CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Dear Red Light Jumper

(25 posts)

  1. gembo
    Member

    I am sorry for shouting at you at the junction heading down to the Grassmarket. I had formed the impression you were in a hurry as I watched you jump two red lights (we all do it I guess) and then the amber at the tollcross primary crossing (a little bit iffy that one). So I was actually going to pull in to the little layby att he lights to let you past but you jumped the third red light and cycled across the pedestrian crossing and up on to the pavement where you continued to cycle past sainsburys for a little distance (again we have all cycled on a pavement). It was at this point that I shouted at you to stop jumping red lights, I am sorry about that, I shouldn't have shouted. Instead I should somehow have indicated to you without shouting, that despite you overtaking me then jumping two reds and an amber at a school crossing I was still in front of you.

    Maybe you could extend your anticipatory skills that are focussed on traffic light sequences to other aspects of the madness of our roadways, e.g. lorries diagonally across lanes that only bikes can get round etc.

    Once again, sorry for shouting.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Radgeworks
    Member

    It is indeed a perplexing and odd mystery as to what the logic defying cyclists stand to gain from these types of actions, other than risking death and injury or risking causing suchlike, i too would be sorry for shouting, but only for not being loud enough...
    R

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Darkerside
    Member

    Disappointed that thread was not about a woollen garment of negotiable affection.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Coxy
    Member

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Coxy
    Member

    A new CCE shirt design perhaps?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. wingpig
    Member

    Red light jumping: dear...
    I recently heard a report (which I have not yet been able to independently confirm) of a student in Aberdeen who was fined £140 for jumping a red light then jumping onto the pavement whilst being observed by an unmarked police car behind them.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. skepticAli
    Member

    I'm the mum of said student, and can confirm that he was indeed fined £140 for skipping a red light in Aberdeen. Hubby and I have always encourages safe and responsible cycling, so I can only blame his and 'invincible teenager' mentality. I did think the penalty was a wee bit harsh, for a first (and hopefully last) offence, and on a student's income - but I guess the Aberdeen constabulary/judiciary were trying to send a message. Fair enough. Hope it works!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    Today I was riding along Polwarth gardens and getting to the right of my lane for a right hand turn. nearly got taken out by a police car that went right in his lane to avoid a double-parked car. It had flashers on, but I was still annoyed that the police didn't stop to fine it.

    I don't condone the RLJing at all, but I wouldn't blame your son for getting bitter as he sees police cars ignoring many other infractions.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    @skepticAli that is harsh, there is a Balerno guy, if I ever catch him I want to give him an award as King of the red light jumpers. I come up behind him regularly at Lochrin basin. The lights there are at red for a long time in both directions so he sets off about five seconds before the amber. He then does this at the next two sets of lights, he knows the sequence. He then goes downthe right hand side of the right lane at semple st. It is a tricky one as the bike lane appears nearer the lights but much further down, still right hand side very odd as he then has to cut across to get into filter to go over Lothian road, he then jumps lights again not waiting for amber down into the grass market. From cowgate on he eludes me. He is a big lad and I can only assume he owns the place, he does not have impulsive youth on his side. Hard though as Lycra shorts in this weather. I fear he encourages others, such as woman I apologised for shouting at up at the top of this thread.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. SRD
    Moderator

    gembo - that is a bad sequence. i have never yet been through it without catching all those red lights too.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    @ SRD it is pointless to jump the red lights as the sequence slows you down, unless you bump the pavement which neither of the RLJs do, tho plenty others go for it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. gkgk
    Member

    I was walking today and standing patiently at the lights, waiting to walk over the road, I suddenly screamed at someone else who was walking dangerousy. YOU'RE GIVING US ALL A BAD NAME. For the drivers, I meant. I ought to have screamed about being in front still too.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. wingpig
    Member

    @gkgk A pedestrian crossing at a red man is not committing a crime.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. wee folding bike
    Member

    Has anyone else watched the BBC3 show about Barely Legal Drivers?

    I've been fairly shocked by the driving but they are teenagers and it's probably to be expected. I've been more surprised by the parental attempts to excuse their offspring and the former traffic cop who wasn't convinced that 100 mph at night on a wet road made the kid a bad driver or reading a map on a phone while on a Motorway might not be completely unacceptable.

    I know they will be playing up to the cameras and it's BBC TV so it might be a wee bit made up.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rrxyw/Barely_Legal_Drivers_Tommy_and_Chantelle/

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. gkgk
    Member

    @wingpig You are right, I do agree but still..

    "You are committing a crime! Yes, I know, it's not the single most dangerous thing on the roads and logically there are way bigger things for me to focus on and I may later question whether bad cycling is something to discourage as if it were more dangerous than "good" driving, but you are committing a crime and you are in my self-declared subgroup that I just started and you didn't ask to join so here you are, have some aggro."

    Anyway, there you are. Just my ham sociologist perspective, subject to whim-like variation. Not a very firmly held view, possibly erroneous.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    Jumping red lights is an unnecessary risk, it doesn't get you anywhere more quickly than if you wait with the other losers. You run the risk of meeting another RLJer coming the other way. Even if you jump every single red light on my route I am still behind you shaking my head in wonder at how you can be so stupid but I don't often say anything unless provoked.

