Red Light Runners

[slowpoke]

and again, i agree with shaunh

[shaunh]

 

and again' date=' i agree with shaunh

[/quote']

 

Thanks slowpoke....

 

................the cheque is in the mail!!

[mallo]

Buckstopper Pity you know little about Kiwi he need not hang on for dear life with the group he can easily sit upfront with Andrew and the boys but chooses to ride where he does.Do some research on New Zealand cycling then you would get an idea of who he is.

[linnega]

I'm with Slowpoke on the red light issue (here it comes - the but part) BUT ...

there are times' date=' like when our group is stopped at a red light towards the end of our ride, when the roads start getting busy (read Jan Smuts/Willam Nicoll) and we are being crowded by vehicles, I push off long before the light changes and to hell with the glares I get. I will not compromise my safety by being involved in the dash to cross the road when the light first changes.

So, the point is, sometimes for the sake of safety you HAVE to go through a red light!
[/quote']

Since commuting in heavy traffic is where I spend most of my riding time, this is the case for me almost always.  It is always safest to cross the intersection first (whether the light is green or red is largely irrelevant).  It is always safest to be visible at the front of a queue of cars.  For the sake of placating a few motorists that would probably still hate cyclists anyway, the choice to run the light is easy to make.

linnega2007-11-08 03:28:44

[MichaelH]

 

I'm with Slowpoke on the red light issue (here it comes - the but part) BUT ...

 

there are times' date=' like when our group is stopped at a red light towards the end of our ride, when the roads start getting busy (read Jan Smuts/Willam Nicoll) and we are being crowded by vehicles, I push off long before the light changes and to hell with the glares I get. I will not compromise my safety by being involved in the dash to cross the road when the light first changes.

 

So, the point is, sometimes for the sake of safety you HAVE to go through a red light!

[/quote']

Since commuting in heavy traffic is where I spend most of my riding time, this is the case for me almost always.  It is always safest to cross the intersection first (whether the light is green or red is largely irrelevant).  It is always safest to be visible at the front of a queue of cars.  For the sake of placating a few motorists that would probably still hate cyclists anyway, the choice to run the light is easy to make.

 

My point exactly! Well put!

 

[Pantani]

OK... Then I all for being safe and jumping the red light before anyone else does! 

[Mudsimus]

This is why you should'nt run a red light....

[linnega]

No - that's why you shouldn't jump a red light without looking first.

[widget]

This is my view.

 

If you are alone at 5 am in the morning on route to meet a bunch on the corner' date=' Stop at a red light and if it is safe proceed, but come to a complete stop first.

 

If you are an A bunch group riding at 5am (20-30 riders) then it is NOT a safety issue. PLEASE STOP AND ADHERE THE RULES OF THE ROAD.

 

Whats the rush, it's a training ride. If you have to get to work on time ride earlier. There is simply no excuse!!!

[/quote']

 

I wasnt going to comment here, but this post made just perfect sense.

 

Jumping lights is not on, I dont care what time it is, who you are, what group you ride in (I still dont see the relevance of the "A" group here) where you are going, how many years you have been on this route - its irrelevant - Stopping at lights is "the right thing to do" - its like paying your TV license.!!

 

Living in a glass house, you are not entitled to throw stones.!!

 

[scotty]

Precisely, use your noggin when approaching a light. Our ride group will not go thru if there is any hint that its not safe, then as we do go thru we each shout clear or not clear so that those following know whether to stop or not. Usually we find drivers approaching will stop for us and wave us through, and are happy with a friendly thank you wave.

[Mudsimus]

. Our ride group will not go thru if there is any hint that its not safe' date='[/quote']

 

The light being red is a pretty good hint that its not safe....

[AndreZA]

This is why you should'nt run a red light....

 

And if I don't ride Cerv?lo?

 

 

[Mudsimus]

Then you're frame wont fall apart halfway across the intersection.

[racman]

Hey hold on - isn't that one of those they replaced under warranty ?!!!

something fishy fishy there !!! racman2007-11-08 04:10:20

[Pantani]

Hmmm... Why alcohol consumption could be bad for your health... Not everybody does, and those who do would exercise moderation and others not. Ultimately, it could kill you...

 

Liver Disease

http://uimc.discoveryhospital.com/shared/enc/Images/GI-25.jpg

 

Heart Disease

http://www.som.tulane.edu/classware/pathology/medical_pathology/McPath/GR_Heart/Heart8.jpg

 

[widget]

Simon Fourie, editor of BIKE SA and presents a tv show on motor bikes etc, has never been one to mince his words and he has said repeatedly,

 

"Motorcyclists MUST learn to obey the rules of the road, you WILL live longer, be healthier and save a lot of family drama."

 

I think we could just adapt this slightly to read "CYCLISTS..............."

 

He also had a little comment the other day and said - "EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED, even if you are in the right of way, that car is not going to stop at that suberban stop street, the driver has lived there for 40 years and he has NEVER stopped at the sign, if you dont EXPECT him to stop you wont get side swiped or worse - ride defensively, be visible and live longer.!

 

Again ,I think we can just substitute "CYCLIST" and it applies to us as well.