Red Light Surprise
Yesterday as I approached a light on Mass Ave it turned red. The cyclist ahead of me rode blithely through it. I came to a complete stop. That was apparently a very unexpected move to the cyclist behind me…
Should this really be that much of a surprise?
However, this is why I sometimes signal when stopping at a red. Of course then the cyclist would be confused about what I’m doing with my hand… right before crashing into me just the same.
As the cyclist who stops at red lights, you are the one who’s correct. People on bicycles who regularly run red lights, blow through STOP signs without stopping or even slowing down, go the wrong way down one-way streets, and ride on the wrong side of the road are not only risking their own limb and life, but that of drivers, as well, since cyclists who violate the traffic laws have caused a lot of accidents.
Moreover, whether people care to realize it or not, a bicycle is a vehicle too, and therefore subject to the rules of the road just like cars, trucks and motorcycles, etc.
I appreciate your adherence to the rules of the road. I am also on the obeying all red lights, and stops signs bandwagon. All too often, other cyclists will ride right past me at red lights, with no helmet or lights. Since I’ve been struck numerous times by automobiles (twice in the last month), I prefer to be in the position of being the law abiding citizen.
Love it!
My commute time and route doesn’t get shared by many other cyclists, so almost all of the time when I stop at a red light I am alone. So alone.
The only time I can remember getting bumped like this was on a Tweed Ride a few years ago. The person who bumped me shall remain nameless, though they left a comment elsewhere on this page. In their defense I was practicing my trackstanding, and there are some who say when doing that at a light you aren’t communicating intentions well enough. Also in their defense they barely nudged me and didn’t cause me to fall over, and they weren’t trying to run the red it was just stopping shorter than expected.
I hope bumperguy learned something important about approaching intersections before deciding to be a jerk and running the red. That kind of casual error can be fatal, especially on Mass Ave.
It was actually the Ride of Silence, I remember, because I went “oh no sorry!” but you’re not supposed to talk. I wish I could remember my excuse – literal memory is gone, but emotional memory suggests I felt at fault. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP 😛
Oh crap, it was the Ride of Silence. My bad!
You apologized right afterwards, though I think there was a crowding issue as we were trying to keep everyone together.
I only remember because it was the only time. Find someone else to seriously bump into me and it will never be brought up again.
I stop at redlights on my fixed gear, then again I also have a brake. I think seeing brakeless fixies is a sign of suicidal tendencies. I mean I have been known to skirt the law when its convenient and safe, ie I come to a complete stop at a redlight check traffic in the street I’m crossing and then proceed if it is safe to do so or proceeding druing crossing signals if I can easily avoid pedestrians, but i f a cyclist is stopped in front of me I stop, pull alongside them and make a new friend. Pulling up 2 abreast also makes it safer for us as it forces cyclists behid us to stop as well making a peloton of riders for cars to see as opposed to 1 or 2
ha ha, I HATE it when other cyclists pull up next to me (I guess maybe I’d feel differently if they were trying to talk to me…) because I feel like they’re trying to pass me, and it makes me very nervous starting from a stop with a wobbly person RIGHT next to me. How do you deal with that?
I generally give 3 to 4 feet of wiggle room but if I see someone really wobbly at a start I check up and pass when they are stable and hold my line as best I can so that cars give them a bit more room while they stabilize.
Stop at lights.. sideways?