I almost got a ticket today…

[DismalScientist]

and I would have completely deserved it.

Lots of police monitoring the standard bad behavior on inbound Clarendon and Wilson. Anyways, I was coming down Wilson to take a left on Lynn (from the left side of the leftmost through lane to avoid the grate of death) and the light turned yellow with about a half a block to go. Given my speed, I decided to go for it and entered the intersection about a second after the light turned red. (Even though I ran the light, I could easily clear the intersection before traffic from Northbound Lynn entered the intersection.) There was the traffic cop telling me to stop.

We had a one-sided discussion about how cyclists are vehicles and need to obey the rules of the road. I got the impression that he thought I did what I did because I was a cyclist and I thought I was above the law. I wanted to tell him that I agreed with what he said, although classifying all cyclists of having this superior attitude is over-broad. Of course, I was in no position to say that, as a cyclist, I don’t run red lights given what I had just done. Furthermore, had I said that I might have done the same thing if I were driving, that would seem to be just asking for a ticket. The truth was that I had just misjudged the light. I did what I did, and deserved the ticket, but didn’t want to ask for it.

In the end, he told me it wasn’t worth his while to write me a ticket. He also gave the impression that cyclist behavior would right itself as more cyclists became roadkill through their bad behavior.

So, thumbs up to the police department if there presence is intended to scare the crap out of misbehaving cyclists. I hope they are out there doing it to drivers as well. However, please don’t paint cyclists with such a broad brush. Sorry, I wasn’t a better example for my fellow generally law-abiding cyclists this time.

Topic

[acc]

Ah, I see. By becoming roadkill we set an example. Good to know. I’m glad you didn’t get a ticket. But I’m more glad you’re not roadkill.

ann

[invisiblehand]

@DismalScientist 10495 wrote:

and I would have completely deserved it.

Lots of police monitoring the standard bad behavior on inbound Clarendon and Wilson. Anyways, I was coming down Wilson to take a left on Lynn (from the left side of the leftmost through lane to avoid the grate of death) and the light turned yellow with about a half a block to go. Given my speed, I decided to go for it and entered the intersection about a second after the light turned red. (Even though I ran the light, I could easily clear the intersection before traffic from Northbound Lynn entered the intersection.) There was the traffic cop telling me to stop.

We had a one-sided discussion about how cyclists are vehicles and need to obey the rules of the road. I got the impression that he thought I did what I did because I was a cyclist and I thought I was above the law. I wanted to tell him that I agreed with what he said, although classifying all cyclists of having this superior attitude is over-broad. Of course, I was in no position to say that, as a cyclist, I don’t run red lights given what I had just done. Furthermore, had I said that I might have done the same thing if I were driving, that would seem to be just asking for a ticket. The truth was that I had just misjudged the light. I did what I did, and deserved the ticket, but didn’t want to ask for it.

In the end, he told me it wasn’t worth his while to write me a ticket. He also gave the impression that cyclist behavior would right itself as more cyclists became roadkill through their bad behavior.

So, thumbs up to the police department if there presence is intended to scare the crap out of misbehaving cyclists. I hope they are out there doing it to drivers as well. However, please don’t paint cyclists with such a broad brush. Sorry, I wasn’t a better example for my fellow generally law-abiding cyclists this time.

That is my commuting route too. Although lately there is a line of cars making a left when I approach so I just queue up.

I assume they were there primarily for cars turning after the red light.

[Dirt]

I’ve had a few brain fart moments over the last 2 years where a police officer stopped me. I think we all get them from time to time. We’re not perfect.

The last three that I’ve had, I’ve actually encouraged the police officer to give me a ticket. I’ve come to the conclusion that one of the main components that is preventing better traffic safety for cyclists and cars is traffic enforcement. Since I’m a lead by example kind of person, I have taken to requesting that the officer give me a ticket… to the point where I actually complained when what I thought was a ticket turned out to be only a warning.

For those of you who are actually trying to avoid moving violations, you might find that this technique appears to be 100% unsuccessful. Asking politely and respectfully for an officer to write me a ticket so that there is some documentation of what I am being accused of doing seems to be the kiss of death for actually getting a ticket.

Better luck next time at getting that ticket.

Pete

[Terpfan]

I tend to obey the traffic signals (exception may be stopsigns in Alexandria when I can see no oncoming cars–although that’s not a valid excuse) although I think more because of my distinct belief that DC drivers suck even when they’re obeying the traffic laws so I figure one less variable for them makes the odds of a safe journey that much better. And with all that said, I still run into the crazy people by following the law. Short side of that story is there is no winning.

[Author]

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