Confessions of a red-light runner...

Hi,

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes impersonation.
I'm angry (eyes twinkle). Yeah angry (smiles widely).

It's those traffic lights that don't allow enough time for a slow cyclist to
go through before they turn red. Sometimes you're only a metre or so from
the intersection and the lights go amber. No time to safely brake on the
road debris which always seems to accumulate in the narrow bike lane at
traffic lights, so you pedal on. You're maybe half way through the
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of the
way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Have you been in a similar situation, or do your traffic lights last a
little longer? Please don't suggest interval training, or speeding up to
60 km/hr.

Cheers,

Vince

'Seeing red'

Vincent Patrick Wrote:
Hi,

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes
impersonation.
I'm angry (eyes twinkle). Yeah angry (smiles widely).

It's those traffic lights that don't allow enough time for a slow
cyclist to
go through before they turn red. Sometimes you're only a metre or so
from
the intersection and the lights go amber. No time to safely brake on
the
road debris which always seems to accumulate in the narrow bike lane
at
traffic lights, so you pedal on. You're maybe half way through the
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of
the
way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light
runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a
bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Have you been in a similar situation, or do your traffic lights last a
little longer? Please don't suggest interval training, or speeding up
to
60 km/hr.

Cheers,

Vince

'Seeing red'

I thought the red light cameras clicked about a second after the light
changes red. If you're already in the intersection, it doesn't count.
This may be incorrect, nevertheless I think your luck is really out if
you get busted for running a red light when it turns red whilst you're
in the middle of the intersection.

Ritch


--
ritcho

"Vincent Patrick" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes impersonation.
I'm angry (eyes twinkle). Yeah angry (smiles widely).

It's those traffic lights that don't allow enough time for a slow cyclist
to
go through before they turn red. Sometimes you're only a metre or so from
the intersection and the lights go amber. No time to safely brake on the
road debris which always seems to accumulate in the narrow bike lane at
traffic lights, so you pedal on. You're maybe half way through the
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of
the
way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Have you been in a similar situation, or do your traffic lights last a
little longer? Please don't suggest interval training, or speeding up to
60 km/hr.

Cheers,

Vince

'Seeing red'



If you're entering the intersection on amber and it was too late to safely
stop then it doesn't (legally) matter if the lights go red while you're
halfway through the intersection. I go through the Geelong Rd intersection
in Footscray each day which is from memory four lanes each way. It's a huge
intersection and a short light cycle so the lights regularly turn red while
I'm about two thirds of the way across, even if they turn amber *after* I
enter the intersection. I've pretty much left the intersection before the
lights go green in the other direction though.

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 11:36:10 +0800
Vincent Patrick wrote:
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of the
way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Did you cross the line before the light went red?

If you did then you are not crossing illegally.

Although as the Oz road rules refer to "driver" and the definition of
"driver" specifically doesn't include rider of a bicycle..... Nor, I
note, a motorcycle. heh heh heh


57 Stopping for a yellow traffic light or arrow
(1) This rule applies to:
(a) a driver approaching or at traffic lights showing a yellow
traffic light; or
(b) a driver approaching or at traffic arrows showing a yellow
traffic arrow who is turning in the direction indicated by
the arrow.
Note Yellow traffic arrow and yellow traffic light are defined in the
dictionary.
(2) The driver must stop:
(a) if there is a stop line at or near the traffic lights or arrows
and the driver can stop safely before reaching the stop
line -- as near as practicable to, but before reaching, the
stop line; or
(b) if there is no stop line at or near the traffic lights or arrows
and the driver can stop safely before reaching the traffic
lights or arrows -- as near as practicable to, but before
reaching, the nearest or only traffic lights or arrows; or

(c) if the traffic lights or arrows are at an intersection
and the driver cannot stop safely in accordance with
paragraph (a) or (b), but can stop safely before entering the
intersection -- before entering the intersection.
Note Enter, intersection and stop line are defined in the
dictionary.

(3) If the traffic lights or arrows are at an intersection and the
driver is not able to stop safely under subrule (2) and enters the
intersection, the driver must leave the intersection as soon as
the driver can do so safely.

Vincent Patrick wrote:
Hi,

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes impersonation.
I'm angry (eyes twinkle). Yeah angry (smiles widely).

