Do you stop for red lights?
Poll: Do you stop for red lights?
Total Members Polled: 279
Discussion
Now. I wanted to put 'absolutely, without fail' as that is my default position.
However.
There are a couple of sets of lights I know of where, if I approach when the light is red against me, it'll stay that way because I'm not a large enough influence to activate the sensor loop in the road, and at the times of night I tend to ride, given the low traffic volumes on these roads, it could be ten, twenty, forty minutes, even hours before a car will arrive to trip the sensor. So I proceed WITH EXTREME CAUTION as in the winter, sitting at a red light waiting to turn right is a recipe for either getting wiped out by cars approaching from behind, or getting into hypothermia from waiting in the cold.
The other exception is when the f
king tttish pedestrian has pushed the button, seen a gap before the lights change, and is long gone when the red light takes effect, or even when the bugger didn't need to push the button, due to there being next to no traffic, but decides to come the anyway. Depending upon what other traffic is about, I'm sometimes willing to run those particular red lights when I'm in my car too. When the boot is on the other foot, and I'm the pedestrian, if I push the PeLiCon crossing button I will have the decency to wait for the light before I cross the road, even if there is an opportunity beforehand. If there is one thing I try NOT to be, it's a fking hypocrite.
However.
There are a couple of sets of lights I know of where, if I approach when the light is red against me, it'll stay that way because I'm not a large enough influence to activate the sensor loop in the road, and at the times of night I tend to ride, given the low traffic volumes on these roads, it could be ten, twenty, forty minutes, even hours before a car will arrive to trip the sensor. So I proceed WITH EXTREME CAUTION as in the winter, sitting at a red light waiting to turn right is a recipe for either getting wiped out by cars approaching from behind, or getting into hypothermia from waiting in the cold.
The other exception is when the f
king tttish pedestrian has pushed the button, seen a gap before the lights change, and is long gone when the red light takes effect, or even when the bugger didn't need to push the button, due to there being next to no traffic, but decides to come the anyway. Depending upon what other traffic is about, I'm sometimes willing to run those particular red lights when I'm in my car too. When the boot is on the other foot, and I'm the pedestrian, if I push the PeLiCon crossing button I will have the decency to wait for the light before I cross the road, even if there is an opportunity beforehand. If there is one thing I try NOT to be, it's a fking hypocrite.yellowjack said:
The other exception is when the fking tttish pedestrian has pushed the button, seen a gap before the lights change, and is long gone when the red light takes effect, or even when the bugger didn't need to push the button, due to there being next to no traffic, but decides to come the anyway.
Same here. Though the only place I can remember doing it (a few times) is in Ascot, on the main road by the racecourse. For some reason the lights there are outrageously long (I suppose, for days when a race is on and they have thousands of people crossing to get to the course) so even if a person crosses, the traffic are left waiting there about a minute. Its on my return commute, its slightly uphill, and im usually pretty knackered by there, and cant be arsed to stop. Hilariously, Ascot Police Station is about 100 yards further along...king tttish pedestrian has pushed the button, seen a gap before the lights change, and is long gone when the red light takes effect, or even when the bugger didn't need to push the button, due to there being next to no traffic, but decides to come the anyway.I wouldn't dream of running a red on a junction though, or anywhere where other traffic/pedestrians are involved.
I remember a ride last month through Odiham village. Two fellas pressed the button for the crossing, and as I approached the lights went amber, so I looked at the pair of them and said something along the lines of "ah, come on fellas, give us a break?" and did my best 'I'm completely knackered' look. Being as there was no other traffic about, they waved me through with a cheeky "keep it up, young'un" as I passed. It amused me, and it was nice to interact pleasantly with two gents who realised how frustrating it can be to be held up when there's no real need. I would have stopped for the light quite happily if they hadn't clearly indicated I should go through the red, but we were the only three people in sight, so no-one else was harmed/endangered/inconvenienced by my going through on red. Communication and negotiation - the key to successfully sharing the roads (and sometimes a joke too) with ALL other road users 
When you ride the same route regularly, I think you learn which lights you can run and those you can't.
And for the record (not that makes it right) I don't do it when there are pedestrians trying or waiting to cross.
To be honest, I'm doing it less and less these days. That might be because on my particular commute there are very few you can go through safely and I see how it irritates other people. Plus there's more chance you'll get caught now.
And for the record (not that makes it right) I don't do it when there are pedestrians trying or waiting to cross.
To be honest, I'm doing it less and less these days. That might be because on my particular commute there are very few you can go through safely and I see how it irritates other people. Plus there's more chance you'll get caught now.
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