Endemic disregard of red lights on the CS3

This is something that has been perplexing me for a while. I cycle to and from work on the CS3 every day and on the section between Poplar and Tower Hill almost every cyclist ignores every single red light. I sometimes feel a complete numpty being the only one stopped at the lights while everyone else sails through.

Now I accept totally that having spent the last 7 years cycling in Munich probably does make me more prone to road discipline than most people. But how can it be safe for cyclists, often without lights or helmets, to cycle through red lights and in to the path of oncoming traffic at Dock Road for example?

Replies

Totally agree with you guys, see this other thread where disucssion was taking place.

http://lcc.org.uk/discussions/red-light-means-stop-to-all-road-users

Odd, the time stamps on my replie is wrong, so it look slike i commented before veloWaterloo????

LCC, sort your forums!

I have just completed two theory parts to my motorcycle license and so I am fairly well briefed and re-aquainted with the Highway Code and the dos-and-don'ts for two wheeled safety in London. Like bellthecat I am absolutely bemused by the number of cyclists festooned in safety gear from helmet to ankle reflectors who regularly jump lights or ignore their own safety by jumping lights at busy junctions and narrowly avoid serious injury or worse.We cyclists come off badly against the motor vehicle in every form of crash and I really cannot understand why cyclists keep increasing the likely odds of a serious accident happening to them by ignoring the highway code when it is there, in the main, to keep you safe.
  • By idkwia at 10:23pm 26 Oct 2011

I could not agree more with the comments thus far on this thread. It should be said that there are numerous places in London where cyclists ignore red traffic lights and let us be fair this is an outrage. How can cyclists expect to be safe as well as command the respect of other road users if they completely disrespect the rules of the road? It seems to me that the only way this can be stopped is to licence cyclists which of course would contravene one of the joys of cycling but they would only have themselves to blame.

What sort of example does this send out to young children cyclists?

I note that this website is campaigning agianst the "lethal lorry", maybe they should campaign against "lethal cyclists".

I wrote to the email address shown on this site on 18/10/11, raising the issue of cyclists ignoring red lights but as yet I haven't even had the courtesy of an acknowledgmement let alone a considered reply.

This post was edited by idkwia at 10:37pm 26 Oct 2011.

Red light jumping sends wrong signals all around.

 

(Idkwia - 18-10 11 the office was empty most of week because of campaigning priorities. If you are still unhappy, copy to me, perhaps? charles@lcc.org.uk - where I have some vouluntary involvement.)

Charles,

I would take the comments as from idkwia and use them to promote that LCC revamp this forum. Inlcude more mods to monitor posts and change the format to a more friendly style (I think the old style forums are better).

Rgds,

BG

I do not 'obey' red lights, I treat them as advice.

As an London commuter for 20 years, I think I know what's safest for me.

I will claim self-defence as my reason for crossing a junction as and when it is safe.

I don't fly through without care. I don't buzz in front of pedestrians.

I don't care what you think of me - I know the law and it is not appropriate in all circumstances.

I will continue to cross junctions at red lights with courtesy and caution - I don't want to be around when the truck turns left or the cars start barging each other.

I'm too fragile for that - I'd rather explain to a Copper than have a Copper explain to my family.

David

This post was edited by noredlightsimacyclist at 07:24pm 01 Nov 2011.

  • By idkwia at 12:27am 11 Nov 2011

David (noredlightsimacyclist), imagine what would happen if all road users took your attitude?

To put it mildy, you are a complete idiot and your attitude stinks and it is morons like you who not only put the safety of other road users at risk but you also give cyclists a bad name.

  • By paul at 09:59pm 19 Nov 2011

I saw another cyclist going through red on CS3 last week and thought "idiot". Then I waited for green,,,,and waited ......

After a few cycles of the lights when I was clear that the system had not detected me I too went through on red. (and sent a message to TFL)

  • By peter39 at 10:02am 20 Nov 2011
The LCC should not countenance members openly saying they break the law with regard to red lights. Using the safety argument is rubbish. You will always be safer obeying a red light than not. We're not talking about going a yard or two over the stop line to achieve better road position, we're talking about travelling across junctions against the flow of other traffic which has a green light. I challenge the LCC to insist all members obey red lights, and remove membership from those that advocate on this forum otherwise.

>> David noredlightsimacyclist), imagine what would happen if all road users took your attitude? <<

They do - that's the point of this thread. Well I suspect a lot of them don't put as much thought in to it as David does but they clearly feel it's safe to cross and are simply sick of the incessant artificial delays that traffic lights in London appear to be programmed to force upon us. 

In a similar way that I won't treat a green light as perfectly safe to cross I won't treat a red light as completely unsafe to cross.  What is legal isn't always the safest - as the poor people at Bow have found out to their cost.

David, the point on the CS3 is that there are fr the most part separate light systems for cyclists (several operated by buttons that should be activated). Yet every morning ad every evening the majority of cyclists, yes the majority, do not bother stoppig at any of these junctions and often cars have to stop and wait for cyclists breaking the law. It is an absolute flipping disgrace and it amazes me that the police, who set up on dock street once every few months to register bikes, do not a thing about it.

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