Are bikes allowed to go through red lights on major roads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason cyclists can go faster than drivers is because drivers are stopping at stop signs and cyclists are not. How is that a good thing? It’s against the law (look at the specifics of how Idaho stops are supposed to work) and it’s really dangerous. I drive and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to slam on the breaks to avoid some idiot on a bike flying through an intersection where they absolutely did not have the right of way.

Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because it’s too physically taxing to constantly stop and start like a car and it will slow them way down.

But if they’re going to be killed in a place like Washington DC, it’s probably going to be at an intersection by a driver who never saw them coming.

Its also the reality that signals and signs are to control cars. If there were no cars on the road, bikes and pedestrians would not have to stop. They move at a human scale, and existed just fine without controls prior to cars being everywhere.

Without controls, cars crash into each other, busses, trains, cyclists, pedestrians and even buildings. We "punish" other forms of transportation because of how out of control cars get.

I think what you’re really trying to say is that cyclists should not be subject to any laws and requirements whatsoever. Rules are for other people right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason cyclists can go faster than drivers is because drivers are stopping at stop signs and cyclists are not. How is that a good thing? It’s against the law (look at the specifics of how Idaho stops are supposed to work) and it’s really dangerous. I drive and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to slam on the breaks to avoid some idiot on a bike flying through an intersection where they absolutely did not have the right of way.

Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because it’s too physically taxing to constantly stop and start like a car and it will slow them way down.

But if they’re going to be killed in a place like Washington DC, it’s probably going to be at an intersection by a driver who never saw them coming.

This is the real answer. Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because that would be inconvenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason cyclists can go faster than drivers is because drivers are stopping at stop signs and cyclists are not. How is that a good thing? It’s against the law (look at the specifics of how Idaho stops are supposed to work) and it’s really dangerous. I drive and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to slam on the breaks to avoid some idiot on a bike flying through an intersection where they absolutely did not have the right of way.

Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because it’s too physically taxing to constantly stop and start like a car and it will slow them way down.

But if they’re going to be killed in a place like Washington DC, it’s probably going to be at an intersection by a driver who never saw them coming.

Its also the reality that signals and signs are to control cars. If there were no cars on the road, bikes and pedestrians would not have to stop. They move at a human scale, and existed just fine without controls prior to cars being everywhere.

Without controls, cars crash into each other, busses, trains, cyclists, pedestrians and even buildings. We "punish" other forms of transportation because of how out of control cars get.

I think what you’re really trying to say is that cyclists should not be subject to any laws and requirements whatsoever. Rules are for other people right?

DP. Stop lights and stop signs exist because of cars. There were no stop lights or stop signs before cars. They weren't needed.

Last week in Laurel, a man asleep in his bedroom was killed by a driver. You can't do that on a bike. You can only do that in a car.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/laurel-man-heartbroken-after-sudden-death-of-father-in-laurel-apartment-crash/3412539/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason cyclists can go faster than drivers is because drivers are stopping at stop signs and cyclists are not. How is that a good thing? It’s against the law (look at the specifics of how Idaho stops are supposed to work) and it’s really dangerous. I drive and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to slam on the breaks to avoid some idiot on a bike flying through an intersection where they absolutely did not have the right of way.

Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because it’s too physically taxing to constantly stop and start like a car and it will slow them way down.

But if they’re going to be killed in a place like Washington DC, it’s probably going to be at an intersection by a driver who never saw them coming.

This is the real answer. Cyclists don’t want to obey stop signs because that would be inconvenient.

Drivers also don't want to obey stop signs because that would be inconvenient.

Also, the data show that stop-as-yield for bicyclists improves safety.

Can you please provide two examples of recent fatal crashes in this region involving a bicyclist who failed to stop at a stop sign at an intersection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine what it would be like if cycling was actually popular in DC?

PARIS — On a recent afternoon, the Rue de Rivoli looked like this: Cyclists blowing through red lights in two directions. Delivery bike riders fixating on their cellphones. Electric scooters careening across lanes. Jaywalkers and nervous pedestrians scrambling as if in a video game.

Sarah Famery, a 20-year resident of the Marais neighborhood, braced for the tumult. She looked left, then right, then left and right again before venturing into a crosswalk, only to break into a rant-laden sprint as two cyclists came within inches of grazing her.

“It’s chaos!” exclaimed Ms. Famery, shaking a fist at the swarm of bikes that have displaced cars on the Rue de Rivoli ever since it was remade into a multilane highway for cyclists last year. “Politicians want to make Paris a cycling city, but no one is following any rules,” she said. “It’s becoming risky just to cross the street!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/02/world/europe/paris-bicyles-france.html#:~:text=In%20Paris%2C%20parts%20of%20the,bike%20lanes%20weave%20through%20traffic.

There is an unfortunate culture among cyclists where they ignore traffic laws. It’s not that big of deal here because so few people ride bikes. But as this suggests it would be a major problem if cycling ever caught on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine what it would be like if cycling was actually popular in DC?

PARIS — On a recent afternoon, the Rue de Rivoli looked like this: Cyclists blowing through red lights in two directions. Delivery bike riders fixating on their cellphones. Electric scooters careening across lanes. Jaywalkers and nervous pedestrians scrambling as if in a video game.

