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93 cyclists caught jumping lights

8:12am Thursday 24th May 2007

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A mother carrying a baby on her bike was among more than 90 cyclists caught jumping red lights yesterday at the scene of a fatal accident in Oxford.

Police said they were handing out fines 'like confetti' after 93 cyclists were given £30 fixed penalty fines for running red lights in Broad Street and Parks Road, where student cyclist Tsz Fok was killed last month.

Halfway through the stop-check, officers ran out of penalty tickets because so many had been caught ignoring the lights and at one stage cyclists were queuing to receive their fines and warnings from officers.

Pc Steven Higa said some of the cyclists fined were wearing earphones or texting on their mobile phones at the time.

He added: "Horrifyingly one lady with a baby on the rear of her bike rode through a red light."

Plain clothes officers waited at the traffic lights on the junction of Catte Street, Holywell Street, Broad Street and Parks Road, and at red lights on Parks Road, between 8.30am and 11.30am.

When cyclists were spotted going through red lights, officers radioed ahead to colleagues who pulled riders over, fined them £30, and gave verbal warnings and advice on road safety.

In just three hours, 25 cyclists were fined at the Broad Street junction, and 68 for going through the red lights on Parks Road, just under one every two minutes.

The total amount of fines handed out to cyclists was £2,790.

Pc Higa said a majority of the cyclists stopped said they were late and had been rushing.

He added: "I'm astonished and shocked at the result. We will now be at more locations at different areas in the city centre.

"People make a choice. That choice is 'do I stop at the lights and lose a couple of seconds, or do I go through the red lights and save a couple of seconds?' "At the end of the day, if you go through the lights and have a collision you can end up losing more than just a few seconds.

"We didn't envisage stopping so many. We thought it would be about 40. When it became clear the number of tickets we had were insufficient, we had to send back to get more. We were giving them out like confetti."

Third year engineering student Tsz Fok, 21, died after he was crushed by a lorry at the Broad Street junction in April. Pc Higa said yesterday's stop-check did not imply the student had run a red light.

After yesterday's stop-check many cyclists said they supported the fines.

Ido Isrealowich, 35, a student at Wadham College, said: "As painful as it might be, people should be fined because it is dangerous. I try not to go through red lights but I'm not the Pope."

Leo Hoole, 27, of Marston, said: "It's a good idea, there was an accident here, and getting a ticket certainly makes you think."

Paul Gee, 20, of Wadham College, said: "I would have to say I occasionally go through red lights on pedestrian crossings but I try not to."

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Louise, Abingdon says...
9:14pm Wed 23 May 07

About time this happened. Yet again this morning at the Plain roundabout, cyclist coming from city centre straight over and then decided to turn right in front of us - 1st rule of the roundabout - give way to traffic on the right. In one day I have had at least 5 cyclists disobeying rules at a roundabout, two running a run light and to top it all as a pedestrian I have have two nearly run me down at a pedestrian crossing - all in ONE day !! About time they had number plates and insurance so they can be held accountable for their actions.

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anon, says...
10:13pm Wed 23 May 07

Louise your talking out of your arse.

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Neil Walton, Bicester says...
10:14pm Wed 23 May 07

I used to cycle in from the Park and Ride and I stopped at red lights because I was a road user and obeyed the rules of the road. It was a rare day when a fellow cyclist stopped with me, mostly they just went through the red light.

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Neville Buckett, Horspath says...
10:26pm Wed 23 May 07

It is disapointing to read that the Police did not expect to find so many people ruuning red traffic lights. I cannot remember the last time I saw a cyclist stop at a red light they ussuall ride straight across or if obstructed ride onto the pavement. How can our Oxford police force not be aware of this now common practice.

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Kenny, oxford says...
11:29pm Wed 23 May 07

What about bus drivers skipping lanes on botley road to avoid the red lights in their designated alley? the gits

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Chris, Oxford says...
12:34am Thu 24 May 07

OK agreed many cyclists (certainly not ALL as most motorists seem to think) do jump red lights & cycle without due care. HOWEVER, when will action be taken agains crap motorists driving in Oxford who (a) drive or block bike lanes (b) cut up cyclists in bike lanes by not looking when turning left (c) pull out in front of cyclists at road junctions (d) speed past only giving cyclists about a foot of clearance, etc. etc.

