31-Aug-06
Red light = stop.
Simple isn't it? A traffic light is red so you stop at it. I mean, what could be harder? Personally I don't have a problem with this concept, and I studied horticulture for kryzakes, which is hardly rocket science!
Realising that a traffic light is red and stopping at it is a simple business, we've figured that much out. So why is it (and you know where I'm going with this...) that SO many people have a problem with it? Why do most cyclists (and I really do mean the majority!) simply ignore these red signals? I see it EVERYDAY and it bugs and scares me.
I understand that traffic lights are infuriating, especially at a pelican crossing devoid of pedestrians but running red lights simply makes all other road users disrespect cyclists even more thereby furthering the perceived "bad name" that we have to bear.
On a scarier note: this disregard for red lights contributes to the bad habits of other road users. Pedestrians have ignored the little red man since he first appeared and everyone knows that can be extremely annoying and very dangerous but there is a far more worrying trend appearing. I was discussing this with a colleague who agrees that red lights must not be run and he mentioned that he's seen more and more motorcyclists jump reds. He reckons this is due to the precedent set by cyclists. I see it a lot, and not just beginner pizza delivery mopedders, even cars run reds a lot.
You think there'd be a law against running reds. Oh wait...
Funny story! I sometimes shout at fellow cyclists when they run red lights and one guy reacted most comically. He went straight through on a red so I said "Woah! Careful! It's red!" I admit, quite sarcastically. He turned and gave me the finger along with "Fuck off! Wanker!" I common with all these people that run red lights, I then caught him at the next set, which he couldn't run.
"That was a little harsh!"
"Fuck off, fascist." (Me? A fascist?????)
"Pardon?"
"What right do you ahve to tell me what to do?"
"I didn't! Running red lights is against the law."
"So? I choose when to break the law. It's my choice!"
"Eh...?!??!"
"If I didn't run red lights I wouldn't get to work on time."
Let's, at this point, just insert a couple of quotes fom convicted felons:
"If I didn't rape people I wouldn't get any sex."
"If I didn't rob banks I wouldn't have any money."
"If I didn't commit genocide my race wouldn't be pure."
Ok, these examples are in a totally different league, but his was a rubbish excuse for breaking the law.
My message to fellow cyclists who run red lights:
"Don't do it, just get faster, it's much more satisfying."
