As I was turning right at a set of traffic lights yesterday morning, I
came extremely close to cleaning up a cyclist who was riding on the
wrong side of the road, through a red pedestrian signal. Glad my ABS
worked.
I am by no means having a go at all cyclists here... but I just don't
understand the mentality of the few who do these sorts of things. This
guy wasn't a druggy on a stolen bike, but a bloke in a suit probably on
his way to work. Why on earth would someone ride or walk through a red
pedestrian signal when they were clearly not sure what the traffic
lights were doing? Do they not understand that <100kg's vs >1500kgs
does not result in a good outcome?
Perhaps GovCo's should offer optional and affordable defensive riding
courses for these noobs, but even then the majority of people who take
up the course would be sensible people who wouldn't ride through red
lights on the wrong side of the road in the first place.
On the weekend I was out for a ride through Canberra, and obviously
annoyed a truck driver when he had to slow down to wait for me when he
wanted to turn left. I began wondering what could be done to convince
other drivers that bicycles are legally permitted on the road and
thought, how about all roads with bicycle lanes or with heavy bicycle
traffic should have red, amber and green bicycle signals at all sets of
traffic lights, as this would make it clear that bicycles are roadworthy
vehicles recognised by law. Something like this may also discourage
those few who run red lights, as a big red bicycle light staring them in
the face would make it clear that they have to stop.
I don't know what can be done about the few who choose to risk life and
limb by riding against traffic though. Any suggestions?
SL