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

[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.

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?

Protip, there aren't any. Drivers running over a cyclist who was in a crosswalk or biking in a straightline? Plenty of those!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

License plates too.

Yes there is a huge stolen bike market. Licenses and tags required for all bike and riders. The police should be able to track all bikers in DC.

That’s a great idea. In fact, we should find ways of regulating and heavily taxing all manner of socially beneficial activities. How about we ban fruit and vegetables, pay people to develop methamphetamine addictions, and impose user charges on public parks and even sidewalks? That way, we all might be able to achieve the same level of miserableness that you’ve managed to get to.

This is just bizarre. Cyclists can seriously hurt or kill people. And if they do, they should just be able to ride off? Without anyone being able to identify them? They should have to get licenses, license plates and insurance.

6 people in the GREATER DMV area have been killed by a cyclist in an accident if almost 100 years. Motorists killed 6 people last week. Get bent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

License plates too.

Yes there is a huge stolen bike market. Licenses and tags required for all bike and riders. The police should be able to track all bikers in DC.

That’s a great idea. In fact, we should find ways of regulating and heavily taxing all manner of socially beneficial activities. How about we ban fruit and vegetables, pay people to develop methamphetamine addictions, and impose user charges on public parks and even sidewalks? That way, we all might be able to achieve the same level of miserableness that you’ve managed to get to.

This is just bizarre. Cyclists can seriously hurt or kill people. And if they do, they should just be able to ride off? Without anyone being able to identify them? They should have to get licenses, license plates and insurance.

6 people in the GREATER DMV area have been killed by a cyclist in an accident if almost 100 years. Motorists killed 6 people last week. Get bent.

And that means cyclists shouldn’t be identifiable if they’re in an accident?

[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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

Protip, there aren't any. Drivers running over a cyclist who was in a crosswalk or biking in a straightline? Plenty of those!

Not really. Traffic deaths are super rare in DC. You’re far more likely to be murdered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

License plates too.

Yes there is a huge stolen bike market. Licenses and tags required for all bike and riders. The police should be able to track all bikers in DC.

That’s a great idea. In fact, we should find ways of regulating and heavily taxing all manner of socially beneficial activities. How about we ban fruit and vegetables, pay people to develop methamphetamine addictions, and impose user charges on public parks and even sidewalks? That way, we all might be able to achieve the same level of miserableness that you’ve managed to get to.

This is just bizarre. Cyclists can seriously hurt or kill people. And if they do, they should just be able to ride off? Without anyone being able to identify them? They should have to get licenses, license plates and insurance.

6 people in the GREATER DMV area have been killed by a cyclist in an accident if almost 100 years. Motorists killed 6 people last week. Get bent.

And that means cyclists shouldn’t be identifiable if they’re in an accident?

No it means you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

All I can say is this discussion is enlightening. I plan to give my follow commuters all the consideration they offer me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive a car and don’t get the vitriol for cyclists as there seems to be an incredible double standard.

Some cyclists break the law but far more drivers break the law, yes? If you are a driver and accelerate through red lights, go over the speed limit, don’t stop at stop signs, hold your phone while driving, don’t stay in your lane when on roundabouts or turning the corner, don’t indicate when changing lanes, you’re also breaking the law, yes?

Do you think more drivers do this than cyclists? I certainly do. So why so resentful of cyclists especially when there are d as I few of them?

There’s a half million cars in DC. If they blew stop signs at the rate cyclists blow stop signs, there would be thousands of car accidents every single day.

Okay…. you’re arguing this on principle rather than reality? So, from what you’re saying, if there were 100 cyclists and 40 went through stop signs, that would be worse than if there were 10,000 motorists and 1,000 went through stop signs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive a car and don’t get the vitriol for cyclists as there seems to be an incredible double standard.

Some cyclists break the law but far more drivers break the law, yes? If you are a driver and accelerate through red lights, go over the speed limit, don’t stop at stop signs, hold your phone while driving, don’t stay in your lane when on roundabouts or turning the corner, don’t indicate when changing lanes, you’re also breaking the law, yes?

Do you think more drivers do this than cyclists? I certainly do. So why so resentful of cyclists especially when there are d as I few of them?

There’s a half million cars in DC. If they blew stop signs at the rate cyclists blow stop signs, there would be thousands of car accidents every single day.

I don't know where you live, but I'm on the streets of DC every day. Very few cars on those streets ever come to a complete (legal) stop at intersections when there is no cross traffic. Probably about the same proportion as the number of cyclists that come to a complete stop (which, per the recent law change, they are not required to do). That there aren't more accidents is purely due to the relative rarity of cross traffic at those intersections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

License plates too.

Yes there is a huge stolen bike market. Licenses and tags required for all bike and riders. The police should be able to track all bikers in DC.