Motorists are not blameless - cars are the cause of most road deaths. When motorists start giving cyclists more respect, then they can have a go us.

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Mark, Oxford says...
12:47am Thu 24 May 07

If the police were not expecting to hand out many tickets, they must all have spent the last few years asleep in the station. I cycle to work daily, and also drive frequently round to the iffley road area, and it _astounds_ me how many cyclists go straight through the lights on parks Road, the High St, at the end of Walton St, and even by the station, not to mention shoot out of Iffley road when I'm indicating to turn into cowley place.
A week of this crackdown all over oxford would pay our council tax for a year.....

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Stephanie, says...
7:59am Thu 24 May 07

I cycle into Oxford every day, and most motorists behave impeccably.

It is the cyclists who terrify me: I would say that about 90% of them ride recklessly in central Oxford. Training and fining them would only partly solve the problem, as a fresh lot of idiots arrive at Brookes and the University of Oxford every year.

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C, says...
9:00am Thu 24 May 07

Chris wrote:
OK agreed many cyclists (certainly not ALL as most motorists seem to think) do jump red lights & cycle without due care. HOWEVER, when will action be taken agains crap motorists driving in Oxford who (a) drive or block bike lanes (b) cut up cyclists in bike lanes by not looking when turning left (c) pull out in front of cyclists at road junctions (d) speed past only giving cyclists about a foot of clearance, etc. etc.

Motorists are not blameless - cars are the cause of most road deaths. When motorists start giving cyclists more respect, then they can have a go us.
And in the meantime, what of us pedestrians who are tired of playing "dodge the cyclist" on crossings and pavements?

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Sid Hunt, says...
9:08am Thu 24 May 07

OK agreed many cyclists (certainly not ALL as most motorists seem to think) do jump red lights & cycle without due care. HOWEVER, when will action be taken agains crap motorists driving in Oxford who (a) drive or block bike lanes (b) cut up cyclists in bike lanes by not looking when turning left (c) pull out in front of cyclists at road junctions (d) speed past only giving cyclists about a foot of clearance, etc. etc.

Motorists are not blameless - cars are the cause of most road deaths. When motorists start giving cyclists more respect, then they can have a go us.


When will cyclists start repecting the law? Cars are not the cause of most deaths - people drive cars, people ride bicycles. If a driver is passing through a green traffic signal it should be safe to assume that other traffic will have obeyed the opposing red signal - if cyclists wish to play Russian Roulette that is their concern but don't lay the blame on others for your puerile actions and the consequences.

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M, Oxford, Botley says...
9:16am Thu 24 May 07

Actually Anon, I agree with Louise. I'm a motorist and a cyclist. I have to have a licence, road tax and an MOT certificate to get in my car; if I do anything wrong and it's caught on camera or if I'm seen doing anything wrong, the police can issue a fine and give me points. If I hit something or ,god forbid, somebody I am held accountable if it's my fault and my insurance will cover me. However, if I get caught doing any of these things on a bicycle there's absolutely no way the police can do anything unless, as this article demonstrates, the police are there to catch me.
Cyclists moan about drivers, but are just as guilty of commiting road crime but continue to do so because they get away with it 99 times out of 100.
Most people want more and more draconian rules for drivers and their misdemeanours but cyclists knock people over, cause accidents too yet there's never the kind of calls that are made for motorists to be punished.
If I had to keep my bike in order, obey the rules, pay to use the roads(I think the cycle lanes would be improved if the cyclist paid for them), and carry at least 3rd party insurance in case I hit something or somebody I'm sure I pay a **** sight more attention to the road, cars and pedestrians than I do now.

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Kathryn, Oxford says...
9:36am Thu 24 May 07

I was almost run down by two cyclists as I crossed Cowley Road on a pedestrian crossing at 7.15 yesterday evening, one from each direction. Neither gave the slightest indication that they thought the red light applied to them. I would like to thank the man who did stop at the pedestrian crossing by St Cross church; he's a rarity these days.

