Comments on: Turning Left Through A Red Light

By: Titfor tat

Titfor tat — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:56:44 +0000

I ride to and from a major city every day, experience all the usual bad habits from drivers and cyclists, I have had more near accidents with these nobby no brain cyclists who cycle straight through a red light, than with cars or buses, i’ve collided with cyclists on 2 occasions and of course they get agressive when challenged about their brainless manouvre. what is the answer, if a cyclist thinks they can go through a red when it is clear then so should drivers of motor vehicles. I ride every day all weathers for 4 years now and have obeyed the laws of the road and because of that really have enjoyed the cycling, I dont know the answer to stopping the NOBBY NO BRAINS going through red lights but would like to assist in a way to improve cycling so it will be safer for the next generation of young cyclists, to use the roads safetly, sensibly and enjoyably.

PS: anyone who can’t look behind or indicate properly on a bicycle, should NOT go on the public highway as they are a hazzard to everyone on the road .

By: tejvan

tejvan — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:42:41 +0000

Thanks for comments.

It seems most cyclists have had to deal with angry motorists; the only thing to do I guess is not to exacerbate the problem.

Alas, the police wouldn’t be interested I fear….

By: thePig

thePig — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:26:35 +0000

While on a tour in Swizterland, 6 of us were spread over a mountain pass. A car with some young hoons decided to put the handbrake on locking up the wheels and skidding the car at me. They did this to each of us in turn thinking it was some sort of game.

Luckily nothing serious happened, and fortunately for the driver we never saw the car again.

It is unfortunate that these things happen, but some people change completely once inside their metal box.

By: Dan H

Dan H — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:35:16 +0000

Yep, research in driver behaviour has shown that being angry has the same negative effect on driving ability as two pints. Angry people should not be in control of a ton of steel that moves at high speed, especially when they think it’s acceptable to use it as a weapon.

I know that as a cyclist the behaviour of other road users can irritate you just as much as when you’re driving. Once or twice I’ve even been annoyed to the point of making a gesture of disapproval. But I’ve never seen a cyclist express “road rage” by trying to kill anyone with his vehicle or use it to force anyone off the road.

Sorry to hear that you experienced this, but don’t blame yourself. As Brett shows, it can still happen even when you’re following the letter of the law. The only thing we can do is help to change the attitudes of the majority of drivers by ensuring our behaviour is always squeaky clean – then, everyone will come to accept that threatening and aggressive behaviour on the roads is completely unacceptable.

By: Brett Nolan

Brett Nolan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:03:43 +0000

I had a similar situation happen to my on my way to work last week. It didn’t have anything to do with filtering through a red light but I did have an angry driver feel the need to pound on his horn and yell at me.

I was riding down a “side” road that runs parallel to a main, 4-lane street. Both roads meet the same intersection, a stoplight for the main road and a stop sign for myself. I came to a stop ready to turn right and looked at both the lane turning into from the main road onto the same road I was turning on, and I checked the stoplight to see if the cars straight across had a green light. Neither was the case.

As I turned and started down the road, the light hind me clicked green and some traffic came across the main road onto the road I was on. One driver wanted to turn into a bank, but for the few seconds I was pedaling past the entrance I was blocking his ability to turn. So blast his horn, yell at me, loop around the parking lot back towards me and continue yelling. I just pretended I didn’t see him and kept going to work.

It was quite the experience for someone who is new to cycling around town!

By: ian

ian — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:48:56 +0000

When someone is angry like that the best thing to do is keep going as you did – you never know what they might do, regardless of the cause. Given the extreme anger/danger he caused, i’d have considered reporting him to the police later. Threatening behaviour – whatever the cause – isn’t acceptable. Sounds like dangerous driving too.