Court summons for RLJ

Just like to point out again that 1. I was going very slowly, even if I hit someone it wouldn't have done a thing, and 2. The single person there was not within the lines of the crossing.

Also, it is more than fair to complain about killer taxis, I get them cuttin me up and forcing me into the curb for no reason ther than that they can. I was just trying to save some time by going through a red light with one ped on it, where I know for a fact that it is a red light for all directions of traffic.

I have some sympathy with you on this one. You get busted for RLJ, fair enough, take it on the chin and make your donation to your local MPs new duck mansion with good grace. But what you describe obvioulsly wasn't dangerous riding (or whatever the charge was).

Very obviously the actual reason you got stopped was because you flaunted the law (red light) right in front of the rozzer so he didn't actually have much choice but to stop you.

I'm not a lawyer, so basically I'm talking out of my arse, but it does sound like he'd have a hard time proving you were riding dangerously though going that slowly. That charge sounds more akin to the one they they used when that poor gentlemen was killed by the cyclist on the pavement (when they should have done manslaughter). Totally disproportionate, and given that no one complained / got hurt / alarmed at you seems a tad harsh.

Since when has RLJing become the new front brake debate? It's a personal choice, I don't see the point in getting high and mighty about it. Martin Porter the cycling lawyer puts it better than I could:

"A myopic view of the fundamental laws of physics which permits motorists to argue that their responsibilities and actions in controlling 1,000+ kgs at up to 70mph should be judged in a similar manner to those controlling less than 100kgs at up to about 20mph. It is not necessary to be an apologist for red light jumping or pavement riding cyclists to point out that the risks they pose are many orders of magnitude less than the risks to pedestrians and cyclists from poorly controlled motor vehicles."

I RLJ all the time but I don't do it without having had a very good look everywhere, establishing it is safe to do so and establishing there are no popos nearby. If I get caught I'll take whatever without complaining, but painting a picture of RLJing being fundamentally wrong for all cyclists all the time is just wrong and simplistic.

I don't know mate, you'd definitely notice a difference in how motorised vehicles treat you when you don't RLJ.

does make my long commute home easier.

Ed. I'm sorry, but all the shit I've had off drivers has happened nowhere near or had anything to do with RLJing.

... it generally has more to do with me cutting them up, swerving all over the place and kicking off wing mirrors willy-nilly.

Dangerous cycling carries a maximum fine of £2,500, extremely harsh considering using a mobile phone whilst driving is only £1,000 + 3 penalty points.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069870

I'm with Ed on this one- I think (although I have no proof of course) that vehicles give me more room when passing if I have waited at the red with them.

I think the key word in that sentence is with- being as Oliver says part of the traffic rather than being bikes vs. everything else.

I'm with Ed on this one- I think (although I have no proof of course) that vehicles give me more room when passing if I have waited at the red with them.

+1, even more so if some other cyclist has gone through the lights whilst you've waited.

My mate who cycles to work every day has had more accidents with other cyclists running in to him from behind when he stops at a red light then with anything else on the road ;p

He was done for "wanton or furious cycling" wasn't he? Or some such ridiculous 1800s law. I also heard that he didn't actually hit the chap that died - it was an old fella that took fright, fell backwards, hit his head and tragically died later. He's out now, anyway.

Yeah - that was it. I knew it wasn't exactly the same - just thought it seemed a significant step up from the usual red light jumping offence (actually, I don't even know what that offence is properly called...) and seemed more ballpark to the one mentioned above.

I wonder if that wanton and furious has been applied anywhere else since it's been ressurected...

Slightly off topic- Fenella was cycling in to work the other day along Camberwell new road up to Oval.

A car ahead of her in the right hand lane (the one that is not a bus lane) started to indicate to go left down a side street.

So she started to slow down to let the car pull left.

At which point a woman behind her started dinging her bell like fury.

Fenella, rightly wondering what was going on asked the lady who she was dinging at- she replied that it was at Fenella as "I didn't think you knew I was behind you as you started slowing down".

i.e. it was Fenella's responsibility in the eyes of this other cyclist to maintain a safe stopping distance ahead of her, read the road for her etc etc.

The mind boggles.

That cyclist sound like a driver who just started riding a bike.

This cleared everything up for me

If a skinny Chinese guy gets in a fight in a club he can't ask for leniency from the bouncers on the grounds he's only small and not some big African fucker.

Originally Posted by richoking
If a skinny Chinese guy gets in a fight in a club he can't ask for leniency from the bouncers on the grounds he's only small and not some big African fucker.

This cleared everything up for me

was it Confucius that said that originally?

richoking[/B]
If a skinny Chinese guy gets in a traffic light outside a club he can't be arrested by the bouncers on the grounds he's in the traffic light and not jumping off it....and not some big African who wouldn't fit in a traffic light

Is that what you meant?

All those posts ^^

Racist.

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If a skinny Chinese guy gets in a fight in a club he can't ask for leniency from the bouncers on the grounds he's only small and not some big African fucker
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Skinny chinese fucking big africans.. what kind of messed up forums do you spend your time on outside of this one?

still it is a master stroke in forcing this thread away from the cusp of C+.. good skills, they have been noted

link please.

However....how many pedestrians cross the road when the 'red man' is up, and cross the road willy-nilly without looking?

maybe they will take action on pedestrians cross the roads on red and step out into the road in any place other than a ped crossing

Unlike most countries it's not illegal for pedestrians to cross a red light in the UK, or even to walk across the road anywhere.

As a pedestrian you can legally walk in the middle of the road and all vehicles have to give you right of way. It's pretty stupid to try that out though...

I Jump red lights. As long as you're conscientious about it I don't see a problem with it.

Obviously don't run down/scare pedestrians, don't cause a danger to road users, and don't cause danger to yourself.

Most times its possible to jump a red perfectly safely with out causing trouble to anyone.

Its a matter of personal judgement.

I think this ITS THE LAW, OBIDE BY IT attitude is totally irrational. Think for yourself. And don't put too much faith in 'the guys that are just enforcing the rules'.

I know you have right of way at junctions. if you are crossing cars turning in/out have to let you pass. i exercise that one daily (if there are no lights)

i guess it's not illegal but they haven't got a leg to stand on.... if i catch them with enough speed

if you get paid to ride around all day then surely its a small inconvinience to pay FPNs for RLJ?
personally I signed stop at red,
but its all anarchy anyway, under a veneer of civility this city operates on a solely self-interested basis.

if you get paid to ride around all day then surely its a small inconvinience to pay FPNs for RLJ?
personally I signed stop at red,
but its all anarchy anyway, under a veneer of civility this city operates on a solely self-interested basis.

how very right you are.

I've always accepted fixed penalty fines as part of the deal with couriering; I think I've had five or six of them in 17 years. But those are £30 (used to be £20) fines not £2500. I don't think I've ever heard of a courier or anyone else being threatened with that before. ATK: maybe it's someone from Whitfield st nick that has seen you in the park and is just jealous of your youth and high spirits. I know I am. Or maybe it's that Spinergy front wheel. If I was you I'd just tape Ronnie's voice on the radio and if you do go to court get your brief to play it; even the most hardened magistrate would take pity on a courier who has to listen to that all day.

judges hate having their time wasted by petty shit...

Don't we all?

Oh. Hang on...