BIKE: Car-Free Word newsletter | April 20, 2004

[Patrick Goetz]

Chuck_Thomas wrote:
> It seems to me that hurling 4000lbs of glass, steel and rubber thru an
> intersection at a high speed on a light that just turned red is a bigger
> hazard to society than me pedaling thru it after quadruple checking that
> the coast is clear.  Granted both may be bad but why would you consider
> my offence more grievous?
> 

I think Dahmus was suggesting that when motorists run red lights, it's 
typically because they're trying to beat a yellow light, while 
bicyclists will run a red light smack in the middle of the red light.

Unfortunately, this isn't always true.  If I had a dollar for every time 
I saw a car blast through an intersection right in the middle of the red 
part of the cycle (whether intentional or not -- does it really matter?) 
then I wouldn't be wasting my time on this forum, I'd be too busy 
enjoying my new private tropical island.

This discussion seems to come up over and over on this list.  I 
personally don't see anything wrong with going through a red light when 
there are no cars in the opposing lanes to be inconvenienced, others beg 
to differ.  I don't think anyone's mind is going to be changed by 
blabbing about it on an email list, so why even bother bringing it up 
(Mike)?