It's those traffic lights that don't allow enough time for a slow cyclist to
go through before they turn red. Sometimes you're only a metre or so from
the intersection and the lights go amber. No time to safely brake on the
road debris which always seems to accumulate in the narrow bike lane at
traffic lights, so you pedal on. You're maybe half way through the
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of the
way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Have you been in a similar situation, or do your traffic lights last a
little longer? Please don't suggest interval training, or speeding up to
60 km/hr.

Cheers,

Vince

'Seeing red'

It's when the perpendicular lights go green as you're halfway through,
and the cars start off and T-bone you, that you have to worry. The
lights should be timed to give you enough time to get across at normal
speed. Raise hell with your road authority to get the interval
lengthened.

Donga

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 11:36:10 +0800, Vincent Patrick wrote:

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes impersonation.

That's a ****e impression of me!

Dave (no, not that one)

(And Pacific Hwy North Sydney has a couple of those intersections going
North as well. For some reason you're going a bit faster coming down the
hill. Weeee!)

--
Dave Hughes |
.... it is important to realize that any lock can be picked with a big
enough hammer." -- Sun System & Network Admin manual

(3) If the traffic lights or arrows are at an intersection and the
driver is not able to stop safely under subrule (2) and enters the
intersection, the driver must leave the intersection as soon as
the driver can do so safely.

Does this then mean that failing to speed up upon entering the intersection
on an amber light is an offense?

*smiles innocently*

Dave Hughes wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 11:36:10 +0800, Vincent Patrick wrote:

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes
impersonation.

That's a ****e impression of me!

Dave (no, not that one)


Oh dear, oh dear, I had forgotten that the real and most important Dave
Hughes was on the list. Then again, that other guy with the same name
wouldn't have thought much of my cheap impression either.

Please accept my apologies. :-)

Cheers,

Vince

In article , "Resound" wrote:

"Vincent Patrick" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Glasshouse may be a casualty, but here is a Dave Hughes impersonation.
I'm angry (eyes twinkle). Yeah angry (smiles widely).

It's those traffic lights that don't allow enough time for a slow cyclist
to go through before they turn red. Sometimes you're only a metre or so
from the intersection and the lights go amber. No time to safely brake on
the road debris which always seems to accumulate in the narrow bike lane at
traffic lights, so you pedal on. You're maybe half way through the
intersection and a car whizzes past in a hurry. No problem for them,
they're doing 80 km/hr and get through on the amber. Three quarters of
the way through the intersection and yep, there you are - a red light
runner.

It is (probably) safe enough, but if one of the blue gendarmes is in a bad
mood then it could easily result in a fine and demerit points.

Have you been in a similar situation, or do your traffic lights last a
little longer? Please don't suggest interval training, or speeding up to
60 km/hr.

Cheers,
Vince

If you're entering the intersection on amber and it was too late to safely
stop then it doesn't (legally) matter if the lights go red while you're
halfway through the intersection. I go through the Geelong Rd intersection
in Footscray each day which is from memory four lanes each way. It's a huge
intersection and a short light cycle so the lights regularly turn red while
I'm about two thirds of the way across, even if they turn amber *after* I
enter the intersection. I've pretty much left the intersection before the
lights go green in the other direction though.

There is an intersection in Canberra that I cannot get across on without
running the red light, the cycle is so short. I start from the line as
soon as the light goes green, am almost 1/2 way across when it goes
amber, & still have a bit to go when it turns red. I'd have to bust
something to get through those lights.
(FYI, the intersection is across Northbourne Ave, going from MacArthur
Ave to Wakefield Ave, any time after the evening peak hour.)

Who do I complain to to get something done? Or to sue if a car hits me?

--
K.A. Moylan
Canberra, Australia
Ski Club: http://www.cccsc.asn.au
kamoylan at ozemail dot com dot au

"K.A. Moylan" wrote in message
...
In article , "Resound" wrote:

snip

There is an intersection in Canberra that I cannot get across on without
running the red light, the cycle is so short. I start from the line as
soon as the light goes green, am almost 1/2 way across when it goes
amber, & still have a bit to go when it turns red. I'd have to bust
something to get through those lights.
(FYI, the intersection is across Northbourne Ave, going from MacArthur
Ave to Wakefield Ave, any time after the evening peak hour.)

Who do I complain to to get something done? Or to sue if a car hits me?

--
K.A. Moylan
Canberra, Australia
Ski Club: http://www.cccsc.asn.au
kamoylan at ozemail dot com dot au


Yeah that one's a bugger, I actually knew someone who was killed at that
intersection.

I usually get off and walk the bike across it now - better late than never
arriving at all!


//Adam F