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.
I have to say I have never had this happen. I did once have a women riding behind me on Western Ave in Cambridge (just before the god awful bridge) ask why I was stopped. Granted I was further back than the crosswalk since a very large SUV was splitting the lane and I was unable to move any closer without them scratching up my mirror or my arm.
I muttered something about too many people being in a rush and that they should slow the hell down (this was my old man on the porch moment shaking my cane at the whippersnappers on my damn lawn). Thankfully she didn’t hear me and we moved through the light once it changed.
I typically coast to a stop so it is clear I am slowing since my pedals are not moving. I can also accelerate faster than anybody else at the light (even the cars, which most cyclists can if in the right gear) so I usually catch up to the college student with their seat too low, a rusting chain, and headphones who just ran the light, pretty easily. (ok yes generalizing here)
Nobody knows what your hand signals mean, they are meant for DRIVERS when there were no turn signals or brake activated lights on the car (back in the 1930’s maybe?), its why you use your LEFT hand which would hang out the window while driving. How about we stop using this antiquated system sometime. (rant done!)
On another note I love the brake lights for bikes idea, with integrated front and rear lights one of my rear lights flashes before I come to a complete stop and then holds steady, which I find works nicely (I have two battery powered PB lights one on flash one on steady as well) The ones that brighten up before a stop are a great idea!
“How about we stop using this antiquated system sometime.”
The edition of the UK Highway Code which I used for my driving test 45 years ago still had marvellous 1920s drawings for hand signals featuring a man in a bowler hat sitting in a Morris Bullnose, and the driver of a horse-trap signalling with his whip. (I also seem to remember that there was a section concerning “bodies of troops on the march”). They kept the hand signals until the 1980s because early direction indicators – little illuminated arms that came out of the side of the car – weren’t very reliable. The signal for turning left was always a bugger when you were taking your test: you had to stick your hand out of the window – right of course in Britain – and perform a circular motion as though you were wiping an imaginary pane of glass. The turning-left signal to oncoming vehicles was to raise your left hand in what I think you call the Cigar-Shop Indian “How!” gesture. I never, ever saw anyone do it.
“I love the brake lights for bikes idea”
If they disregard traffic lights, what makes you think they’d take any notice of a weedy little lamp on the back of your bike? As James Thurber observed, “those who are hell-bent usually end up getting where they’re going.” Myself, I tend to look on red-light jumping as evolution in action.
I do not necessarily stop at all stop signs/lights, and I’m ok with that, but seriously… Whether or not you stop at lights/signs shouldn’t change whether you are watching where you are going. Even though I may not stop, I still keep control of my bike and can keep from running into people or things.
I’m with you, sister! For this reason, I’ve gotten used to looking ahead, to both sides, AND behind me when slowing to a stop at red lights (or slowing to a s l o o o w okaygo! at stop signs.) I’ve been rear-ended by a very apologetic bike-sister while I was trying to avoid the slowest ped ever, and once I was chewed out by a different bike-sister when I stopped short for a ped in a crosswalk.
Hmmm… I noticing a theme. ;^)
Phew. I thought I was the only person stopping at red lights. It’s never occurred to me that I may get rear-ended. Probably because I spend my time at the stop light watching other bikers zip by me through the light and I’m too focused on feeling like a loser for stopping.
Despite my recent rear-ending by a dozy cyclist (who was more interested on chatting on her phone than looking where she was going) I’m much more at risk of being rear-ended by taxis, buses and white van men who are running lights.
I read somewhere that women usually follow directions more and that’s what gets them in accidents. Weird huh? But yes, I stop at red lights.