Cycling: red lights

thelawnet

I was riding my bike today, on a three-lane road, congested. I filtered between lanes 1 and 2, and up ahead was a pelican crossing with the traffic light red. I could see pedestrians crossing, so I slowed down, so by the time I reached the light, the road was clear, and I continued past the stop line with the light still red.

A car driver, waiting at the light, expressed his irritation by beeping his horn at me (at least I think he was, I can't be sure; lots of car drivers seemed to be beeping their horns today - it was school run time, and everybody is full of rage).

Should I have waited? If so, why?

Sgt_Pepper_2

Yes you should have.

Twice in two days.

withabix

Of course not.

Everybody knows that no laws whatsoever apply to cyclists.

GolfBravo

thelawnet wrote: »

Should I have waited? If so, why?

Because the law (AKA the Highway Code) says so.

Torry_Quine

You really need to ask! :eek: Red means stop for all road users.

no_more_cards_for_me

Nobody on the crossing so no danger but I would of waited.

Guess on a 3 lane road you wanted to get ahead of the traffic and give yourself a little space before the traffic light grand prix ?

Good idea but still a red so have to wait.

Take care out there and safe riding

thelawnet

GolfBravo wrote: »

Because the law (AKA the Highway Code) says so.

It also says http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304

"You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle (see the table above)."

I don't see people paying much attention to that. Well, very loose, anyway.

Nor these rules:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070314

DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

• approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
• where the road narrows
• when you would force another road user to swerve or slow down
• at a level crossing
• stay behind if you are following a cyclist approaching a roundabout or junction, and you intend to turn left

DO NOT overtake if there is any doubt, or where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe. For example, when you are approaching

• a corner or bend
• a hump bridge
• the brow of a hill

From what I can see 90%+ of the people on the road do NOT adhere to the Highway Code. Maybe they follow bits of it, but only the bits that suit them.

I don't go shaking my fist at every driver passing me at 40mph adjacent to a junction, causing oncoming traffic to have to brake/swerve, I'm genuinely confused why the driver today got so upset about me getting out of his way.

Ho hum.

Notmyrealname

thelawnet wrote: »

I was riding my bike today, on a three-lane road, congested. I filtered between lanes 1 and 2, and up ahead was a pelican crossing with the traffic light red. I could see pedestrians crossing, so I slowed down, so by the time I reached the light, the road was clear, and I continued past the stop line with the light still red.

A car driver, waiting at the light, expressed his irritation by beeping his horn at me (at least I think he was, I can't be sure; lots of car drivers seemed to be beeping their horns today - it was school run time, and everybody is full of rage).

Should I have waited? If so, why?

You should have waited because the red light applies to all vehicles. Had a police officer seen you you'd have got a £60FPN and if you had a driving licence, possibly 3 points as well for contravention of a red light.

In London they specifically have police officers targetting cyclists for jumping red lights.

waynedance

You need to read the highway code book before going on your bike again.

NiallB

thelawnet wrote: »

It also says http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304

"You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle (see the table above)."

I don't see people paying much attention to that. Well, very loose, anyway.

Nor these rules:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070314

DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

• approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
• where the road narrows
• when you would force another road user to swerve or slow down
• at a level crossing
• stay behind if you are following a cyclist approaching a roundabout or junction, and you intend to turn left

DO NOT overtake if there is any doubt, or where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe. For example, when you are approaching

• a corner or bend
• a hump bridge
• the brow of a hill

From what I can see 90%+ of the people on the road do NOT adhere to the Highway Code. Maybe they follow bits of it, but only the bits that suit them.

I don't go shaking my fist at every driver passing me at 40mph adjacent to a junction, causing oncoming traffic to have to brake/swerve, I'm genuinely confused why the driver today got so upset about me getting out of his way.

Ho hum.

"Yeah but everybody else does it your honour" is not a recognised legal defence....

thelawnet

Notmyrealname wrote: »

You should have waited because the red light applies to all vehicles. Had a police officer seen you you'd have got a £60FPN and if you had a driving licence, possibly 3 points as well for contravention of a red light.

In London they specifically have police officers targetting cyclists for jumping red lights.

In London they have police officers targetting cyclists for riding on the pavement too.

Around here I've seen the police riding on the pavement.

They ask whether, if a tree falls in the woods with no one there to hear it, it makes a sound. As far as I can tell, most people have a similar attitude to speed limits - if there's no policeman/camera there to see them doing it, they didn't break the limit.

But we all know that they did, and do it every day, sometimes for hours on end.

The reality is, if you're breaking the speed limit you probably won't get caught (and there are plenty on here/elsewhere who will defend speeding), and likewise with pretty much any other law.

The difference however, and there is an error in your OP, is that it is a £30 FPN, not £60, and NO points on driving licence for cycling offences.

By contrast, motorists who speed (nearly everybody, in other words) risk possible banning (losing their job, often), more substantial fines and insurance premium loading.

The £30 FPN for cycling offences is no more than an annoyance, in comparison.