I am not a cyclist, but I don't fault cyclists for not following the law. Our transportation system was built for heavy vehicles. It's sometimes safer for bicycles to leave an intersection before all the cars start up. As such, it's an individual judgement, in the knowledge that if they get into an accident, they will be at fault and may not get compensation. However, when it's a cyclist against a car, no amount of compensation can bring them back to life, so I think it a lot of cases, legality doesn't really matter. What matters is that all drivers should stay aware on the roads and not crush a cyclist.

Anonymous wrote:I was trying to figure out if the actions was not only risky, but illegal. I think that question has been answered. They did not stop at the light before making the illegal turn. I support bikes, but they need to follow the law.

How was it an illegal turn, other than that they didn't stop before they turned?

I seriously doubt the action was risky.

I was trying to figure out if the actions was not only risky, but illegal. I think that question has been answered. They did not stop at the light before making the illegal turn. I support bikes, but they need to follow the law.

Anonymous wrote:And yes, I wish police would stop drivers who run red lights as well, but I was shocked at these biking parents putting their children at risk like that.

Please consider the possibility that they were in a better position to judge the riskiness of their actions than you were.

And yes, I wish police would stop drivers who run red lights as well, but I was shocked at these biking parents putting their children at risk like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did enjoy the first two people immediately responding no just because they reactively dislike all things bikes do

Reread the OP.

"cars were crossing Macarthur with the light. "
So those were not legal yields.

"cars were crossing Macarthur with the light" means drivers on Dana Place had a green light to cross MacArthur.

During the green light for drivers on Dana Place, drivers and bicyclists on MacArthur had a red light. The OP was driving on MacArthur, and the bicyclists were bicycling on MacArthur, and they all had a red light.

This is correct. Cars on Dana, crossing Macarthur, had the green light. The bikes turned left onto Dana without stopping at all. With two little children!

Anonymous wrote:Cars don't stop at red lights or stop signs, why would bikes?

This.

I have seen more drivers blow through lights in the last month, it is almost like why bother anymore?

Cars don't stop at red lights or stop signs, why would bikes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did enjoy the first two people immediately responding no just because they reactively dislike all things bikes do

Reread the OP.

"cars were crossing Macarthur with the light. "
So those were not legal yields.

"cars were crossing Macarthur with the light" means drivers on Dana Place had a green light to cross MacArthur.

During the green light for drivers on Dana Place, drivers and bicyclists on MacArthur had a red light. The OP was driving on MacArthur, and the bicyclists were bicycling on MacArthur, and they all had a red light.

Anonymous wrote:I did enjoy the first two people immediately responding no just because they reactively dislike all things bikes do

Reread the OP.

"cars were crossing Macarthur with the light. "
So those were not legal yields.

I did enjoy the first two people immediately responding no just because they reactively dislike all things bikes do

In D.C., bicycles can now legally go through red lights after stopping at intersections where it's permitted by signage: https://waba.org/blog/2023/01/bicycle-stop-as-yield-arrives-in-dc/

In actual practice, as I know from bike commuting, a lot of cyclists do ride through red lights. Though more of us stop for them than many drivers seem to think.

no. they need to obey traffic laws just like cars

No.

Today, I was driving westbound on Macarthur Blvd, and I stopped at a red light. Two bicyclists, with children in tow, came up behind me, crossed four lanes of traffic to turn left onto Dana Place. I know bikes can do a rolling stop through stop signs, but is this correct behavior at a stop sign. It seemed very dangerous to me as cars were crossing Macarthur with the light.