Going through on red lights: a complicated issue for some, a straightforward one for others. We've received a myriad of interesting and wide-ranging replies on our live blog, and here's a roundup of the most compelling ones.
MTB Refugee: "Red light means stop. End of discussion.
I cycle more than I drive, but as both a cyclist and a driver I really despair to see cyclists (or drivers) go through red lights.
Every cyclist who goes through red lights provide ammunition for the anti-cycling lobby. It is also illegal and it makes it tough to argue against motorists breaking the law (close passes etc.) if they can constantly refer to law breaking by cyclists."
Tom_77: "In an ideal world everyone would obey the highway code at all times.
In the real world drivers break the rules all the time*, frequently putting cyclists in danger. It's not surprising that cyclists sometimes feel the need to break the rules in order to put some distance between themselves and a carelessly driven motor vehicle.
Personally, I haven't ever jumped a red light. But I will cycle on an empty pavement if it's safer than the road."
bensynnock: "When I go out cycling I count how many motorists jump a red light and I permit myself to jump that many myself. I never get anywhere near to my limit.
It's always, one driving through on amber, second one accelerating through the amber, then the third accelerating even harder and going through on red. Every set of lights at every junction.
I am completely past the point of caring what the rules are. They were designed for cars. I obey them stringently when I drive the car, but very few other motorists do. They speed around the city, even over 40 in the 20 zones, they skip the lights, they sit on their phones, they never indicate, they cut corners at junctions, they never give way to pedestrians, they park across the pavement and cycle lanes... Any rule they think they can get away with breaking they will.
The rule breaking from drivers is relentless. It's a lawless mess. But apparently if I decide to take a right turn during the pedestrian phase of the lights so I'm not sat in the middle of the road with traffic passing on both sides until there's a gap, then that makes me the bad guy?
I don't actually do it very often, but if I feel it's safer then I'll break the rules. Everybody else does."
HoarseMann: "The green pedestrian signal was showing for cross traffic from the left, so the main consideration was traffic from the right. It was clear and getting across meant no conflict with the oncoming right-turning traffic. The bus behind had pulled into a stop, so less of a concern.
Yes, it's illegal, but if done with care then not unsafe. I would need to see more of this cyclist's riding style to know whether that was a carefully considered infraction or they were just oblivious!"
Before we begin any discussion on today's live blog, it'd be nice to provide a disclaimer: Jumping red lights is illegal for cyclists according to the Highway Code.
With that said, let's get into the latest storm that's brewing up in the world of cycling Twitter (cycling X doesn't have the same ring). Andy Boenau, an urbanist and active travel campaigner from Virginia, USA, has shared a video of a cyclist in London going through on red lights at a junction, with the words, arguing that it's "often safest for a cyclist to go through a red light", and claiming that video was an example of how a cyclist can safely keep momentum.
"Bicycles and motor vehicles should never be treated as equals, so "but red means stop!" isn't a useful reaction," he added.
It's often safest for a cyclist to go through a red light. Here's an example of safely keeping momentum.
Bicycles and motor vehicles should never be treated as equals, so "but red means stop!" isn't a useful reaction.
pic.twitter.com/o8oHQGQb6z— Andy Boenau (@Boenau) January 30, 2024
While such a tweet was certain to bring the most staunch anti-cycling fanatics from the pits of the universe, this opinion has even led to a lot of cyclists in the UK disagreeing with the statement. Besides the rather lengthy and detailed Community Notes on Twitter reiterating the Highway Code rule 69 which says that cyclists "MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals" (Is this the first time we've seen Community Notes being used for something like this?)
Cycling instructor and advocate from Birmingham Tim reacted to the tweet saying: "
This isn’t true. This is terrible cycling. And the red light jumping is only part of it. Cyclist should be in primary position for a start"
> Should cyclists be allowed to ride through red lights? Campaigners split on safety benefits
However, a few people, including Boneau also took an issue with the bus driver tailgating the cyclist, with some also arguing that jumping red lights is one way for cyclists to get rid of drivers creeping up way past the point of comfort behind them.
Boneau wrote: "With all the attention focused on this cyclist rolling through red at the end of the video, no one talks about the bus tailgating the cyclist at the start of the video. It's bad enough to ride up on a bike like that, but even worse knowing the bus is about to stop."
That might be the camera angle ie looking down by some margin I assume double decker.
This said london buses are driven poorly ie will tailgate and so on particularly slower cyclists and so on.
Still not convinced it’s wise or safe though!
— Roger Merriman (@rogermerriman) January 31, 2024
Another campaigner and Twitter user named Plastic Irony said: "Not going to jump onto a thread started from Virginia, but in UK context, I'd be taking issue with the tailgating first. Does that exonerate the cyclist? No, don't think it does, because car on other side is indicating right and not all junctions are directly symmetrical.
"Even if we take out the car on opposite, I've never accepted argument that it's ok to go through red simply because it builds gap from vehicles behind - they can just catch up anyway.