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Matt, Oxford says...
9:37am Thu 24 May 07

Kenny wrote:
What about bus drivers skipping lanes on botley road to avoid the red lights in their designated alley? the gits
Ah, but those lights would change in their favour if they stayed in their own lane, so maybe they're just preventing you having to stop?

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Andy, Oxford says...
9:46am Thu 24 May 07

I agree with the fines on the cylists. But what about the dosey pedestrians that use the same area of road as a path! Also pedestrians using cyle tracks as footpaths when there is footpath next to it.

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Bob Purdie, Wood Farm says...
9:47am Thu 24 May 07

It's all the fault of the pedestrians - particulary the ones over 60 who are deaf in one ear and walk with a stick.

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Phil, Oxford says...
9:50am Thu 24 May 07

Every one should follow the rules of the road but to put things in perspective:

In 2004, one pedestrian was killed in a collision with a cyclist, but that is the only recent known death. Motor cyclists, of whom there are a similar number on the road as cyclists, killed 20 people and seriously injured another 200 last year. The number of direct pedestrian deaths caused by cars in the same year was 388, with another 5,000 people seriously injured and 20,000 moderately injured. On top of that, there were another 2,000 deaths on the road, all caused by motorised transport. It is a simple fact that the more cycling there is on the roads, the safer our roads become.

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Kate, Oxford says...
10:03am Thu 24 May 07

I have been working in Oxford for 2 years, and I am astonished at the behaviour of some cyclists (note I say "some"), who act as if normal rules of the road don't apply to them. Jumping red lights is common and goes on all over the city, and isn't limited to one age group - young, old, middle aged, all do it. Some cyclists are very good and stop as they should. Yet some will not only go through red lights, but will weave their way through pedestrians who are crossing the road at the Pelican crossing, sometimes shouting at them to get out of the way! When are the Police going to catch up with them?
If I drove my car through a red light and scattered pedestrians, I would no doubt be caught and fined, and rightly so; but some cyclists think they can do just what they like and it does not matter. And as for riding the wrong way down Queen Street, as if that road wasn't dangerous enough for pedestrians, and going hell for leather along Cornmarket...that is quite another issue that the Police should tackle!!

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oxfordcyclist, Oxford says...
10:12am Thu 24 May 07

As someone who cycles in oxford, I welcome this move. It is obvious that motorists have no respect for cyclist, but I believe this is largely a result of getting frustrated by idoitic cyclists who skip red lights etc. If more cyclists actually cycled well then we might have a little more respect from other road users.

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Col, Work Oxford City says...
10:34am Thu 24 May 07

What excuses/explanations did the cyclists use. Were they recorded at all, in an effort to improve things. Clearer markings on cycle paths perhaps.?, some people think because the green pathway doesn't terminate at traffic lights, they don't have to stop.

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Andrew C., Temple Cowley says...
10:44am Thu 24 May 07

Oh, good stuff, and about time too. I'm a regular Oxford cyclist, and I hope the Police do more of this. It'd be self-financing for years. It can be really dispiriting to try to lead by example when some twit on a cheap, crap bike undertakes you at a red light, so it's pleasantly reassuring to think that they might be stopped and fined for, basically, being a wazzock.

Next target on the list, hopefully: aggressive and dimwitted motorists who don't realise how dangerous and lethal their testosterone-fueled Clarksonism is to normal road users.

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Chris, says...
10:54am Thu 24 May 07

cyclists running red lights in Oxford seems to be the nor. Why only complete this at 1 junction where there's a fatality though? Surely they should be targetting the High Street, Cowley Road, etc, where this seems to be more prevalent (specifically pedestrian crossings). If I was to be caught on a mobile speed camera it could be one of a variety of locations therefore keep people on their guard and mix the locations.

