r/southafrica Western Cape Jun 24 '25

Just for fun Why some cyclists annoy South African motorists

703 Upvotes

195 comments sorted by

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475

u/6000coza Jun 24 '25

To be fair, it's the 95% that give the other 5% a bad name.

38

u/chipsncrayons Gauteng Jun 24 '25

Lmao I had to read this twice nearly went to war with you🤣

120

u/Elle-Diablo Jun 24 '25

I'm pretty sure cyclist vs motorist fights are international

46

u/Aerosol668 Jun 24 '25

They pretty much are, but in Amsterdam the cyclists win.

8

u/Flux7777 Jun 24 '25

There aren't actually that many cyclists in the Netherlands (Amsterdam is a bad example because there are more cars there than other Dutch cities), a lot of people just commute with bicycles. It's not a hobby for them, just a mode of transportation. And it's a really good one too, great for the environment, much cheaper to build infrastructure for, safer for literally everyone involved, no one gets stuck in traffic. It would be pretty sick if we had some neighborhoods or towns that didn't allow normal commuter traffic so people could see how great not having to drive everywhere is.

14

u/vatezvara Jun 24 '25

So commuters who regularly cycle to work aren’t called… cyclists? Does a cyclist only refer to someone doing it as a hobby?

5

u/Flux7777 Jun 25 '25

It's a more recent distinction. Imaging the difference between someone riding a bike to deliver a package for their job or hopping onto a sharebike to get to the local train station a bit faster, versus one of these guys who's spent R100k on their kit, rides in a large group at 10AM on a Tuesday, and loads their bike on the back of their Prado after they've had coffee at Plato. One group could easily be called cyclists, the other group is just people getting around. Big difference.

4

u/vatezvara Jun 25 '25

A more recent distinction made by who? You’re describing different types of cyclists, just like how there are different types of drivers. the definitions I look up still say a cyclist is someone who rides a bicycle… so your distinction doesn’t make sense. That’s like saying I’m not a driver because I use my car to drive to work, and not to deliver packages.

2

u/flyboy_za Grumpy in WC Jun 25 '25

I guess the question is whether you would regard a delivery driver as a motorist.

Usually the term means car owners who use them to get around, not people who use them for a living. Technically they're in the same group, but (rightly or otherwise) I don't think that's what most people mean by the term.

1

u/Flux7777 Jun 25 '25

Do you consider yourself a driver? If someone saw you in a coffee shop would they say "hey look it's that person, they're a driver". It's not your identity it's just the way you get around. Some people make it their identity. These guys riding their expensive ass road bikes around with so much more kit than they'll ever actually need, hogging lanes, disobeying road rules, all of that, being a cyclist is part of their personality.

Are you seeing the difference?

1

u/Designer-Agent7883 Jun 24 '25

Oh i wish you were right. There are way too many emotionally surpressed mamyls breaking all the laws in the road and traffic law and act as if they own the road.

1

u/Flux7777 Jun 24 '25

Oh i wish you were right

Don't worry, I know I am right. Urbanism is a big topic, but very well researched.

2

u/Elle-Diablo Jun 24 '25

Tbh good for yall

1

u/RijnBrugge Jun 25 '25

Only wherever the cycling infrastructure is dog shit in my experience

97

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 24 '25 edited Jun 24 '25

You know they're cycling to Targer's Mulk or Hudson's, bru.

32

u/UBC145 Western Cape Jun 24 '25

I read this in the intended accent and it’s spot on 😂😂

9

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 24 '25

Yass, bru, if you know you know hey. 😅

10

u/Prestigious-Wall5616 Western Cape Jun 25 '25

Hilarious!! Should be sarkling though.

32

u/StockTraffic Jun 24 '25

Jissis, before I saw the sign I knew it was 4ways or Sandton lol

138

u/ZillesBotoxButtocks The price of liberty is convenience Jun 24 '25

These morons will drool out a "sTaY wiDeR oF tHe riDeR" as they skip the red robot and get pancaked by a Fortuner.

37

u/Jimmysp437 KwaZulu-Natal Jun 24 '25

Fortuner seems like the most appropriate vehicle for this story lol

4

u/JoMammasWitness boerewors, beer and boobies 🇿🇦 Jun 25 '25

I was thinking taxi but ya... fortuner sounds about rite

-1

u/ZillesBotoxButtocks The price of liberty is convenience Jun 25 '25

Taxis respect the rules of the road more than cyclists do.

6

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 25 '25

Ok, let's not go overboard here buddy...

2

u/Joepie606 Jun 25 '25

You haven't seen a taxi before

1

u/EmuSmooth4424 Jun 25 '25

Or is it mutual respect, for driving like a free person without rules?

43

u/Bionic999 Jun 24 '25

I'm a cyclist but mountain bike. Started riding in a group that were on road bikes so we road the side of the roads. They didn't care much about the vehicles and veered more in their space. I quit riding with them and only stick to the bush. Unfortunately road cycling gives cyclists a bad name in general, especially group rides.

