The Chainlink

Running Red Lights & Pedestrian Cross Walks

I am a casual commuter bicyclist. I ride to work down Milwaukee via my bike or the 56 bus. (Bucktown to West Loop)

One thing I notice during my commutes is that at certain "T" intersections 19 out of 20 bicyclists will not stop at the red light and pass through it. It doesn't matter if there are pedestrians at cross-walks or incoming traffic. Some will not even slow down.

Personally, it drives me crazy. I find it to be completely irresponsible, dangerous and discourteous at these times of day. It wouldn't concern me as much if it was not during rush hour. However, we are talking about people trying to use the crosswalks and cars attempting to drive normally and merge onto busy roads.

Example:  Milwaukee & Wabansia - This intersection has 2 crosswalks across Milwaukee. It has a day care & public library. Foot traffic is high with parents/kids/strollers and commuters. Bicyclists do not stop even if there are people crossing or traffic coming onto Milwaukee. I have seen them swerve around strollers and disregard any safety concerns. Personally I have almost been hit once, saw 2 near collisions with strollers and people held up from crossing because of a stream of unconcerned bicyclists.

Example:  Milwaukee & Noble - This intersection has one highly used crosswalk across Milwaukee. It is by a school with a lot of student pedestrians (with a crossing guard) and a good amount of senior citizens. Again, Bicyclist run this red all of the time even if there are people crossing. Personally, I have seen near collisions with groups of students, 3 seniors and cars making left turns.

If this was a rare occurrence I wouldn't be posting. In fact, this issue alone prompted me to create an account and post at Chainlink.

I want to understand WHY people think this is okay and don't think it is a danger to themselves and others?

Why can't they stop?

Why do they not care about the safety of others?

Why do they not care about the rules of the road?

The mindset is what I'm looking to understand. Right now I just think they are selfish a-holes who value their time/safety/space more than others. On days with near collisions I even get angry to the point of yelling. (I saw an old woman missed by nearly 3 inches. [http://abcnews.go.com/US/bicyclist-us-guilty-vehicular-homicide/sto...])

I want to be proven wrong and have an understanding of why this happens.

Thanks,

KZ

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on August 2, 2013 at 11:51pm

But what about dodging a Dodge when you blow a red?  I like T-Bones, but only the steak variety.

Julie Hochstadter said:

we don't get tickets.... and we assume since we are not a car that we can Dodge peds or vice versa.
Permalink Reply by pat 5.5mi on August 3, 2013 at 2:01am

I used to commute on Noble through that Milwaukee intersection and the housing complex and I rarely saw inbound Milwaukee cyclists waiting at a red and NEVER saw a single outbound bike even slow down at a red light.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on August 3, 2013 at 4:07am
If I am cycling and come across another cyclist crossing on a red in front of me or riding the wrong way in my bike lane he (it's always a he) will get the bejesus scared out of him when I come inches from knocking him over. I call it tough love.
Permalink Reply by SlowCoachOnTheRoad on August 5, 2013 at 9:47am

Sorry guys and gals.  It is true - I got carried away and wasn't thinking wordiness and boredom.  Sorry.  I do have a tendency to just go on and on and on (even on a bike where it is much more fun).  I'll work at brevity and conciseness....



Joe Schmoe said:

....and we mentioned the Nazis as well. 

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on August 5, 2013 at 11:23pm

From a concerned cyclist who rides as safe as possible: Maybe it's time to start ticketing these rogue cyclists, it's the only way to improve the public's image of the safe cyclists out there.

These problems are what causes accidents and angry motorists.

Permalink Reply by Mike M on August 5, 2013 at 11:38pm

Agreed the Milwaukee / Wabansia intersection can be a pretty hazardous one with people running the red. In addition to the pedestrian aspect, I as an automobile driver (gasp!) have had a bunch of close calls making the left from Wabansia onto Milwaukee when cyclists have blown the red. I think part of this is that intersection seems to have less room than some other T's (like Milwaukee / Paulina) to the right of where cars often are.

Obviously (or it should be), as cyclists we're all responsible for obeying traffic laws. I really do not like cyclists blowing red lights at four (or more) way intersections. I am more OK with treating them as yield signs at T intersections (full disclosure: I do this all the time at Milwaukee / Paulina), but the yield part is really important. If you have a red light, that means someone else has a green light / walk sign. Make sure there is nobody there before you proceed.

Permalink Reply by Mike M on August 5, 2013 at 11:40pm

This. It needs to happen.

Tom Z said:

From a concerned cyclist who rides as safe as possible: Maybe it's time to start ticketing these rogue cyclists, it's the only way to improve the public's image of the safe cyclists out there.

These problems are what causes accidents and angry motorists.

Permalink Reply by Bez on August 6, 2013 at 5:16am

This.  I'm of the opinion that if you are going to blow reds and signs, do it when no one is looking.  If you do it all the time when others are around, it just causes irritation and makes for more dangerous conditions.

For the record, I do it all the time when no one is looking, and I will start just before the green if I know it's coming (and the intersection is clear, etc).  If there are cars, I stop (or at least Cali roll if it's my turn anyway) every single time.

echo said:

I have blown a red for one reason only:

The light doesn't change for me because I'm not picked up by a censor, and there are no cars headed in my direction. 

Even then, there is traffic coming from the other direction -- just no one taking a left in front of me. 

I've been tempted though on a really tiring day, getting caught by every light and stop sign...just haven't done it. 

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on August 6, 2013 at 7:42am

Any censor worth his salt would have blocked you anyway. :-)

echo said:

The light doesn't change for me because I'm not picked up by a censor, and there are no cars headed in my direction. 

Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 6, 2013 at 8:13am

I am a firm believer in giving the right of way. I will stop at any stop sign if someone else has the right of way. 99 times out of 100 I will stop at all red lights, but there are some exceptions (t intersections when I am on the far side of the T) Pedestrians will look at you really weird when you stop just for them, and for the most part I try to.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on August 6, 2013 at 10:35am

Nice try Kass...

Tom Z said:

From a concerned cyclist who rides as safe as possible: Maybe it's time to start ticketing these rogue cyclists, it's the only way to improve the public's image of the safe cyclists out there.

These problems are what causes accidents and angry motorists.

Permalink Reply by Davo on August 6, 2013 at 10:45am

So when/where is the op ed or "research" paper going to be put in print or on the net where chainlinkers are "quoted" on why bikers run red lights and stop signs? At least put the link up when its done. 

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