Sarah Famery, a 20-year resident of the Marais neighborhood, braced for the tumult. She looked left, then right, then left and right again before venturing into a crosswalk, only to break into a rant-laden sprint as two cyclists came within inches of grazing her.

“It’s chaos!” exclaimed Ms. Famery, shaking a fist at the swarm of bikes that have displaced cars on the Rue de Rivoli ever since it was remade into a multilane highway for cyclists last year. “Politicians want to make Paris a cycling city, but no one is following any rules,” she said. “It’s becoming risky just to cross the street!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/02/world/europe/paris-bicyles-france.html#:~:text=In%20Paris%2C%20parts%20of%20the,bike%20lanes%20weave%20through%20traffic.

There is an unfortunate culture among cyclists where they ignore traffic laws. It’s not that big of deal here because so few people ride bikes. But as this suggests it would be a major problem if cycling ever caught on

Oh, it's the poster whose hobby is anti-bicyclist bigotry, again. I'm out. Feel free to talk to yourself.

[Anonymous]

I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

The unfortunate reality is that while I am sure you mean well, a cyclist did not “come out of nowhere” - you just need to work on your situational awareness. You’re off to a good start in that you realize there are cyclists going through the four way stop, so just stay aware and remember that morally the onus is on YOU to keep yourself and those who share the road with you safe. (Because YOU choose to drive a huge, heavy, dangerous machine.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

+1

I drive and I hate being around people on bicycles. They’re too unpredictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are bikes allowed to ignore every single traffic law?

Legally, no.
But the law is rarely applied, and sometimes it's safer for cyclists to cross an intersection when cars have stopped.
Perhaps you're not mature enough to understand this, or the fact that there are a ton of laws in every state that for various reasons are not enforced.

It's not that it's safer for cyclists to go through stop signs and traffic lights -- that's obviously crazy. It's that it would suck if they had to stop and start at every single intersection. That would be really tiring and be so slow.

The worst is when it's rush hour, and you have a slow biker blocking traffic, but due to oncoming traffic it takes you forever to pass them. You finally get past, then hit a red light, and the biker blows by you again as they completely disregard the light, and then you are stuck driving 10 mph yet again as you struggle to get around them once again in traffic.

Yes--this is absolutely the worst. Happens all the time- not just during rush hour. Some cyclists behave as if the rules don't apply to them.

If you're in traffic, how much of an advantage are you really thinking you will gain by swerving around a biker between traffic lights?

I never said I was looking for an advantage. I was agreeing with the PP- bikers slow down traffic with their rate of speed- and then run red lights. If bikers are going to be on the roads- they should be held to following all of the rules of the road- not just the ones they choose to follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

The unfortunate reality is that while I am sure you mean well, a cyclist did not “come out of nowhere” - you just need to work on your situational awareness. You’re off to a good start in that you realize there are cyclists going through the four way stop, so just stay aware and remember that morally the onus is on YOU to keep yourself and those who share the road with you safe. (Because YOU choose to drive a huge, heavy, dangerous machine.)

This is such a tone deaf, condescending response. I drive sober, not on my phone, and defensively. I’m telling you this is a problem. You can choose not to believe me, and I’ll continue to try not to hit you when you swerve in front of me without any sort of signal. But, given the way most people drive in this region, your attitude baffles me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

+1

I drive and I hate being around people on bicycles. They’re too unpredictable.

They are about as unpredictable as people with paper tags on their cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine what it would be like if cycling was actually popular in DC?

PARIS — On a recent afternoon, the Rue de Rivoli looked like this: Cyclists blowing through red lights in two directions. Delivery bike riders fixating on their cellphones. Electric scooters careening across lanes. Jaywalkers and nervous pedestrians scrambling as if in a video game.

Sarah Famery, a 20-year resident of the Marais neighborhood, braced for the tumult. She looked left, then right, then left and right again before venturing into a crosswalk, only to break into a rant-laden sprint as two cyclists came within inches of grazing her.

“It’s chaos!” exclaimed Ms. Famery, shaking a fist at the swarm of bikes that have displaced cars on the Rue de Rivoli ever since it was remade into a multilane highway for cyclists last year. “Politicians want to make Paris a cycling city, but no one is following any rules,” she said. “It’s becoming risky just to cross the street!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/02/world/europe/paris-bicyles-france.html#:~:text=In%20Paris%2C%20parts%20of%20the,bike%20lanes%20weave%20through%20traffic.

There is an unfortunate culture among cyclists where they ignore traffic laws. It’s not that big of deal here because so few people ride bikes. But as this suggests it would be a major problem if cycling ever caught on

As evident by this thread, there is also a culture among cyclists of never taking responsibility for anything. Everything is always someone else’s fault. They’re like spoiled children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive on Wise road almost every day to drop my kids off at school. I truly want to share the road with the cyclists. But the actual boneheaded, unpredictable moves they make on this stretch daily are terrifying. There’s a four way stop at the bottom of a hill leading up to Wise, and they come zipping through it without even slowing down. Yesterday, after I came to a complete stop and looked all directions, someone came out of nowhere scaring the bejesus out of me. I don’t understand this mentality. It’s very difficult to share the road when cyclists don’t ride in a predictable, safe manner.

+1

I drive and I hate being around people on bicycles. They’re too unpredictable.

I feel the same about people in cars when I'm on my bike. (I also often feel the same about people in other cars when I'm in my car.)