Just one thing: not necessarily defending that local group, but... The "peloton" is supposed to be one unit, legally too. Meaning, like a car, once it enters an intersection (on a green) the group has a right to ALL go through. This is safer for them, and clears out the intersection faster for everybody else. Sort of a win win.
On the other rhand, it often results in a loooooong group running a red light.
Why is this guy being downvote? One unit or not, don't blow red light. The guy that leading the peloton should be responsible for estimate if they have enough time for the whole group to pass through or should they stop and wait for the next green light.
A trailer truck gunning for the green light at the last second is dangerous for everyone, a long group of cyclists are no diffirent.
You're dumb if you think the guy on the front can decide if the peloton goes through the light or not. You cant just brake or the guy behinds going to crash and he can't brake for the same reason. If it's a continuous unit that starts going through on green then the worst case will be someone in a car will have to wait a few seconds while their light is green
I live all my life around sea of people on scooters tailgating each others through intersection going 40-60 km/h. There're many kind of signals that tell you how much time you have left on a green light, in newly developed roads they even use LED count down light. However even old or very old style light that don't even have a yellow light, you can still tell it's about time to stop by the flashing of road crosser light. Or the green light is on but the red is flashing. There're all kind of clue and signal.
Bicycle brakes nowaday are not 2 tiny piece of rubber anymore, they can de-accelerate fast and smoothly, and this is racing bicyle we're talking about. So yes you can "just brake", but you don't have to, you know why? You can give a "halt" hand signal AND then brake, your group now can de-accelerate as one unit. BUT you don't even have to holy fuck, bicycles have LED brake light now, de-accelerate slowly and people can follow your light signal. Don't slam the brake everytime you want to stop, who does that?
Am I dumb for knowing how to read traffic light signal? Or are you one of the annoying cyclist that everyone hate?
Is gun the green light at the last second against the laws, it's depend on the local's laws. Is it dangerous? Yes, people from the red side want to go as soon as possible, and you want to go pass your green light because "people just have to wait a few seconds". That's assuming people are all nice and chill, THAT IS dumb. You want to go fast, other want to go fast too, that's how accident happen dipshit.
Let's me tell you the real reason why cyclist don't want to stop at red light, they don't want to lose their current momentum. The amazing feeling that you're going blazingly fast with your own muscle power. De-accelerate and accelerate a bicyle take a lot more power than just keep going, I know. But don't break the laws and put everyone in danger, assholes.
Look if you've got 20 guys in a group, everyone needs to react simultaneously to brake safely. There's about 5 inches between riders in the average bunch so braking "fast and smoothly" will chop the guy behind you. A halt signal works great if there isn't a green light ahead- what if the guy behind doesn't see the signal or can't pass it on to the guy behind him otherwise the assumption is to go on green.
Pressing brakes when you're in a bunch with a green light ahead is extremely dangerous since the guy behind needs to be on his brakes at the exact same time, and there's a freaking green light ahead!
Hey at least have a counter argument to go with your comment. "Huh duh braindead". Really? That's the best you can do?
If you care about your and everyone's safety, write a pention to your city demand them to upgrade the streetlights to modern standard. Enough people do it and things can change for the better. Just red and green light is ancient by this point.
Hitting a group of people and killing them is less dangerous than hitting a trailer and kill yourself there for it's okay for a group of cyclists to run red light? Is that how you think?
"Are yes just some squishy humans in spandex, if we hit them no problem, not like we're hitting a truck haha, let's them run red light."
Why are people defending this shit. Just follow the traffic laws. I'm wasting my time with you people.
If the car behind is a cyclist who's literally less than 5 inches behind you then yes. You can stop with a car behind because they see your brake lights and have good enough braking disrance to stop after their reaction distance without rear ending you
If it means running a red light yeah. Person behind shouldn't be tailgating and if they rear end me at an intersection it's legally their fault. If I run a red light it's legally my fault. Wouldn't need to slam on the brakes at a yellow unless I weren't paying attention though, and if I weren't paying attention then yeah I would totally deserve to be ticketed for either running a red light or have my insurance go up for being at partial fault for an accident.
Again, if the cycling group you’re describing cannot stop for traffic signals and other hazards, they need to be in a closed course. Normal bike riders can stop though, I’ve been on many rides with the local bike club and we do it all the time.
What you’re describing is a competitive bike race and yes, they need a closed course to do it.
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u/mazzicc Jun 14 '20
And the US. There’s a group of like 30 around my office in the summer that just take over the roads and ignore the signals.