Thread: Cyclists.

Originally Posted by Greatsouthernland

Interesting proposition this guy makes, if cyclists feel safe running red lights, then the pro-cycling culture is winning. Risky philosophy...

Well here's a quandary. Today I rode some of Adelaide's excellent suburban bikeways, interacting with hundreds of cyclists who clearly don't fit the MAMIL stereotype. So I come to a crossing over one of the many intersecting secondary roads, and face a red bike crossing light. Traffic, this being Sunday, is light to the point of barely being there. I press the button, wait dutifully for the green crossing light for a couple of minutes while a tiny number of cars goes by. Eventually the crossing lights go green, holding up a bunch of motorists that just happen to come up from the previous set of lights. Rinse and repeat at every crossing.

Who benefits from my obeyance of traffic signals? I've observed many pedestrians and cyclists ignore these lights and read the traffic instead and they don't get into trouble because the cops are busy doing paperwork or something. Should some traffic lights be turned to flashing yellow during low traffic times, like they were many years ago in the CBD?

Originally Posted by bee utey

Should some traffic lights be turned to flashing yellow during low traffic times, like they were many years ago in the CBD?

that would be awesome, but the average driver is too stupid for this

Originally Posted by Eevo

that would be awesome, but the average driver is too stupid for this

Yes the MAMILS behind the wheel would be even less considerate of the cyclists.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Yes the MAMILS behind the wheel would be even less considerate of the cyclists.

no, just in general.

Originally Posted by Eevo

no, just in general.

The mammals.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Absolutely. All we see nowdays are the wannabee Cadels hunched over riding the Tour de France.
I would love to see more of the slow, sedate form of transport we used to see, and I used to participate in, years ago.
Sadly, it seem to have been replaced by aggressive mamils with bad attitudes.

Mismatch between perception and reality. Believe me, there are still plenty of the slow and sedate people riding "sit-up" bikes and enjoying being out there - in fact more than ever. It's sad, but several of the recent deaths here in Perth have been exactly that type of rider.
I've taken a break from my full-on race bicycle (waiting for my new one to arrive but it got caught up in the train derailment last week) and been riding my commuter MTB-wannabe bike for the last three weeks. I seem to get a slightly different response from other riders and drivers alike, despite being the same person on the bike. Perception/reality.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Who benefits from my obeyance of traffic signals? I've observed many pedestrians and cyclists ignore these lights and read the traffic instead and they don't get into trouble because the cops are busy doing paperwork or something. Should some traffic lights be turned to flashing yellow during low traffic times, like they were many years ago in the CBD?

Agreed, it's the same with cars not having a left arrow/turn with care, when there's no-one else on the intersecting road but you need to wait for the stupid sequence. There needs to be a complete overhaul of sequencing and rules...

You have a good point in low density traffic areas, BUT the law is clear - Red = Stop.
Until society can move past the 'no-exception' clause and stop letting the 'Lowest Common Denominator' of driver/rider capability hold us all back, learn to love it
We need to stop giving the vocal minority the time they crave on other issues to fix the one you raise and others similarly more important. Have you heard the climate is changing - All aboard!

The frequency with which 457 Truck drivers run the Red on Foreshore Drive is alarming.
There is also a pedestrian crossing at the entrance to the Hutchison Terminal which will hold you up for a good while even though it's used by two pedestrians and a cyclist per day. I run that red often.
I think roundabouts deigned to be entered at a reduced speed are the best option.