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Cyclists going through red traffic lights

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As a pedestrian, how many times have you waited at a set of traffic lights for the signal to cross, then just when you are about to some idiot on a bicycle goes through them completely ignoring the fact that the lights are red and they nearly run you over in the process?

I travel to work in London by train every day, which in itself is a nightmare of a trip.  However things get much worse once I'm in the city and on the ten or fifteen minute walk that takes me to the office.  Where I work near Farringdon there is busy intersection where two main roads meet and without fail, every time the lights change to red some cyclist has to try and sneak through at the last minute because they haven't got the patience or good manners to wait and let people cross.

Car drivers are pretty bad for this and the ones who get it really wrong end up parked actually on the crossing because they misjudged the traffic flow and didn't get as far as they thought they would.  Then they stare at you as you try to negotiate your way around the obstruction with a look of disgust because you have inconvenienced them by wishing to cross the road.

A cyclist going through traffic lights on red A cyclist going through traffic lights on red

My real pet hate however is cyclists, especially in cities such as London or Oxford.  Where do they get off thinking the rules don't apply to them and that they can just go through traffic lights whenever it suits them?  As if that isn't bad enough, you will regularly find cyclists using the footpath as a cycle lane or wobbling around changing direction whenever they feel like it without any attempt to indicate.

The bottom line is, a pedestrian crossing is just what it says it is, a place where pedestrians should be allowed to cross safely.  So come on cyclists, use your head and please pay the rest of us some consideration.


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First Prev 1/11 Next Last

SpeedyCreedy2005

SpeedyCreedy2005

I totally agreed im a cyclist myself and the amount of that jump thought Red Traffic lights is diabolicall. Where I live in Stowmarket they do that All the time even busses fo it as well it ridiculous. They take chance and go through at last min. Come.
17/08/18 SpeedyCreedy2005
1
Kiwi

Kiwi

Not all cyclists jump red lights but I've seen plenty that do. Many cyclists think that a red light doesn't apply to them. It would serve them right if they got hit by another vehicle. I have been cycling on main roads for 20 years and I have NEVER gone through a red light (not yet anyway).
31/10/14 Kiwi
0
FuP

FuP

Did you stamp your foot when you wrote that and say "there, that showed him"?

Bye Fred
30/08/14 FuP
0
Fred E

Fred E

The original gripe is about cyclists going through red lights. You say a cyclist could avoid red lights by going on a railway line. I think you will find that railway lines have signals on them that use red lights therefore you would be wrong (again).
30/08/14 Fred E
0
FuP

FuP

Good evening Fred.

"I think that you will find lots of similar incidents where pedestrians have caused problems trespassing on railway lines."

If I were interested I might find that. However, this is a thread about cyclists, and not pedestrians, so I am not going to look. If you find that subject interesting, why don’t you look and let me know?

As your answer regarding any comment about cyclists is to say what about....... the things that pedestrians/ motorists/ people on disability scooters or whoever do , why not start a gripe about those subjects, but stick to the topic of cyclists on this one?
30/08/14 FuP
0
Fred E

Fred E

I think that you will find lots of similar incidents where pedestrians have caused problems trespassing on railway lines.
30/08/14 Fred E
-1
pet

pet

In theory, I respect cyclists. In practice, the next courva that swerves off the road and plows into a pile of old ladies just to jump that red light needs to cycle into the front of a bus.
20/04/14 pet
0
Bums on Seats

Bums on Seats

I hate cyclists and their kit. Their Mekon helmets. Their lycra. Their stupid bikes. I hate them all.
17/04/14 Bums on Seats
0
Fred E

Fred E

I've only two good things to say about cyclists - Tight lycra and a fit guy's ass!
16/04/14 Fred E
0
Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

I think they mean that the police will not pass on the details. If that is the case it would make sense as you wouldn't want the two parties in dispute having direct contact as the situation could easily escalate. There's also the issue of data protection that prevents the police from releasing details prior to a formal disclosure process in law.
Not to mention that if people talk to each other they might actually resolve the issue so that the lawyers don't get a pay-day. Heaven forbid that should happen!!!
16/04/14 Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)
0
boblet

boblet

A. "I feel there is just something not right about all this". That is because there is something not quite right. Your letter does not seem quite right.
"The person who made the complaint will not give me his name or contact details" That statement is not quite right. Something is a bit wiffy in the State of Denmark.
16/04/14 boblet
0
Friday Lunchtime

Friday Lunchtime

Fair comment Samson, but the police already know he was at the scene. He's done nothing wrong, the cyclists have, and I think he should fight back.
16/04/14 Friday Lunchtime
0
Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)

Friday Lunchtime wrote...
"Go back to the police, express your views in writing, and see what happens."

I wouldn't recommend that personally. Once you put something in writing you formalise the process. Doing so also confirms your acceptance that you were at the scene etc. etc.

Don't build their case for them!

Also, don't put a sign on your car. It can be considered to be inflammatory and will work against you. You would be perceived to be 'anti-cyclist' and would cause more problems than it solves.
16/04/14 Samson (Delilah's too busy to post)
0
collar

collar

If the police were going to prosecute, they almost certainly would have done so by now. I agree with you that you should have not apologised if you had you may be in problems see the details of the case before responding, however if it is leaving a danger in the highway, depending on where you live, the cyclists could be considered a danger and with the riding abreast, the authorities should be able to dismiss any complaint. Some of these cyclists are nutcases. Tell others if they are going to ride past a group of these people, which behave dangerously, to make sure they have a large enough gap between them.

Do put a sign on you're car, saying cyclists ,don't mess with me or I will notify the police!
16/04/14 collar
0
Friday Lunchtime

Friday Lunchtime

"He says I was too close to his daughter who was on the outside of the group. "

As you say, from this statement they were not in single file, so breaking the law. If the daughter is a child, the father should be ashamed of himself for letting her cycle on the outside, in the most vulnerable position.

Go back to the police, express your views in writing, and see what happens. My guess is that will be the end of it.
16/04/14 Friday Lunchtime
0

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