The Chainlink

I've noticed that our friends at the ATA have become quite vocal in support of red light cameras.  I wonder if camera-love is widespread among their membership base (in which I'm included).  I always ride when I'm not working, but I have to drive on the clock, and I've been nailed twice.  Kinda rubs me the wrong way, especially because Chicago seems to have the shortest yellows I've ever seen.  Opinions?  
 

Views: 445

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Had to go through about four RLCs in Bolingbrook for a year or two. Never spooked me much. But then I usually leave myself enough time so that I don't have to rush and make $100 snap-decisions about yellow lights.

I also learned to stay behind the line during a left turn until the intersection was clear instead of hanging out in the middle (a habit I picked up riding my motorcycle - you feel awfully exposed out there). If there was any doubt, I'd just sit it out for another round.

I bet RLCs produce an uptick in rear-enders for a short time until drivers figure out where the cameras are, then a big decrease in accidents after that. I'd also be willing to be that the rear-enders were mainly minor bumper-benders, whereas accidents where people blow red lights are often fatal T-bones.

I'm not opposed to 'em. It's a tax on Type-A personalities, just like the lottery is a tax on people who don't understand basic statistics.
Dave Jacque said:
I'm not opposed to 'em. It's a tax on Type-A personalities, just like the lottery is a tax on people who don't understand basic statistics.

Punitive taxation based on inherent personality traits?
just like the lottery is a tax on people who don't understand basic statistics.


good one. or as I always said - "A tax on folks that did not pay attention in math class..."
I will go to bed this evening thankful for the checks and balances incorporated into the American system. If democracy was ever to truly have it's way, unfettered, half of us would be bankrupt while the other half languished on death row.
I can't believe some of the things that I'm reading here. I don't drive a lot but there have been periods during my life when I have. In my 43 years of driving motor vehicles I've never gotten a ticket for going though a red light. Because I don't do it. I drive the speed limit and that always leaves me plenty of time to stop safely under normal circumstances. If every automobile operator would adhere to the rules of the road and pay attention to what they were doing there would be very few collisions. When I'm riding my bike or walking I don't want to be center punched by someone who runs a red light because they are afraid that the guy behind them won't stop.

I am really dissapointed that any cyclist would think that it is all right to drive a motor vehicle in that way.

By the way. This really is a cycling issue.
You are absolutely right about this notorious

notoriousDUG said:
Technically no but it is common practice; if you are sitting there when the light turns and somebody takes off and runs into you when followed to the letter of the law you are in the wrong.

Trust me on this one, I have gotten the ticket to prove it.

Jessica said:
Aren't you allowed to enter the intersection for a left, and allowed to clear it if the light is yellow/red?

And downhill isn't an excuse... speedlimit is the speedlimit, even if you ruin your brakes by riding them. <3 sticks shift for this reason...
It doesn't burn up the clutch... I don't ride it, I downshift and let the engine pressure slow the car down. =P I can downshift/upshift without even USING the clutch. Revmatching FTW! =P (bye bye syncros though... haha)

Edited to add: What I'm saying is if you downshift PROPERLY, the clutch isn't even engaged when you allow the engine to slow you down. I dunno, maybe from a street racing perspective, hitting the brakes at 100 mph isn't in the best interest, and I learned from there. Or maybe I just like to hear my car roar. haha... '99 Camaro, 6 speed manual, headers and dumps. RAWR! =)
Actually if you are matching the RPMs you aren't really using the syncros much.

If you really want to make a clutch ans trans live long learn to double clutch when shifting normally; learn to do it well and the clutch and trans are going to outlive the car.

A clutch only wears when slipping, down shifting does not increase wear unless it is done wrong, as will up shifting with with to much clutch slip.


Jessica said:
It doesn't burn up the clutch... I don't ride it, I downshift and let the engine pressure slow the car down. =P I can downshift/upshift without even USING the clutch. Revmatching FTW! =P (bye bye syncros though... haha)

Edited to add: What I'm saying is if you downshift PROPERLY, the clutch isn't even engaged when you allow the engine to slow you down. I dunno, maybe from a street racing perspective, hitting the brakes at 100 mph isn't in the best interest, and I learned from there. Or maybe I just like to hear my car roar. haha... '99 Camaro, 6 speed manual, headers and dumps. RAWR! =)
Doug, what law be this? And aren't you exiting the intersection by making the left-hand turn?

notoriousDUG said:
Actually by the letter of the law entering an intersection you are unable to exit is illegal; when you sit in the middle of the intersection to make a left turn you are breaking the law.

I hate the cameras, they often get triggered by legal right turns on red and eliminate the judgment of an actual person writing the ticket.

I have never been tagged by one but a couple of my employees and father have, several of those where legal right turns on red.

caitlin e said:
I HATE THEM. I have gotten 3 red light tickets over the course of 2 months....this was earlier this year, seeing as how I am now carless. They are so ridiculous, because they don't account for situations in which you have no choice, get stuck trying to make a left turn, etc....ugh, it's all about extra revenue for the state, it's not really doing anything to make intersections safer.
Double-clutch means?

notoriousDUG said:
Actually if you are matching the RPMs you aren't really using the syncros much.

If you really want to make a clutch ans trans live long learn to double clutch when shifting normally; learn to do it well and the clutch and trans are going to outlive the car.

A clutch only wears when slipping, down shifting does not increase wear unless it is done wrong, as will up shifting with with to much clutch slip.


Jessica said:
It doesn't burn up the clutch... I don't ride it, I downshift and let the engine pressure slow the car down. =P I can downshift/upshift without even USING the clutch. Revmatching FTW! =P (bye bye syncros though... haha)

Edited to add: What I'm saying is if you downshift PROPERLY, the clutch isn't even engaged when you allow the engine to slow you down. I dunno, maybe from a street racing perspective, hitting the brakes at 100 mph isn't in the best interest, and I learned from there. Or maybe I just like to hear my car roar. haha... '99 Camaro, 6 speed manual, headers and dumps. RAWR! =)
Double clutching is putting the clutch in - shift to neutral - let clutch out - reengage clutch (or disengage... are we talking pedal, or what's actually happening? lol), shift into gear.

You're not supposed to double clutch in cars with syncros... at least not the new ones. I dunno... I got lucky with my car. I've been violently powershifting for over 3 years now... it hasn't broken yet. There's a shimmy in my rear end though... I'm sure that's going soon. (typical LS1 though...)

Again, edited to add that 'don't double clutch' has been taught to me by my way-more-into-cars-than-me buddies.
I still don't quite get it-- why would you "double clutch?"
It sounds like what you're calling "power-shifting" is what I've always heard called downshifting.
Supposed to be good for the engine as it wears the rings/bearings more evenly than always being torqued in one direction.

Jessica said:
Double clutching is putting the clutch in - shift to neutral - let clutch out - reengage clutch (or disengage... are we talking pedal, or what's actually happening? lol), shift into gear.

You're not supposed to double clutch in cars with syncros... at least not the new ones. I dunno... I got lucky with my car. I've been violently powershifting for over 3 years now... it hasn't broken yet. There's a shimmy in my rear end though... I'm sure that's going soon. (typical LS1 though...)

Again, edited to add that 'don't double clutch' has been taught to me by my way-more-into-cars-than-me buddies.

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service