Do 57% of UK cyclists jump red lights? One motoring organisation claims so

[Zam_Olyas]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/may/14/cycling-red-light-jumping-iam-survey

 

[DominicDecoco]

Can't remember the last time I waited for green light in a right turn.

 

[Caruut]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/may/14/cycling-red-light-jumping-iam-survey

Perfectly believable if you look beyond the shock value of the figure. It doesn't say "regularly jump red lights whenever they can". Anyone who answers this survey honestly has to say "yes" if they skipped a red at the bottom of a hill with no cars or pedestrians around or set off early when they know the light sequence to avoid the cars.

With that in mind, I think it quite plausible that 57% of cyclists have jumped a red light. I think that is motorists were to answer honestly, at least 57% of them would also have gone though too early/too late.

Bit of a non-story really.

 

[Caruut]

Can't remember the last time I waited for green light in a right turn.

Haha, just remember not to do that in the UK.

I used to do it a lot when I was a bit younger, maybe until I was about 17. I stopped because I realised it made drivers mad and didn't benefit me that much.

 

[ruswilks]

Completely misleading headline figure if you read the article. 'Less than 2% of cyclists regularly jump red lights' isn't quite so attention grabbing though.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Haha, just remember not to do that in the UK.

I used to do it a lot when I was a bit younger, maybe until I was about 17. I stopped because I realised it made drivers mad and didn't benefit me that much.

I'm still a rebel though. Can't get myself waiting for that. There's no danger in it anyway. They've actually started making cycle paths that lead you through a right turn without having to wait for green light. Quite nice. It's a rare i see it, though.

 

[Caruut]

I'm still a rebel though. Can't get myself waiting for that. There's no danger in it anyway. They've actually started making cycle paths that lead you though a right turn without having to wait for green light. Quite nice. It's a rare i see it, though.

Yes, but we drive (ride, in my case) on the left hand side of the road. Lotta danger there.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Yes, but we drive (ride, in my case) on the left hand side of the road. Lotta danger there.

Hahahaha, that's right. Totally forgot about that. Haha!

But still.. Come on.. Harden up and take that right turn anyway.

 

[ElChingon]

Yet another great poll idea for the CN forum-ites.

And for the record think 57% is way low, just as I think if you asked the people driving cars if they ever go above the speed limit, about same percentage.

 

[Caruut]

Yet another great poll idea for the CN forum-ites.

And for the record think 57% is way low, just as I think if you asked the people driving cars if they ever go above the speed limit, about same percentage.

I reckon if you asked a group of road cyclists the same question they'd all be tripping over each other to answer yet to breaking the speed limit.

 

[Le breton]

Haha, just remember not to do that in the UK.

I used to do it a lot when I was a bit younger, maybe until I was about 17. I stopped because I realised it made drivers mad and didn't benefit me that much.

I am lucky enough to do most of my cycling in places (France and Switzerland) where the huge majority of car drivers don't care if you do take a right on red as long as you don't get in their way or slow them down.

Why, for heaven's sake, should get mad when you do that in a careful way? Well, I guess I do know why : because they are morons.

 

[DominicDecoco]

This youtube channel is quite interesting in this matter.

Just picked a random episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9PxKdspjJQ