Why do cyclists ignore red lights and zebra crossings?

Answer 1

begs another question why do taxi drivers?

Answer 2

Anything to give them an advantage over lunatic drivers (especially cabbies) who seem to think that a 30 cm gutter is quite enough space (actually, vehicles are supposed to give cyclists at least 1 m clearance), or people who open their car door without checking behind them, or pull out of blind turns without stopping, or or or...

Cyclists are a hell of a lot more vulnerable on the road than motorists, which is why they quite often end up riding on the pavement. Which they shouldn't, but a cyclist is a hell of a lot less dangerous (i.e. lower velocity, and much lower mass, the two determinants of kinetic energy transfer) to pedestrians than motorists are to cyclists/pedestrians.

Example: KE = m/2 · v[squared], so a motorist, with the parameters:
Mass = 1500 kg (or 3000 kg for a black cab/SUV!),
Speed = 30 mph (13.4 m per s)
...has a KE = 134670 (or 269340) J, whereas a cyclist with the parameters:
Mass = 75 (rider) + 10 (bike) = 85 kg
Speed = 20 mph (8.9 m per s)
...has a KE = 3366 J. i.e. a car running at 30 mph (UK speed limit in towns) would hit a pedestrian about 40 (to 80) times harder than a cyclist running at 20 mph (about as fast as a non-professional can go). And how many drivers these days bother with speed limits when there's no cameras to catch them?

Also, cyclists are a lot more manoeuvreable (sp?) than motorists, again because of the lower weight/velocity, which reduces inertia (= m · v), and the fact that they take up a lot less space than the average car. So if someone does step out onto the crossing, the light-jumping cyclist (who also has potentially much better peripheral vision than a motorist) can stop or avoid them a lot more quickly. Again, they shouldn't, but the simple fact is that they're far less dangerous to pedestrians than cars, and far more vulnerable than pedestrians to drivers who just don't give a toss.

And who says cyclists can't be held respsonsible for the damage they do? Just because they don't pay road tax doesn't mean they can't get sued, fined, or have their driving license suspended. (e.g. in Germany, where I now live, you can lose your driving license for being drunk in charge of a bicycle).

So give them a break. It's hard work being healthy, active and environmentally friendly.

Answer 3

As a cyclist for over 40 years, I always obey the rules of the road and get annoyed when I see other cyclists give those of us who are law abiding a bad name by going through red lights, on pavements, the wrong way down one-way streets etc. My other pet hate is cyclists who ride at night in dark clothing and without any or proper lights. I for one would be wholeheartedly in favour of cyclists being required to have third-party insurance and even some kind of test if only such a scheme were workable and could be policed/enforced economically.

Answer 4

Unfortunately it is not just cyclists ........... you will always get the odd, selfish, ignorant minority in any group who always give that group a bad name. Just think .... when was the last time you thought "look at that cycle / lorry / car / taxi following the rules of the road and being polite?". We always remember the ones that irritate us. I have attended some of the idiots and it is amazing how you always get the comment "I was in the right!". Facts show that it usually those idiots that actually have the accident ............... if they want to be an organ donor, who are we to argue with them, after all they are always in the right.

Drive safely, and don't let the idiots get to you, life is far too short ................ especially for some of the other road users.

Answer 5

There is always a few that don't follow the highway code & they are the ones that cause accidents. But on the whole there are more that do obay the rules, The police should tighten up on the ones that break the law then the road & footpaths would be a safer place

Answer 6

Because even though a bicycle is a vehicle and is supposed to obey all the same rules as any motor operated vehicle, a license is not required and police do not enforce it. So, cyclists feel they can do whatever they want to do.

Answer 7

Because they are arrogant tossers like the car drivers that think speed limits are optional.

Its not just the minority of cyclists, if I see one approaching a red light my money will be on him going through it every time.

Answer 8

Most cyclists in my experience are responsible but the actions of a few who think that they are above the law are positively dangerous. Perhaps it is because they have no license plates to identify them?

Answer 9

If they get hit by jumping a red light by a vehicle they blame the driver and claim compensation - it's all for money

Answer 10

im a cyclist i sometimes go over crossings if there are no pedestrians as it is safe to do so and it gets the crazy cars off my back

and please let us overtake... i was following a woman through the centre of my village and she wudent let me get past her...she was only going 25 so grrrrr

Answer 11

Well no zebras around here. When you have your feet straped to the pedals and no police are around zoom thru that intersection. I have been stopped for running a stop on my bike