Bicycle Austin forum

Sigh.  I got a ticket this evening for running a red light.  I did run the light, but there was no cross traffic and my logic (though law breaking) was that if I got started before the cars, I would not keep the cars from having to drive super slow behind me, or worse, pass me quickly and un-safely.  I got "pulled-over" by a bike cop and was given a citation for running a red light, a 275.00 ticket (!).  The officer informed me that I *may* have an opportunity to take a safety class (https://austincycling.org/education/cla … ve_cycling) and have the situation dismissed.  God, I hope so! Ultimately, I want to be a safe rider both for myself and the other bikers and drivers around me.  I'm sure I could use a defensive cycling class as much as any other bike commuter, maybe more because I ride TO work at 7 am when there are very few cars on the road and I tend to be a bit on the crazy side.  I do have issues with the way that cars treat me, yell at me, cut in front of me quickly and often seem to be doing it out of spite, but I usually don't try and fight them because well, I have no chance.  The problem I have with this whole situation is; in the time I was getting pulled over, and immediately after, I saw multiple driving infractions that were not addressed in any way.  For one, a driver made a LEFT on red, which I see ALL the time.  Another car ran a yellow light AFTER I had been pulled over so I guess the cop could have busted trying to get to him, but definitely, did not.  A whole bunch of cars switched lanes without signals and there was a car sitting in the bike lane, looking at their cell phone (that one REALLY gets me!).  That was all in about 10 minutes, and I obviously see a lot more infractions as I am riding my 8 mile round trip to and from work.  Then when a car passes me on the left and then has to stop at a red light or stop sign and I pull up past them on the right, they beep and yell at me and throw me the finger.  SERIOUSLY?!?  I know this is the wrong way to think about it, but honestly it makes me want to be an A-hole and starting using the full lane (so as to avoid the situation I just mentioned) and not try hard to get over to the right to allow cars to pass.  I don't know...I was thinking today about all the bikers killed and I obviously do not want to be one of those.  However, it feels pretty crappy to be seen and treated as a second class citizen because I choose a healthier option of commuting, both for myself and the environment.  I will definitely be more mindful of stop signs and lights but not because it will piss less people off or keep me from getting tickets (well maybe that one a liitle bit) but because I need my body whole and healthy and you know, alive...

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