"I must have run more than a dozen red lights today. I also biked the wrong way down two one-block stretches. I went on the sidewalk twice, but I would not have done so had there been a pedestrian nearby. I scared no pedestrians. I posed no more to risk to myself or anybody than had I been a pedestrian doing the same thing. And I did stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.
What's more, like it or not, I'm not going to stop running red lights. Nor am I going to stop walking against don't walk sign. Condemn me if you want. But them's the facts.
So now, that I've got that out the way, what are we going to do about it? Encourage a civil society rather than a mindless rule-based society. The problem isn't bikes running red lights. The problem is bikes going too fast in front of pedestrians crossing with the light (which also happens when bikes turn with the light, by the way).
What does "yield to pedestrians" mean? Can I cross the same crosswalk that a pedestrian is in? Of course. But should I zoom right in front of a pedestrian even if there's no contact. No. That makes you an asshole.
In too many bikers' minds, the comfort zone of pedestrians gets no consideration. That might be safe, but it's not right.
Bicyclists need to realize that pedestrians want and deserve a little more distance than is absolutely necessary for physical safety. It might be safe to zoom one foot in front of a walking person. But it's rude. Startling pedestrians is wrong. And as a bicyclist, I make a point to never startle to pedestrian that is in the right.
We should encourage bicyclists to be respectful. Don't cross right in front of pedestrians no matter what. Right is right. Running red lights has nothing to do with it.
And I just have to mention that pedestrians who run red lights pose serious danger to bicyclists and themselves. But I don't want to start a non-jaywalking campaign. I just want pedestrians to not walk in front of me when I have the green light."
I'm against running red lights myself - based on several experiences with out of control cyclists riding the wrong way and running red lights. Gregory, on the other hand, goes through any red light as long as it seems safe. I do think Astoria Bike has a great point here though, cyclists should be respectful and do what's safest, whether that follows the 'law' or not.
Posts
12 comments:
I no longer run red lights. Mostly because I feel that I cannot preach the gospel of safe cycling if I'm a lawbreaker.
THAT SAID, I do have one one way street I ride down the wrong way - my own. Only because I live off a very dangerous avenue that I refuse to ride on, and I live on a quiet side street... I'll ride the one block home daily.
It's the only lawbreaking I do on the bike now.
I just want to point out the high tone of sarcasm that may have been missed on you. My opinion... Fuck red lights. I will take any chance I can to SAFELY pass though any intersection partly so that I am not a SITTING TARGET for some half brained motorist on their cell phone and partly because I enjoy my entropy. I do not support running into pedestrians just as I do not recommend running into parked cars, moving cars, trash cans, or broken bottles.
If you choose to move through an unprotected intersection... have your wits about you and do your best to hit some bitches toy dog. After all, would you want to clean up it's blood?
I missed the sarcasm and I wrote the damn thing.
Anyone who thinks that safe bike riding is synonymous with following traffic laws is a fool (or doesn't bike in NYC). If you preach bike safety, please preach bike safety. That's not the same as obeying traffic regulations. Ask this girl.
I don't defend dangerous bike riding. I defend breaking motor vehicle regulations when 1) you're not on a motor vehicle and 2) it's safe.
I wonder if bicyclists who stop at red lights for no good reason also come to a full stop at stop signs? What's the difference?
Personally, my riding style brings me to a full stop at all red lights and stop signs. I stop before the crosswalk, look both ways and continue through a stop sign only after I'm sure there isn't anyone coming.
I do this because I was standing on a corner in the East Village one night, a few years ago and saw a Fixster fly through a red light just as a cab came out of nowhere and sped into the intersection. The cab slammed on his brakes, the bike hit the car and the rider flew through the air like a rag doll. It was TERRIFYING to see what happens when you run a red and you think that no one is coming, but then suddenly there is a many ton steel beast...
I suppose that if I were a more aggressive rider, I might run 'safe' reds, but I'm always thinking about a kid running out in front of me or a sudden car appearing like that cab I saw or something else...
Some call me a worrier - but I really enjoying riding this way, for me it's more relaxing. And I'm never in a hurry to get anywhere on my bike.
But, again, that's just my riding style. I even slow down just a little and look both ways at all intersections, because I'm so used to seeing bicycles racing through without stopping and riding the wrong way - that I never know what's going to happen if I just roll through an intersection.
Michael,
I applaud your safe riding. I probably should ride more like you.
But I'm really glad to see that you're not morally opposed to breaking traffic rules. That's my main point. That traffic rules are not there for bicyclists. But all bicyclists should ride safely and respect others.
p.s. do you live in a neighborhood with a lot of stop signs? How many four-way stop signs to you have stop at before you might just glide through them all, assuming there's nobody coming?
if bike culture is what one craves, then obeying the traffic laws is what one must do.
it's simple really. morons who run red lights and shit all over the hard work bike culture advocates do, should not be applauded nor respected.
That's funny, because I don't crave bike culture. I crave riding my bike without getting killed. And in places with good bike culture, like say Amsterdam, bikes don't obey traffic laws.
Because traffic laws aren't for bikes. And the more bike culture there is, the more people realize that fact. And the more bikes there are, the safer it is for bikes. It's got nothing do to with following laws meant for cars.
Besides, if it weren't for critical mass and morons on bikes, T.A. would be considered radical and respected less. Isn't it good that T.A. can be considered a moderate voice of reason?
Think of how Malcolm X helped M.L.K. be considered more mainstream by providing a dangerous radical alternative.
On second thought, maybe I *do* crave bike culture. If that means everybody bikes. I write this from Amsterdam, where basically everybody bikes, nobody wears bike helmets, and most bikers run the lights (though it should be noted many more bikes stop at red lights here than did 10 years go). In Amsterdam, ironically and arguably, there is no bike culture. Maybe this is because everybody bikes.
as much as i would love to advise other bicyclists, all i can do is comment on the fine city of chicago. i bicycle defensively. this means that i cannot trust vehicle operators or bicycle riders, for that matter, to obey traffic laws. just like i learned in driver's ed.
secondly, i agree with zakkaliciousness. bicycle advocates have worked years getting bicyclists the respect that we need on these car-centered roads. respecting traffic laws - especially when these laws state that you are a moving vehicle - is about getting cars to respect us and moving more and more toward harmony.
finally, it's good manners. it's funny. respecting the traffic laws as a bicyclist has made me a better pedestrian.
I object to the mere concept that you can be a "bad pedestrian." Really. Think about it.
Hmmm... I'm not sure. Aren't you a 'bad pedestrian' if you close your eyes and run out into traffic?
Or if you stand with your gaggle of friends in front of a bar and block the entire sidwalk?
Or if you wear crocs clogs?
lack of respect for others can occur anywhere - on four wheels, on two, on two feet, or on one's arse.
example: i typically walk two 100+lb bullies around chicago. if children or someone who seems tentative approaches, i pull my dogs into the parkway or close to the curb so that the others feel comfortable passing. while i know that my bullies won't harm them, they don't.
example: i used to jay walk all the time - standing within 12 inches of passing cars when they had the green. my standing there was actually in the bicyclists' path. so, now i wait for my green and cross. it's all about sharing space.
Post a Comment