Safe Speed Forums

Where did I 'condone' red light junmping in this thread?

In one post I asked if it was a question of degree of light-jumpage. You didn't answer that, but picked on my choice of one word to try and twist my point, true to form.

That's a tricky one to call.

Of course those involved in a collision would almost certainly perish, however, if the limit was raised to that level then other road users would take so much more care before stepping out into the road, so the number of incidents may actually decrease. Which effect wins? Who knows!
I've seen the other extreme happen in Portsmouth, where people (with families) now just step into a busy 20mph road without looking at all.

_________________
Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

Those parts? Your bias that cyclists can go faster than the speed limit just because there is no offence of speeding on a push bike.

What makes you think I condone cyclists going through red lights? The only time this is acceptable is if they dismount and walk around the corner on the footpath or if wanting to cross doing so on a green man on foot[*]. When cycling you have the advantage that you can become a pedestrian and use the modes of movement available to a pedestrian if you wish to.

[*]On the subject of being on foot, is it OK for people to cross when the man is red if in their judgement it is clear to do so? I would go for yes, so technically if a cyclist dismounts they can cross a junction on red.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

The other way of looking at it is that that they would hopefully only be doing 50 or 60 when there were no or few pedestrians around and the traffic was light. The problem would come from drivers that have been indoctrinated into believing the speed limit is an indication of the safe speed regardless of conditions.

Edit - another thought

If the road was made NSL and it was also made clear that the driver would be facing a careless/dangerous driving conviction if the speed was considered excessive for the conditions or unless the pedestrian could be shown to have been grossly negligent/culpable? Not expressed to the finest detail there, just trying to imply that the duty of care/responsibility would be assumed to lie with the driver in an urban environment.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

My understanding of the law, and it may be out of date, is that a cyclist is subject to the same regulations whether he his riding, scooting or pushing his machine. He does not become a pedestrian by the act of jumping off his cycle. The legislator's intention being to prevent a cyclist getting off his machine at a restrictive sign or light and scoot or walk past it. The only exception was that it was legal to wheel a bicycle at nigh without lights - to allow him to get home if his lights failed.

_________________
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

So if you get a footbridge that has a no cycling sign you cannot walk across it to save what could be half a mile or more on the road? I get the scooting, though we have all done it if the coast is clear

I wonder what happens if you carry the bike or have a folding bike for that matter.

Just shows how daft some of the laws are.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

What about a partially-dismantled bike? How dismantled would a bike be before it wasn't a bike any more?

E.g. if you quick released, say, the saddle, could you then walk the bike?

Johnny .. I think you could .. but I have to ask Andreas/Siegli who are lawyers as to any known case law.. or IG who can also access such stuff.

My common sense view is that you could. But we also know that rules/laws and common sense are not easy bed-fellows

_________________
If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.