Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

Originally Posted by Londonlax
Police were doing a blitz on RLJs at the junction of Southwark Bridge and Southwark St today. As a rule I don't jump reds myself so no problems I'm thinking. I pull up at the red light in front of a black cab turning left, I am intending on going straight ahead.

Of course I hadn't noticed that the cab is sitting in the advanced cycle box and consequently I'm in front of the forward stop line. The light drops to amber and I'm about to pull away when I get a police officer on the curb yelling at me to stop because he wants to speak with me.

He is telling me I am breaking the traffic rules which is a £30 fine and I'm trying to explain to him I need to be out in front of the left turning taxi to be seen instead of waiting in his blind spot. Meanwhile the traffic is now turning left and taxis and huge coaches are making the left turn around me whilst the officer stands on the curb lecturing me about the problems of bad cyclists. I was getting a bit panicky about the coach turning across me and the guy seemed to sense this because then he decides wave me on and not fine me 'this time'. I am still pretty worked up about the whole situation however.

I think it is ridiculous that I would need to stay back alongside a left turning vehicle when it is occupying the cycle box.

Let's go through this again:

The advanced boxes are NOT enforceable*. If there is a motorist in the box why can't you wait directly behind that vehicle in the middle or to the right of that lane? This way your road position tells everyone behind that you're going straight ahead.

I keep hearing people say it's safer to be in front of cars. Hang on. If that car is going forward the safest place is surely behind it, or am I missing something?

Also the indicating cab was at the head of the queue before you, why do you have the right to go in front of it? If you were waiting at an ATM would you allow me to get to the front because I had a bike?

• I personally question how much use these boxes are; Unless the lights are two phased i.e. cyclists go 30secs before vehicles you're still going to get caught up by motorists any way!