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Alan Crowder, Oxford says...
11:24am Thu 24 May 07

Its good to see Police taking action against anyone breaking the law regarding red lights, no matter if its a cycle or a car we all have to stop on red, now how about doing the next junction at South Parks, thats in my opinion is just as dangerous as the Broad St one. Just last evening a large queue of vehicles to turn right into Parks road and three cyclists just go straight over red's and one just misses a car going stright on, crazy man. And no, not all vehicle drivers are considerate or perfect, but lets make red lights mean STOP.

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Phil Gale, Oxford says...
11:53am Thu 24 May 07

If the police did this at the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Banbury Road, I think they'd catch even more cyclists. And some buses too, which annoys me even more.


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Arfur Jock, Oxford says...
12:02pm Thu 24 May 07

If the police did this at the junction of Botley Road and the A34 slip road, they would catch a lot of cars going through red lights. Some drivers seem to think it doesn't count if you've had to queue for a bit.

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Cllr Bob Timbs, Oxford says...
12:05pm Thu 24 May 07

I suggest the Police stand at the traffic lights just outside St Aldates Police station , as I was cycling behind two cyclists who shot over the red light yesterday and a teenager in front nearly got hit by a bus turning right out of the Oxpens.
As a car driver as well , I cannot beleive the amount that do this , but the Police must get serious and hand out large fines for cyclists with no lights .
Maybe all cyclists should be made to wear a safety helmet and a day glow jacket as standard protection.
It is really surprising, that in Oxford the serious injury rate to cyclists,is not higher than what it is.

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Mark Shepley, Oxford says...
12:05pm Thu 24 May 07

Totally agree with the blitz on red light jumpers and that's as a fellow cyclist who commutes on a bike regularly.
But - check out the Hinksey Hill junction / roundabout (and many others) and see how many cars, vans & fully laden HGV's go through red lights. When the lights change at all our main highway crossing points - vehicles keep going through red until the other vehicles on green start moving. Been caught out as a driver on green light many a time to have some truck still coming through.
So Thames Valley Police - let's have a few checks here too!

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Chris, Oxford says...
1:05pm Thu 24 May 07

C wrote:
Chris wrote:
OK agreed many cyclists (certainly not ALL as most motorists seem to think) do jump red lights & cycle without due care. HOWEVER, when will action be taken agains crap motorists driving in Oxford who (a) drive or block bike lanes (b) cut up cyclists in bike lanes by not looking when turning left (c) pull out in front of cyclists at road junctions (d) speed past only giving cyclists about a foot of clearance, etc. etc.

Motorists are not blameless - cars are the cause of most road deaths. When motorists start giving cyclists more respect, then they can have a go us.
And in the meantime, what of us pedestrians who are tired of playing "dodge the cyclist" on crossings and pavements?
I don't disagree with you, but it sounds like everyone blames just the cyclists! Hardly a mention of pedestrians running into the road ahead of you when you are cycling (legally) , walking in cycle paths and not crossing the road at junctions!

Let's fine anyone who steps off the pavement at an undesignated crossing point! That's just as dangerous to road users.

The fact is, there are bad and bad drivers, cyclists & pedestrians - it's unfair to continually single out cyclists.

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Chris, says...
1:07pm Thu 24 May 07

oops, meant good and bad drivers, pedestrians & cyclists!

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C, says...
1:30pm Thu 24 May 07

I don't disagree with you, but it sounds like everyone blames just the cyclists!

On the contrary, cyclists have behaved with impunity for far too long, as the antisocial behaviour exhibited by a significant proportion demonstrates: look at it this way, Oxfordshire has an army of traffic wardens and a forest of speed cameras to clamp down on motorists flouting the rules, so I don't think it's realistic to squeal that cyclists are being "singled out" on one of the extremely rare occasions that they're the focus of traffic policing; nor does it strike me as particularly reasonable to attempt to shift the blame onto pedestrians.

