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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Biker here.  My rule of thumb is to roll through red lights and stop signs PROVIDED that it has no effect on any traffic that would normally have the right-of-way.   If a car has to slow down (or jam on its brakes) because I'm crossing against the light then that's a big mistake on my part.   However, sometimes the most efficient path is to roll through a stop sign if the driver to my left or right is starting to slow for a stop - by the time they are actually stopped, I'm long through the intersection and they can actually get going more quickly than if I come to a complete stop.

There's some simple physics also.  [b]It's a PIA to get a bike going again after coming to a complete stop.  If you have to do that every block, it gets really bad.[/b]  Better for everyone if I slow down, verify that there is no oncoming traffic, and then keep the momentum going. [/quote]

The real answer right here.

Bicyclists don't ignore stop signs because of cockamamie arguments about how it's somehow safer to ignore traffic safety laws.

They ignore stop signs because physically it's too tiring for them to have to constantly stop and start their bikes. [/quote]

Those are all weak arguments for them.  Some of them are arrogant and entitled too.  I've had cyclists yell at me as a pedestrian with right of way at a crosswalk when they were supposed to yield.  Given I also ride (but do follow laws) it's embarrassing to have fellow cyclists who do stupid things.[/quote]

Are there bicyclists who are jerks? Yes, because there are [b]people[/b] who are jerks. They're jerks when they're driving, they're jerks when they're bicycling, they're jerks when they're walking, they're jerks when they're taking an airplane or taking a bus or taking Metro or...[/quote]

Every time I see a jerk do something stupid while riding a bike, I gives that they are not driving a motor vehicle. Apparently, though, there are people in DC whose greatest wish is for the even greater mayhem that would result from certain jerks being put behind the wheel of a car. Go figure. [/quote]

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