2009-04-05 - Rider Down, Old Street roundabout Shoreditch exit

1.) it is not a safe generalization to say running red lights is less safe than sitting at them. It's not always a risk to slow down, look both ways, and keep going. It's a risk to trust drivers and it's a risk to make bad judgments and assumptions about what traffic will do, there are intersections where running the light isn't worth it. 9 times out of 10 IMHO running a red gets you away from traffic patterns and onto streets less crowded by cars. IMHO running a red and riding aggressively in general is usually the safest option. IMHO it is often highly dangerous to sit at a light waiting for it to turn green while aggro car drivers get more aggro about having to wait. I for one choose to separate myself from cars however possible.

I agree, although I would say 'assertive' not 'aggressive'. It is definitely safer to be in front of traffic and be seen. Therefore, if there is no cross-traffic it is safe to ride through and get a head-start on those behind. I normally do this and find that I ride large stretches of road with hardly any vehicles as a result.

Assertive riding primarily (to me) means holding the lane as if you were bigger. I do this too, I am often traveling as fast or faster than the cars around me - it's bad to hug the curb because then traffic will pass when it is not really safe for them to do so.

Aggressive riding though, well I'm not sure. That sounds a bit confrontational, I try not to be that. Basically, I try and practice 'invisible riding'. As in if the vehicles around me could not see me, would I be in trouble? That's how I make my decisions. You can't rely on people to see you, but you can rely on yourself.

So I never go down the left of a vehicle turning left. I never go down the left of an HGV, ever. Unless the lights have just gone red and I know he's stuck. If I cross a red at a crossroads I look for green ped lights on the cross traffic. That way I know nobody is gonna come across. When I pass peds, I always ride behind them. People do stupid things crossing the road, some hurry, some stop dead. Ride behind them - Iv'e never seen one walk backwards yet!

The only time I'm aggresive is towards idiots who don't pay attention. Nine times out of ten it's people in cars trying to merge who just didn't see me. I ride close to the center to avoid this anyway, but when it happens I dip round and show the finger, then ride on...