• The thing about jumping red lights is not that it's dangerous, or illegal particularly, it's just that you're only given the time and space to do so if all other road users abide by the rules.

    Everyone else waits on the red light, giving one rule violator time to break it. If we all broke the rules chaos would ensue so red light jumpers exploit the rule-abiding nature of the majority of road users (cars and peds included) so they can break the rules.

    It's a kind of arrogance - you're implicitly saying that everyone else needs to obey but you don't have to.

    As far as overtaking goes. It's a small inconvenience, but overtaking the same person multiple times gets frustrating.

    I could give the Yosarian argument but I know you're (mostly) right.

    I guess I've been cycling so long its a habit born in the days when the were very few cyclists on the roads in London and a certain arrogant 'reclaiming of the streets' riding style developed. I actually think mostly its safer to jump the lights, you don't get caught in shenanigans at the off and all the motorists can see you up ahead.
    I slow right down going through ped crossings (the only peds I've hit have stepped out on me from behind busses etc) and I'm pretty careful. But also arrogant. Probably.

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