Lead by example

[GuyContinental]

I saw a version of this last week at Gallows Rd on the WO&D- two cyclists ran the light WB at a tight gap and an elderly man next to them just shuffled out in turn- he got stuck in the middle of Gallows for an entire interminable light cycle at 5pm. Baaad news. Lots of wild gesticulating form those of us on the EB side…

News- if there are a cluster of people patiently waiting for a light you are guaranteed to look like a jerk if you run it.

[5555624]

I’ve been stopped for a red light and had one ro two ride by and run it, but never that many. All too often — not in this heat, though — I use it as an incentive to try and catch them.

This morning I did see 7+ CaBi riders not bother stopping for a red light. They were crossing the intersection I was approaching and it was red for them when they were at least 100 feet away. One did apologize when I pointed out that my traffic signal was green. (A car in the other lane, next to me and behind me, had to stop for the last of them.)

[jrenaut]

If cyclists want to Idaho-stop the light when it’s safe, I just tend to groan and forget about it. But this wasn’t even going when it was clear, it was going when the cross traffic got the red, even though there are almost always left turners (with a green arrow) waiting to cross right through the path of the idiot cyclists. The traffic pattern here hasn’t changed in at least a year or two, probably longer, so there’s no excuse. Idiocy is an explanation, not an excuse.

[dasgeh]

Heading WB on the Custis from Rosslyn in the afternoons, I’ve come to accept that I’m the only one (wheels or walking) who’s going to wait through entire reds, especially at the little streets (Oak, Quinn, etc). When I see that the light is turning, I stay right, even coasting behind peds, then I pull all the way right while I wait at the intersection. The way lights are timed, I usually hit at least one light red.

It’s been 3 weeks of commuting on the Custis. I don’t think anyone’s following my lead. Though I agree that the design of the trail there (timing of lights, length of reds, lack of Idaho stop) is stupid.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dasgeh 23067 wrote:

Heading WB on the Custis from Rosslyn in the afternoons, I’ve come to accept that I’m the only one (wheels or walking) who’s going to wait through entire reds, especially at the little streets (Oak, Quinn, etc). When I see that the light is turning, I stay right, even coasting behind peds, then I pull all the way right while I wait at the intersection. The way lights are timed, I usually hit at least one light red.

It’s been 3 weeks of commuting on the Custis. I don’t think anyone’s following my lead. Though I agree that the design of the trail there (timing of lights, length of reds, lack of Idaho stop) is stupid.

I usually just use the Custis to head EB in the evenings…I stop for all the lights as well, so we can wave at each other from across the intersection if we both stop at the same one.

[eminva]

@dasgeh 23067 wrote:

Heading WB on the Custis from Rosslyn in the afternoons, I’ve come to accept that I’m the only one (wheels or walking) who’s going to wait through entire reds, especially at the little streets (Oak, Quinn, etc). When I see that the light is turning, I stay right, even coasting behind peds, then I pull all the way right while I wait at the intersection. The way lights are timed, I usually hit at least one light red.

It’s been 3 weeks of commuting on the Custis. I don’t think anyone’s following my lead. Though I agree that the design of the trail there (timing of lights, length of reds, lack of Idaho stop) is stupid.

I do this, too, and like you, I pull as far to the right as I can lest someone behind me run right into me.

But isn’t Quinn a stop sign rather than a light?

Liz

[DismalScientist]

Going up the hill, the lights are at Nash, Oak and Scott. I don’t think there is even a stop sign at Quinn.

[eminva]

@DismalScientist 23078 wrote:

I don’t think there is even a stop sign at Quinn.

You are right; I was thinking for the cars coming from Quinn onto Lee Highway.

Liz

[KLizotte]

I think a lot of this behavior is due to people thinking like peda. Let’s face it, who doesn’t jaywalk? If the coast is clear, no one even notices if peds walk against the light at intersections. There’s a slightly more negative reaction to those who cross mid-block. I think cyclists are continually swapping ped and biker hats depending on the situation.

[dasgeh]

@eminva 23073 wrote:

But isn’t Quinn a stop sign rather than a light?

Oh, that’s right. But it reminds me something I’ve been meaning to post since I noticed it. There IS a stop sign for EB (only) Custis riders at Quinn — it’s WAY up high on the light post a bit before you get to Quinn. It’s little – just like the one before you get to the Marriott entrance. There’s no stop line. It doesn’t even make sense to stop where the sign is (not that it would make sense to stop at that intersection, but still).

I keep meaning to ask the Arlington engineers what’s up with that sign.

[jrenaut]

@KLizotte 23083 wrote:

I think a lot of this behavior is due to people thinking like peda. Let’s face it, who doesn’t jaywalk? If the coast is clear, no one even notices if peds walk against the light at intersections. There’s a slightly more negative reaction to those who cross mid-block. I think cyclists are continually swapping ped and biker hats depending on the situation.

Yeah, this is definitely part of it. And, in fact, just the other day I jaywalked across a large-ish road and a bunch of clueless people went right behind me without even looking. They were just lucky the road was clear for more than just me.

Also, I guess I just admitted to not always practicing what I preach.

[Author]

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