    I am more easily provoked by almost being hit by cars but even there I am trying to be a bit more zen.

    There are some shocking walkers who really should wear helmets and hi-viz, can't walk in straight line, do not shoulder check before stepping into the road just because they can't hear anything, marathon winter tyres were good for alerting them

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. Focus
    Member

    gkgk,

    You have me confused. First, you agree with wingpig that it's not a crime, then you immediately seem to be saying it is! Am I reading you wrong?

    Unless the law has changed without me knowing, a pedestrian crossing is advisory for pedestrians, and therefore "disobeying" the signals is not illegal. Of course, if in doing so, that pedestrian is involved in an accident, they will more than likely be held liable.

    So, they may be stupid, selfish or irresponsible, depending on the result, but they are not automatically criminals for doing so. If I can safely cross without stopping the traffic approaching in the distance, I will more than likely do so, including when I'm at a cycle crossing, unless the approaching vehicle has just risked my safety earlier as has happened before <evil grin>! Other than that, no point in needlessly holding up traffic.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. gkgk
    Member

    @Focus. I can understand the confusion. I agreed with the plain fact about pedestrians not committing a crime, but disagreed with the importance of the distinction or whether the distinction was a logical reason to shout at people. Gembo has it about right, I think, in seeking a zen cycle journey - for me, whether dafties wheeling through the red lights gain or lose time (and their legal status in doing so) should not really be of any great interest, though I have to focus to maintain this sometimes. More bikes, even thousands paddling through red lights, makes central Edinburgh safer than having just a few of us juggling with even the best-driven skip/bin lorries.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. Focus
    Member

    Ok, I'm a little less confused now! ;-)

    I agree that gembo has it right. I'll certainly have a go at a pedestrian doing something dangerous, often have a word with a RLJ cyclist (for all the good it actually seems to do!) and find it hard to contain my composure with dangerous drivers. In essence, my response tends to correlate directly with the perceived risk to my well-being.

    I understand those who say, "Just let it go, be calm and carry on", but what message does that send to those who are dangerous? They'll just continue to be soYes, you risk them being more stupid because they don't want to be told what to do my some "idiot on a bike", but you might just make them think twice in future.

    I've only once had a motorist stop in front of me and apologise for passing too close (nearly fainted in shock!), compared to dozens of occasions when I've been threatened with physical violence (and once punched in the head by a coach driver). Was it worth it to maybe only re-educate one driver? Who knows.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. Tulyar
    Member

    @Focus I had that in London once a car driver pulled left in to my path to avoid slower moving traffic in the outer lane and I fended off the car with a gloved hand. The driver chased after me ... and apologised. I was expecting a big 'issue'- nearly fell off my bike.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. Focus
    Member

    My incident was heading west on the A985 in Fife, a notorious spot for high speed close passes in my experience. The driver did it just before the railway bridge over the road. I signalled he should have pulled out further and saw the car turn right, up towards Crossford (Waggon Road).

    Up to that point, I hadn't decided which route I was taking but ended up turning right too, not expecting to actually catch the car, but it stopped within seconds of making the turn. The driver got out and I was preparing for the usual tirade, only to get, "Sorry, I didn't realise I was so close". I slowed enough to explain how much more dangerous it is compared to how it may appear and that was the end of it.

    He passed me again, this time completely over the centre line, and I tried to convince myself it had actually happened. Hopefully one driver with a new appreciation.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  22. gkgk
    Member

    Th eonly thing I miss about driving, pretty much, is the pleasure of getting all four wheels over the white line when passing bikes. I can't comprehend people driving by as if the bike isn't there, or those ones who swing out wide after they've passed!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  23. gembo
    Member

    I was out today going down to sea level at Bo'ness before climbing over thebathgate alps then up to balerno in prep for actual alps. With companion we were often two abreast, got a nice toot from a chap in a four by four when the road was clear in both directions. He was indicating we should not be two abreast. We gave him the big thumbs up, fortunately he could not hear what I was saying, also I cannot repeat it due to the rules of this forum, both of them. That was nothing, compared to the punishment pass by the guy in the range rover on the A70. Our margins are tight and yet, what a great ride today. Serenity, tranquility and peace.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  24. Focus
    Member

    "or those ones who swing out wide after they've passed!"

    Ah yes, "the barn door pass" as I've christened it - as in bolting the barn door after the horse has bolted. Had one of those today.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  25. Focus
    Member

    Also today, the stupid woman in her little blue car who insisted on tailgating me for about 200m as I was approaching the Gogar Roundabout on South Gyle Broadway. The other lanes were empty but she refused to pass even when I looked back for a second (or was it the third?!) time and signalled her to make the move, which she could easily have done without cutting me up.

    Instead, she waited till I was committed to taking the slip road towards the Bypass (fortunately my intention anyway) before passing, presumably because it it the width of 2 lanes even though it's one!

    They do teach and test overtaking, don't they?

    Posted 11 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin