|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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' |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
"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. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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 |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
(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* |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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 |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
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 |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Confessions of a red-light runner...
"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 |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Confessions from a novice stair-rider. | steveyo | Unicycling | 1 | September 29th 06 06:29 PM |
Need help to plan schedule for World Runner | [email protected] | UK | 14 | October 1st 05 09:36 PM |
Confessions | bomba | Mountain Biking | 11 | September 11th 05 10:48 PM |
Confessions of a new commuter | Stuart Lamble | Australia | 24 | March 1st 05 09:20 PM |
Fun runner turns cycle commuter | Dave Kahn | UK | 2 | January 25th 04 12:11 PM |