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NF, says...
1:40pm Thu 24 May 07

Kate - between 6PM and 9AM it is legal to cycle along Queen Street (outside these times the bike should be pushed). I always ride extremely carefully (often pedaling slower than walking pace) along Queen Street in the morning as the number of pedestrians who will blindly walk out in front of buses/delivery vans and cyclists alike and then tut like its not their mistake is shocking. The bigger problem on Queen Street is not the cyclists, but the lack of defined crossing areas - the buses constantly mount the kerbs to overtake each other at a snails pace, filling the street with fumes, getting stuck, and giving no routine path for pedestrian to take, encouraging them to dart across. If there were a couple of wide zebra crossing it would make things a lot easier - Queen Street is pedestrianised in name only, it is basically a giant bus lane with jaywalking encouraged.

I would also like to see a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing on the corner of Queen Street, Cornmarket and St Aldates, as at the moment the pedestrians run across the refuge by the lights in front of buses, taxis and cyclists when it is not their right of way, forcing us to brake and dodge.

I think a lot of pedestrians forget that no matter how fast a cyclist is travelling, bikes have a stopping distance too, we can't stop instantly. Most younger pedestrians also don't respect bikes nearly as much as cars - they walk 2- or 3-abreast in the cycle lane over Magdalen Bridge for long distances or wave apologetically as they knowingly run infront of you in High Street (not using a proper crossing) and expect you to be able to stop instantly. They wouldn't walk in the middle of the car lane over Magdalen Bridge or step infront of a car going at 20mph like that, so why do it to a bike?

On the whole, as a cyclist, I would like to see more of the fines being handed out, provided the money is used to improve cycle paths and road markings around the city centre. I always stop at red lights and give way at pedestrian crossings (at the end of the day what does it cost, 1 or 2 minutes on the journey?), and would feel safer knowing that it might encourage all road users to have a bit more respect for each other.

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Chris, 920-172 says...
1:41pm Thu 24 May 07

C wrote:
I don\'t disagree with you, but it sounds like everyone blames just the cyclists!

On the contrary, cyclists have behaved with impunity for far too long, as the antisocial behaviour exhibited by a significant proportion demonstrates: look at it this way, Oxfordshire has an army of traffic wardens and a forest of speed cameras to clamp down on motorists flouting the rules, so I don\'t think it\'s realistic to squeal that cyclists are being \"singled out\" on one of the extremely rare occasions that they\'re the focus of traffic policing; nor does it strike me as particularly reasonable to attempt to shift the blame onto pedestrians.
C, if you had read my post correctly, you would have noticed that I was not shifting the blame onto pedestrians, only pointing out that all road users (that includes people crossing the road) need to act with mutual respect.

Hence my point about there being good & bad examples of all types of user, and I'm sure even the most courteous road user lapses at some point, even yourself.

I do think that the cycling proficiency test should be reintroduced at school, as this may help somewhat in improving cycling. And as a cyclist AND pedestrian, I agree that there is never an excuse for cycling without some lights & on the pavement.

In addition, cycle lanes need to be planned more carefully - just look at London Road by Gipsy lane, where the cycle lane goes onto the pavement & off again multiple times, which simply not safe.

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M, Oxford, Botley says...
2:14pm Thu 24 May 07

A little story that may clear up some legal points.

I used to work as a cycle courier during my summers at Uni. Whilst doing this I had several accidents, most caused by drivers. Some by myself (Yes, I ran red lights, mounted pavements etc.. I was being paid by delivery, the more I delivered, the more I got paid)some one or two by pedestrians stepping out in front of me.
One guy who worked at the same company as I did, had an accident involving a pedestrian. He was travelling towards the strand doing roughly 20+ mph when a pedestrian walked out in front of him. He hit the pedestrian, flipped over the handlebars and landed on his pelvis. He ended up in traction for 6 months as they repaired it. He lost 12 months of earnings, went through another 6 months of physio and got nothing for the pain in terms of compensation.
The pedestrian, walked away and uninjured, completely scot free. Why?
Because according to the policeman who ended up at the scene, pedestrians carry no obligation whatsoever to road users in terms of ensuring that they behave responsibly towards cyclists and motorists. All road user carry a basic onligation to act responsibly towards each other and pedestrians.

Only motorised road users have the legal responsibilty to have insurance.

