WHY CYCLISTS RUN RED LIGHTS

In this episode Chris takes to the streets to fine out what the general public thinks of wether cyclists should go through red lights at the traffic lights and explores some of the reasons they might do so.
leave your comments below as to what you would do.
if its nice a quiet, would you run through a red light on your bike?

#cycling #trafficlights

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[ShadowFalcon]

I commute on a bike, in Copenhagen.

I stop for red every single time.

Hell, I'm the kind of guy, as a pedestrian, who'll dutyfully wait for the signal to turn green at a pedestrian crossing, at 3 in the morning, with no one else around for as far as the eye can see.

Do I look stupid holding for red, in a completely empty intersections?

Sure.

But at least I'm predictable in traffic, which makes me safe.

[kjm-chjc]

If the sensor is not picking up the cyclist, get off the bike and walk across as a pedestrian, i do.

[forzamark]

Yes we should stop at red lights otherwise drivers will hate cyclists even more.

[themusette]

As the French rider said, here in France in some towns, you can 'filter right' ie turn right if it's clear. There's usually a small triangle sign under the light with a cyclist and arrows showing which directions are authorised (right only or straight on and right) but only if it is safe to do so. When I go through these, I usually point at the triangle sign just so the motorists understand what's going on.

[mclogged]

The tattoo cyclists argument that if it’s quiet and no traffic around then they don’t have to is fucking dumb. Are you going to say same goes for vehicles too. If it’s red then you have to stop. End of story.

[GarethBlears]

There's a railway bridge near me that is just wide enough for one car to pass, so there's lights near the top. There are pads (BTW, they are not pressure pads, they are basically big metal detectors under the road) before the lights but they don't detect bikes. I have literally waited 5 minutes before now without a car passing me in either direction. These days, after checking nothings coming, I'll roll though as fast as I can.

[Flux]

Well, you kind of said the reason yourself. I myself hate cyclists, who run red lights. And yes, im a cyclist myself.
I see it this way. If only the cyclist, and his bike, would get hurt, i wouldnt mind. Cause you run a risk, and you have to pay for it, if it goes wrong. But the problem is that its not only the cyclist who gets messed up. Most of the time car drivers get the blame aswell, and then they also need to get their cars fixed. And lets not talk about the poor lorry drivers. Here in Denmark we have WAY TO MANY cases with cyclists who get killed from lorries.
So yea, i think cyclists should stop at red lights. But i also think its a gray zone, cause we also have those pressure pads, and they dont always work that great.
In the long run its just not worth it running red lights. its the same with speeding. you need to go at "autobahn" speeds, before it pays of.

[drew]

Yes, absolutely cyclists need to obey the same traffic laws. Dead reds are and exception and are actually noted and legal in some traffic laws. If there are no cars coming and you think it is ok to cross on your bicycle, it should be equally ok to cross in a car as well, correct?
And keeping motorists from hating cyclists more has zero to do with anything.

[Skw-lincs]

Colorado (USA) just passed a law where cyclists are now allowed to go through a red light (AFTER stopping first though), but if all is clear you can ride through. Also at stop signs a cyclist is allowed to ride through without stopping. I think it's great and makes sense.

[LTFC]

The cycling tattooist! The 2 best cycling YouTubers in one video

[peteplastow]

If we want to share the road with cars, we MUST Obey the same rules!

[ShartedAgain]

I get near death experiences with delivery drivers every day when they run red lights, and proceed to briefly scream at me for “being in there way”

[andrewbennett]

Your on the road you have to obey the road laws

[DoctorVision]

Had an eejit on a bike delivering food once on my way back from uni. I was crossing on this road with a bit of a steep incline, the lights had changed but he came steaming through. Luckily for him I was looking where I was going and waited for him to pass but seconds later and I could have been injured at the speed he was coming. He got a few choice words but I don't think he heard me.

[triathlonfatfit]

Love the fact you got the cycling tattooist in your vid. Temp lights pick up anything moving at more than 10km from 60 m back so your wrong no pressure pads

[scottf]

Depends on the light . Sometimes even it's better to cross the intersection before the cars because there could be a pinch point and you tuck into a safe place without impeading traffic.

[nigelparkin]

I live in France, here there are signs on the traffic light with yellow arrows which tell the cyclists they are allowed to turn right, or even go straight on, through a red light.

Pedestrians don't have to obey a red pedestrian crossing light, they can use their own judgement, knowing that they will come off worst in a collision. There is no reason why cyclists can't make the same decision, which is effectively the situation in France.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

'Pressure pads'??! Really?
And you think the light could keep you waiting for an hour?
Hmmm ...
And if it's OK for the cyclist to sneak through on some occasions, I suppose it would be fine for the car to do the same?

[woodythemuss]

I Light Spells Danger is an absolute banger! Roxanne is fantastic as a drinking game!

[OnYourLeft]

Where I live, cyclists must stop, but once stopped, may proceed through the red light if the other light or the walk signal goes through two cycles while waiting.

But that doesn't stop some cyclists from just blatantly blowing through the red lights and stop signs as if they don't apply.

Stopping for red and for stop signs makes you stronger. A lot stronger.