Red means stop

One thing that irks me are other cyclists that don't follow the rules. These are the cyclists that give all others who do, a bad name.

Guy at the end... I ended up catching with him. Was it worth it running red lights and a stop sign?

Are you a red light/stop sign runner?

And if so, why?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on June 7, 2018 at 6:45am

I would run at least a dozen reds to make sure I didn't miss the opening scene.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Kovar on June 7, 2018 at 4:36am

I ride in my own private Idaho as well... I stop for reds but use the 1 block rule for cars. If a car is approaching but is a full block away, I proceed. Stop signs, I mostly roll through but I am already ready and able to stop.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 12, 2018 at 7:51am

I like the 1-block rule. Thanks!

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 7, 2018 at 6:10am

I've seen some epic stupidity northbound on Kenmore after the trail ends. Way too many people pass on the right without paying attention.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on June 12, 2018 at 7:55am

Think of the response you'd get with a fully-charged air horn! :-)

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on June 19, 2018 at 2:58am

And there's of course the irony that all of us are sharply aware of terrible behavior exhibited by individual drivers, and they clearly have an impact on us even if they aren't representative of the larger group of boring law-abiding ones we don't notice.

Dug's attitude is not compatible with a large city IMO. You could really make all of his arguments from the perspective of a driver: "Why should I bother stopping at a red light when clearly nobody else is approaching?"

It's libertarian philosophy that doesn't hold water in a large and complex metro region. All of the rules he hates so much, or feel do not apply to him personally, are there to facilitate the movement of the large number of residents to support the physical and social infrastructure that he relies on as a cyclist in Chicago. You can live in places with no or few rules - but they won't be cities with 2,700,000 people that are from every corner of the planet.

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Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on June 19, 2018 at 4:10am

Pedantic.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on June 19, 2018 at 4:28am

Ah yes, here we go. I ride in a kit a lot. You know, that thing you refer to as a "leotard" so you probably would assume that me and my friends are "entitled cyclists".

How is lumping people into groups as "roadie" or "spandex-clad" or "kit wearing" helpful to the conversation? How does that bring about the change you have been telling us for weeks and weeks we must have?

I'm going to ask you this - why so angry? Why do people that wear a kit deserve so much disdain? Wow. I must just be a total jerk because I like the coolness of a kit on long rides and hot weather and enjoy the pockets in my jersey.

I don't judge others. Here I am, watching this conversation go on and on and on, much of the time biting my tongue because I want to keep an open dialogue but darn it, taking cracks at people for the bike they ride or the clothing they wear is NOT something I will sit by and listen to. It's insulting and stereotyping and NOT helpful!

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on June 19, 2018 at 4:31am

If you want people to see your point of view, maybe stop insulting people, taking pop-shots and shaming them publicly by video taping them without their knowledge or consent while you name-call them here. btw, I stop and follow the law when it keeps me safe. I don't blow lights because I try to be an example.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 19, 2018 at 11:28am

Here is an idea, maybe don't call people anything based on what they are wearing or riding...

The cost or type of a person's bike or what kit they choose to wear has no bearing on their behavior and should have nothing to do with your description and judgment of them.

You want to say jerk things about people's behavior that's your choice but you're very much a jerk when you make it about their appearance or gear choices.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on June 19, 2018 at 4:54am

While I do agree red light running continues to be a problem, I am with Yasmeen here. I too am always in a spandex kit on my fancy carbon road bike. I also happen to ride in groups with other roadies clad in spandex, and before we proceed with each ride we establish the rules, one of which is to stop at red lights. I didn't notice until now that fingers have been pointed at riders such as myself and for that, I am pretty disappointed. It's not just my love of road cycling, but also my fellow "roadies" who are such good company, that their company can motivate me to pedal in and of itself.

Red light running should continue to be a DIPLOMATIC topic of discussion because as I mentioned in another thread, it impacts us all. As the many observers here can probably attest to, the violators are not unique to one particular "kind" of cyclist.