This means that essentially, pedestrians can walk in front of cars, bicycles etc. and should they cause an accident have no legal responsibilty. The same applies to cyclists. Now, I'm fully aware that if you get hit by a car and it's your fault, insurance is the last thing on your mind. However, I truly believe that anyone using the road should carry a minimum of 3rd party insurance, I know that I drive more carefully because if I cause an accident, apart from the guilt I'd be forking out more money on my premiums next year. the reason I say this is this, the friend who ended up in hospital asked the policeman if he could have been arrested if he'd been at fault and not the pedestrian, and the policeman replied 'yes' and added, the pedestrian could have sued you too.

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M, Oxford, Botley says...
2:18pm Thu 24 May 07

Sorry, mistake there, where it says 'the same applies to cyclists' should say 'the same doesn't apply to cyclists'

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Sam, Banbury Road, Oxford says...
2:49pm Thu 24 May 07

I think Banbury Road and Woodstock Road should be the next place that the police monitor for cyclists jumping red lights. I have to use these roads every day and constantly see them flouting the red light and thinking they can get away with it. I have to turn right on the Banbury Road to get into work every day and its just before a set of traffic lights so technically when the lights are on red I should be able to make it across whilst the traffic is stopped at the lights but never can before the traffic starts flowing again because of the amount of cyclists that jump the red lights!

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GC, Oxford says...
3:14pm Thu 24 May 07

And quite right too.

In my time cycling (I cycle every day) I have very few problems with cars (two in the past 6 months - that's one per 1000 miles travelled), but a load with other cyclists - at least one a week.

Usually one (or several) of: not looking where they are going, weaving around the road in front of me, not giving way, jumping lights or having no lights at night.

Other groups of road users aren't blameless, but there's a lot that needs to be learnt by some of the cyclists in Oxford.

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Disco_Destroyer, UK says...
6:02pm Thu 24 May 07

As a cyclist I agree what is the need for cyclists to jump lights??

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Peter, St Clements says...
8:33pm Thu 24 May 07

There is merit on both sides. I ride a bike in Oxford and see most riders skipping red lights, though I rarely do so myself. But the truth is that at many lights in certain directions it is completely safe to run the light, carefully, and most cyclists can see this for themselves. As ever, arbitrary laws are bad laws and will be broken by people, who will then lose any respect for law in general. Far better to make laws more flexible so they do meet the needs of the occasion. In America it's usual to be able to turn right (it would be left for us) at a red light so long as it's safe to do so. And that's for cars.

One sepcific comment - some of the lights in Oxford stay red for way too long - the pedestrian crossing on High Street near St. Mary's is a case in point - and is exasperating. No wonder people jump it.

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bob, Oxford says...
9:57pm Thu 24 May 07

"I think a lot of pedestrians forget that no matter how fast a cyclist is travelling, bikes have a stopping distance too, we can't stop instantly."

If you are travelling too fast to stop in time in these conditions - YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST.
Speed has to be appropriate no matter if you are in a car or on a bike. If you are cycling along and there are potential hazards ahead, you should slow down - it's called reading the road.

Of course if you are on the Cowley Road - especially redeveloped by he council for cyclists at great expense (shows what they know about anything) then you just ride along the path sending pedestrians scattering in your wake.

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Rob, Abingdon says...
3:07pm Fri 25 May 07

It is not just running through lights but not having lights is another crime a lot of cyclists seem to do. I am gobsmacked how many times I have seen police just turn a blind eye to cyclists on the pavement, without lights and jumping red traffic lights. If they are to be on the road it is only right that they have to have insurance and be accountable. It is not always the car driver at fault. Cyclists in this green era seem to think they are beyond the law and holier than anyone else.

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Mark, Oxford says...
9:36am Sun 27 May 07

If you are travelling too fast to stop in time in these conditions - YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST.
Speed has to be appropriate no matter if you are in a car or on a bike.

