My Apologies
Well,
Looks like I need to put out an apology. On my first route this morning after leaving the shop, I ran a RED in Union Square. The only reason why I’m saying this to all of you is that people notice and it affects MetroPed’s reputation. As I was cruising up towards the light, I saw the walk signal turn on and just assumed the green would happen right after. Not The Case. It stayed red, I almost skidded to a stop in the middle of the intersection but just decided to continue. well, My bad and totally my fault.
From the job I have applied the rules of the road to my regular off-hours riding and I think its a good route to follow. Just wait till the green. I always hate the Union Square intersection because not only does the bike lane abrubptly end, the road condition worsens, forcing us into the car lane on the uphill.There’s no lane markings whatsoever and everyone likes to race to the top of the hill.
The driver who called me on it said I screwed up traffic? I didn’t look behind me, but I think the lights were both still red with the pedestrian walk signals on and a NO RIGHT TURN ON RED. With that scenario, no traffic should have been moving, including me.
What are your thoughts on cyclists using the pedestrian walk signals as green?
April 6th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Was it the Washington/Webster intersection? That ped light is really weird; I pretty much never know WHEN it is going to come on.
I cross with my bike on ped lights all the time… so long as someone’s not actually in the ped crossing I can’t see how it “screws up” anything: cross traffic had BETTER be stopped, or they’re putting pedestrians in mortal danger.
All that being said, it’s against the law to cross on a red and I shouldn’t do it. On balance, if everybody did it all the time, the likelihood of someone getting hit goes up, so it’s a bad idea. Making a mistake once in a while though is no big deal.
April 6th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
I think cyclists have to walk a fine line between pedestrian and vehicle. When there are four-way pedestrian walk signals I think it is OK for cyclists to proceed as long as they slow down and are very aware of pedestrians crossing the street.
April 8th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Kudos to you for owning the mistake as you correctly surmised it affects MetroPed’s brand (you’re WAY more obvious than a regular bike!) . I’ve screwed up red lights on foot, by bike, and by car…VERY occasionally willfully. The fact of the matter is that bicycles, by law (as I understand it), are required to heed the same rules as autos, therefore using the walk signal as a “green” for a bicycle is unlawful, and it reflects poorly on all cyclists. Whether we like it or not, auto drivers are looking for excuses to pin traffic problems on something other than their individual contribution to the problem; construction, weather, other drivers, etc., so seeing a cyclist “outside the motoring system” disobey the rules can lead to resentment (hidden jealousy maybe?). I’m not saying it’s “right” or “wrong”, just looking at the law.