"But in early hours, especially on bike with step through frame, there's case to rethink law, but for now, just step out of frame and become a pedestrian, no law is being broken. See also lights that won't change due to poorly designed sensors. In my humble opinion neither apply here."
If I am honest from the chap position, I assumed he wasn't a very confident rider, stopping at the lights would have been fine, I assumed they wanted to get ahead of the bus following relatively closely behind. I can understand that motivation.
— Christopher Lang (@langoo) January 31, 2024
Just a couple of weeks ago, Surrey Police stopped and fined four cyclists jumping a red light and shared the video on social media, leading to a lot of commotion and questioning of the police force's actions.
It also might be interesting to point out here that the safety of cyclists having to stop at red lights is probably one of the most divisive topics amongst cyclists. In fact, in some parts of the world, such as Colorado in the United States and Paris, France, it is perfectly legal for cyclists to go through red lights.
Cycling campaigner Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet of Bike for Good, speaking to Scotland on Sunday last year, even argued that similar practices could be implemented here in the United Kingdom.
But as we can all assume, the odds of that happening in the country right now seem quite low. But as always, no better place to express your opinions than the road.cc live blog comment section. So go ahead and let us know if you think cycling through red lights could be safer or not...
A councillor has urged locals to respect the consultation process and "see how the trial progresses" amid noise and protests from an outspoken group of residents unhappy at the decision to close a "rat-run" through a park in order to promote a safer environment for cyclists and walkers.
From 17 January, a road through Poole Park, in the Dorset town, has been closed to through-traffic, preventing rat-running drivers using the heritage listed park in a conservation area as a cut-through near Sandbanks, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country.
Councillor Andy Hadley, BCP Council's portfolio holder for the environment, insisted the council does not have an "anti-car agenda" but there is a "challenge on our roads about the dominance of the car" with vehicles "getting bigger and more of them".
Read more: > Councillor defends closing park "rat-run" to drivers to promote cycling and address "challenge" of "dominance of the car"
While everyone is at the topic of passionately debating whether red light-jumping for cyclists should be acceptable or not, CycleGaz has posted this compilation video of motorists clearly not giving heed to the traffic lights.
When are motorists going to learn the difference between🔴 Red and🟢 Green🚦? pic.twitter.com/NoD7tiiiy4
— CycleGaz™ (@cyclegaz) January 31, 2024
What are his thoughts on the cyclist going through on red lights from earlier today, you ask?
“Stop at red”
— CycleGaz™ (@cyclegaz) January 31, 2024
What's common between Champs-Élysées in Paris, La Rambla in Barcelona and Mariahilfer Strasse in Vienna?
Well, they're all definitely more cycling-friendly than a lot of London streets, including Regent Street. However, some of Europe's most famous shopping streets, along with other active travel-friendly cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Seville, are set to serve as inspiration for the iconic London street's "grand European overhaul".
According to The Standard, Westminster Council and The Crown Estate have unveiled their "Regent Street Public Realm Vision", which includes plans to reduce traffic to make way for more cyclists and pedestrians.
The council said the "ultimate ambition" is to create a "new green link through the heart of the West End" that connects St James’s Park to Regent’s Park. The project would also mean changes to Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket and parts of Pall Mall.
"This would emphasise and reimagine the famous architect John Nash's 'park-to-park' connection, set out over 200 years ago," a spokesman said.
Paul Dimoldenberg, cabinet member for city management and air quality, added: "The Regent Street Public Realm Vision report represents a commitment to a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive urban environment. We’ve worked extensively with members of the public to shape a vision that is based on what they want to see."
A Tour de France-style final stage for the Tour of Britain on Regent Street, with Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert, racing in front of the three H&Ms and alarmingly high number of American candy shops? Well sign me up! (Here's to hoping the ToB makes a swift comeback...)
> Tour of Britain and Women's Tour no longer listed on UCI calendar
Cometh the man, cometh the hour. Is 2029 finally the year we see Jonas Vingegaard make an appearance on the UCI's cycling men's road World Championships?
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture announced that they have sent an official application to the International Cycling Union (UCI) for Denmark to host the World Cycling Championships in 2029, reports TV2.
The application states that Aarhus will host the individual starts, and the line races will be held in Zealand. The races will start in Helsingør and Roskilde, and the finish line is in Copenhagen.
UCI is expected to make the decision in September this year. So can we expect a road race around the streets of Copenhagen to crown the best rider with the rainbow arounds?
As of now, the upcoming destinations for road cycling Worlds are Zurich this year, followed by Rwanda, Montreal, Haute-Savoie and then Abu Dhabi in 2028.
Cool image of 12 years old Tadej Pogačar winning the Criterium Grand Prix race in Idrija, Slovenia. Winner from the beginning. 🇸🇮🏆
📷: Klemen Petrič pic.twitter.com/ulMPlT15U0— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) January 31, 2024