Bob,
this is a blanket assumption which is ignores the responsibilities of other people using the road.
Do you travel down the High street at 5mph in a car? No? Why not? It's the amount of stopping distance you would need if a pedestrian suddenly stepped out in front of you. No, you probably drive at 20mph and rely on the fact that pedestrians should not just step out in front of you.
People shouldn't be able to hide behind the excuse of "well you shouldn't have been going so fast that you couldn't stop when I stepped out in front of you".

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Paul, Witney says...
11:44am Tue 29 May 07

Absolutely astonished at some of the nonsense some of you have been talking.

A: As far as jumping the red lights, i can't remember the last time i saw a cyclist stop at them. Hopwever when someone gets knocked off and killed who do you think will be blamed?

B: Some student clown the other day had the audacity to complain and wave his hands about because my car was slightly over his cycle lane in a cue of traffic. The reason for this was because a Brookes bus no doubt carrying his tax dodging mates was in cutting me up and forcing me across. If he hadn't been going too fast past the cue and had been planning on stopping like the red light indicated this wouldn't have been an issue and he could have passed easily.

I will not have any sympathy for cyclists until firstly they start paying road tax and secondly when they start being held responsible for the accidents they cause.

Botley Road, Iffley and Cowley Road.

All those sticking up for them on here should spend an hour on one of these roads just observing and then come back with your head up your backside!

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Simon, Oxford says...
1:52pm Wed 30 May 07

Zero-tolerance is the only way.

Pedestrians should stand up for their rights - if a cyclist jumps a light when pedestrians are crossing the road, the pedestrian (if able) should stop them or push them off. If a cyclist jumps a light in front of a car or isn't using lights then give them a light dib with the car. I believe the problem is that the risk to cyclists is reduced by drivers and pedestrians taking avoiding action.. If we stop doing this and the full consequences of their risks are laid bare, I believe cycluist will modify their behaviour very quickly.

I don't think red light jumping is restricted to bikes though, I see no end of cars racing through red lights, more so here than anywhere else I've lived (including London). Surely 2 tones of metal movign at 30mph+is a greater danger than 90kg travelling at 15mph?
On a personal note, the inordinate number of careless morons I see everyday using their phones whilst driving makes the self harming light jumping of cyclists pale into insignificance, so it's all relative.

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Nick, Oxford says...
4:08pm Wed 30 May 07

AAAARRRRGGHHHH!!! These debates drive me nuts because they always neglect the fundamental difference between cycling and riding: a bike and rider weighs 100kg and travels at 10mph. A car and driver weighs 1500kg and travels at 30mph i.e. over 100 times the energy in a crash.

Bikes don't kill people, cars do.

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Nick, Oxford says...
4:23pm Wed 30 May 07

I should add, I am one of the many cyclists who does follow the highway code. It's there for everyones benefit.

Incidently, how many cyclists passed through the Broad St Junction in total? More than 25 I'd wager...

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Paul, Witney says...
5:08pm Thu 31 May 07

Nick wrote:
AAAARRRRGGHHHH!!! These debates drive me nuts because they always neglect the fundamental difference between cycling and riding: a bike and rider weighs 100kg and travels at 10mph. A car and driver weighs 1500kg and travels at 30mph i.e. over 100 times the energy in a crash. Bikes don't kill people, cars do.
So if a car goes through a green light and hits a cyclist coming across him who has jumped a red the driver of the car is at fault?

Yeah alright!


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Joe Schmoe, Oxford says...
9:19pm Thu 31 May 07

So if a car goes through a green light and hits a cyclist coming across him who has jumped a red the driver of the car is at fault?


I don't think thats the point he's making, I suspect he's trying to demonstrate that jumping a light on a bike is far less dangerous for any potential victims of the light jumping than if the same person were driving a car. They're evidently still in the wrong, they just pose far less risk to everyone.

Given that a cyclist has a lot more at stake when they jump a light than a car driver (they will always come off much worse in a collision with a car) you'd expect them to actually pay attention when they do it.. but more and more of them don't and I think that is what winds so many drivers up - the unbelievable attitude of cyclists who appear to be under the impression that cars should actually give way to them when they jump lights. If you ask me they deserve to get knocked off and then sued for the damage they cause to the victims car!

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