That’s a great idea. In fact, we should find ways of regulating and heavily taxing all manner of socially beneficial activities. How about we ban fruit and vegetables, pay people to develop methamphetamine addictions, and impose user charges on public parks and even sidewalks? That way, we all might be able to achieve the same level of miserableness that you’ve managed to get to.

This is just bizarre. Cyclists can seriously hurt or kill people. And if they do, they should just be able to ride off? Without anyone being able to identify them? They should have to get licenses, license plates and insurance.

6 people in the GREATER DMV area have been killed by a cyclist in an accident if almost 100 years. Motorists killed 6 people last week. Get bent.

And that means cyclists shouldn’t be identifiable if they’re in an accident?

Can you point to a case where they weren't? If a cyclist gets in any kind of serious accident, they are ordinarily not in much of a state to run away. In the most recent case where a cyclist struck and killed a pedestrian in DC, the cyclist remained on the scene, were identified and charged for not obeying a traffic signal, and were subsequently sued into bankruptcy by the relatives of the victim. So, yes, the problem you are presenting us with does not seem to be of much practical consequence. Now, fake tags on the other hand . . .

[Anonymous]

Some people in this thread appear to be a little confused, so allow me to clarify a few facts. Every person that opts to cycle (or walk) instead of driving:
(i) frees up space on the road that reduces traffic congestion;
(ii) reduces the risk that drivers or car passengers will be killed or injured in an accident;
(iii) reduces public expenditure on road maintenance;
(iv) reduces demands on the health system by both improving the user's physical fitness and reducing the incidence of injuries; and
(v) improves air quality and reduces the risk of catastrophic climate change and extreme weather events by reducing carbon emissions.

It's rather strange how some folk seem so eager to demonize cyclists despite the demonstrable public service they provide. A good case in point is the OP, who observed cyclists perform a maneuver that was perfectly legal and assured their safety but yet still tried to find fault with their behavior. This persistent cyclophobia is very, very strange but, as with most forms of irrational hatred, tells us a lot more about the subjects than the objects.

[Anonymous]

Driving near bicyclists makes me extremely nervous. You never know if they are following the rules of a pedestrian or motorist. Movement on roadways should be predictable, otherwise it leads to accidents. Not to mention motorized scooters and bicycles!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving near bicyclists makes me extremely nervous. You never know if they are following the rules of a pedestrian or motorist. Movement on roadways should be predictable, otherwise it leads to accidents. Not to mention motorized scooters and bicycles!

I'm sorry that you feel nervous. I can assure you it's a similar phenomenon to bees. We're much more scared of you as bikers than you should be of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving near bicyclists makes me extremely nervous. You never know if they are following the rules of a pedestrian or motorist. Movement on roadways should be predictable, otherwise it leads to accidents. Not to mention motorized scooters and bicycles!

There is a specific set of rules for pedestrians, which is different from the specific set of rules for motorists, which is different from the specific set of rules for bicyclists. Bicyclists are supposed to follow the specific set of rules for bicyclists.

And, in my opinion, the rules for pedestrians and the rules for bicyclists should be part of driver's ed and driver's licensing. Drivers need to know the rules for pedestrians and the rules for bicyclists.

Here is a good set of very simple rules for driving near bicyclists (and pedestrians), though:

1. See bicyclists (and pedestrians).
2. Leave plenty of space between your car and the bicyclist (or the pedestrian).
3. Don't turn right across the path of a bicyclist (also don't turn right across the path of a pedestrian).
4. Don't turn left and hit a bicyclist (or pedestrian) who is crossing.
5. Drive slowly enough so that if a bicyclist (or pedestrian) does something you didn't expect, you can react and stop in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cyclists should be required to get licenses just like drivers

License plates too.

Yes there is a huge stolen bike market. Licenses and tags required for all bike and riders. The police should be able to track all bikers in DC.

That’s a great idea. In fact, we should find ways of regulating and heavily taxing all manner of socially beneficial activities. How about we ban fruit and vegetables, pay people to develop methamphetamine addictions, and impose user charges on public parks and even sidewalks? That way, we all might be able to achieve the same level of miserableness that you’ve managed to get to.

This is just bizarre. Cyclists can seriously hurt or kill people. And if they do, they should just be able to ride off? Without anyone being able to identify them? They should have to get licenses, license plates and insurance.

Can you point to the last hit-and-run accident involving a bike as the vehicle doing the hitting? For one thing, if you hit someone on your bike, odds are you're also going to wind up on the ground or something -- unlike in a car, where it's quite possible to hit someone and keep driving.

And how do you propose to license and regulate children who ride bikes? Or should we let lots of little scofflaws ride around the city willy-nilly?