are filtering through traffic etc.

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:38PM

bluto63 wrote: »

Well if he was like me and only did it when there was zero chance of danger, then fine, means nothing to me.

Ah sure we'll get rid of the traffic lights altogether so.....I mean, if everyone did the above we'd all be just fine.

bluto63 wrote: »

Regardless of that, a bike is not a car. It is separate. A bike can avoid danger more easily, doesn't go near as fast and can stop much faster. I think it's idiotic to compare the two

If you run a red light and there's a car coming out of a side road on a green light, you haven't a hope of stopping to miss it. You'll either hit the car and damage both it and yourself, or else swerve, causing a bigger problem.

lastlaugh · 15-08-2011 11:40PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

So don't you think eventually you're going to have an accident?

I think I have had enough experience at this stage to know what to look out for, and yes I have done some stupid things in the past.

If anything is going to get me, it will be a careless or an overly aggressive driver. (One or two here I'd say would quite like to hit someone if they thought theye weren't in the wrong)

bluto63 · 15-08-2011 11:42PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Ah sure we'll get rid of the traffic lights altogether so.....I mean, if everyone did the above we'd all be just fine.

If you run a red light and there's a car coming out of a side road on a green light, you haven't a hope of stopping to miss it. You'll either hit the car and damage both it and yourself, or else swerve, causing a bigger problem.

You seem to be assuming no one pays any attention to anything on the road other than the traffic lights. You can see when there's a car coming, you can see when to stop. I told you, I don't just keep going at full pace, so I actually have time to look down all streets. If there's doubt, I'll stop.

wild_cat · 15-08-2011 11:42PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

So don't you think eventually you're going to have an accident?

I don't understand why people act so recklessly on roads for such small advantages like arriving at their destination a few seconds earlier.

Did you read the link I provided?

Sometimes they are broken to avoid being in a blind spot and thus avoiding being killed.

Liam Byrne · 15-08-2011 11:47PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

I think I have had enough experience at this stage to know what to look out for, and yes I have done some stupid things in the past.

If anything is going to get me, it will be a careless or an overly aggressive driver. (One or two here I'd say would quite like to hit someone if they thought theye weren't in the wrong)

Instead of trying to point the blame at someone else for the consequences of your own stupidity and pig-headedness re the rules, I would suggest being damn grateful that the alert drivers have managed to miss you while you do your "stupid things", thereby ensuring that the closest you have come to getting a Darwin Award were indeed "near misses".

lastlaugh · 15-08-2011 11:48PM

bluto63 wrote: »

Well if he was like me and only did it when there was zero chance of danger, then fine, means nothing to me.

Regardless of that, a bike is not a car. It is separate. A bike can avoid danger more easily, doesn't go near as fast and can stop much faster. I think it's idiotic to compare the two

Totally agree with this.

It is foolish to compare the two.

People are getting too anal about things "Oooh, you're not allowed to do this", "I'm a Goody-Two-Shoes", etc, etc...

The King of Moo · 15-08-2011 11:51PM

lastlaugh wrote: »

I think I have had enough experience at this stage to know what to look out for, and yes I have done some stupid things in the past.

If anything is going to get me, it will be a careless or an overly aggressive driver. (One or two here I'd say would quite like to hit someone if they thought theye weren't in the wrong)

You're probably more likely to be hit by a car, but you can never be sure it's 100% safe to run a red light. Something can always come out of nowhere. I don't know how many traffic accidents I've heard of where the driver or cyclist said the person or car just came out of nowhere and took them completely by surprise.

You might pass through junctions where you can have a reasonable sense of whether anyone'll take you by surprise or not, but my regular route takes me through three major junctions and heavy traffic, and there's always a risk for me.

"Invincible" cyclists breaking traffic lights

Comments