12

u/memesformen95 Landed Gentry Jun 24 '25

Mtb okes are just better mannered than road guys, I dont know why but there's a MBT/hike route near me and the MBT guys actually stop at crossing for hikers.

5

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 24 '25

It's a bad herd mentality. Also, keeping up with the Joneses vibes. Literally.

4

u/Kraaiftn Aristocracy Jun 25 '25

Mountain bike riding cyclist and joggers will greet, most/all road bike cyclist don't.

52

u/Faught_lite Jun 24 '25

Yusss. These guys are the worst. Arrogant, entitled and stupid all in one. Yes they give all the cyclists a bad rep so they need to sort each other out.

26

u/flaweddaughter Jun 24 '25

I have a family member that is a cyclist. He told me the bikes are extremely expensive and a lot of the riders he has met have an inflated sense of invulnerability. He’s been in several bike accidents, broken ribs, teeth, head injuries and always tells me that even an experienced cyclist taking the same route everyday can end up seriously injured. The one time he got very injured is when he was in a race and the cyclist in front of him had an issue and the entire peloton got fucked.

A helmet won’t save you from a spinal fracture if a car hits you.

18

u/All_Ephemeral Jun 24 '25

A while ago i saw a cyclist juuuust miss an old lady crossing at a pedestrian crossing with the green man

-11

u/Flux7777 Jun 24 '25

Yeah that's pretty insane, although old ladies get killed by cars literally every day so which is really worse.

23

u/Kavi4 Gauteng Jun 24 '25

Everyone of them will bitch about taxis though.

45

u/Ducatist1 Aristocracy Jun 24 '25

If Cyclist want respect on the road, then they should follow the same rules of the road that any other other vehicle should follow

2

u/Bear-Necessities- Jun 24 '25

The shouldn't be allowed on the road period. Unless they have a fully roadworthy vehicle. Indicators, rear view mirrors, etc

26

u/Jakes9070 Expat Jun 24 '25

I'm all for regulation, but you need to remember there are also very poor people that have to adhere to the same rules then. It also includes your children riding their bikes to school, and for that you need better roads and better infrastructure to make it saver for everyone, including the car drivers in their Hilux bakkies and god forbit, taxis.

These asshats you see in the video ride where cars drive because there is no cycle lines for them to ride. And they should defenintely not be forced to ride on the sidewalk where poeple walk.

Man I would have LOVED to cycle to work, because you're not stuck in traffic, and you can go your own speed without being inconvientent to other cyclists. But I didn't want to risk my live on SA roads anymore than I did in a car.

28

u/Only_One_Kenobi https://georgedrakestories.wordpress.com/ Jun 24 '25

From what I've seen, the poor people using bicycles to commute are mostly respectful of the laws of the road. It's the entitled assholes on R250k bikes that are the problem

3

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 24 '25

Absolutely.

13

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

To be fair, you're just normalised to the idea that only cars belong on the road. We haven't had a lot of cyclists in South Africa for most of our history, at least not in the same density as Europe. But the truth is that roads are a public good and should be for the use of everyone.

7

u/barrybrinkza Jun 24 '25

Natural selection is a thing... Then they complain about getting hit while skipping red lights

14

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '25

[deleted]

3

u/NiGhTShR0uD Aristocracy Jun 24 '25

I think this guy was drafting.

12

u/KairuneG Jun 24 '25

Genuinely though, other than a few cities in the US and one town in Italy, I've never seen such entitled road users as the cyclists here in SA, it's insane how often they put themselves and others in danger by ignoring road rules.

5

u/BossStevedore Jun 24 '25

Many of the cyclists that ride like this own bikes that cost more than either of my cars! How do they think that makes them immortal?

5

u/AdAffectionate9859 Jun 24 '25

South Africa just lacks a cycling culture where cyclers follow rules just like every other road user. I live in the Netherlands and cyclists here have to obey the rules of the road e.g. they even have traffic lights for the bicycle lanes and cyclers are expected to signal with their hands whenever they want to turn left or right.

-5

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

Key difference: they have bicycle lanes. We have to share the road here and come up against entitled motorists who fantasise about ploughing down cyclists.

19

u/Only_One_Kenobi https://georgedrakestories.wordpress.com/ Jun 24 '25

There's nothing wrong with people using bicycles to commute.

But these rich entitled assholes who cycle recreationally really need to be introduced to some consequences. Like getting fined for ignoring the road laws.

10

u/SappyZA Jun 24 '25

As a cyclist myself, these types of people are the worst on the roads.

That being said I'm sure they do exactly the same bumb shit in their motor vehicles.

4

u/Specific-Meal550 Jun 25 '25

I'm a mountain biker and I've tried road biking and I can honestly say that road cyclists (for the most part) do not care about other road users. I rather stick with the bush.

3

u/Stock_Sugar3707 Jun 24 '25

And let's not forget the smoothbrains on bicycles who ride on the wrong side of the road like they're in America. Now we, as car drivers have to do our observations looking down the wrong direction of the road, because of people riding their bicycles on the wrong side of the road. All street, but no smart.

3

u/Dokmatix Jun 25 '25

I haven't cycled since I was a student. One thing I remember is how vulnerable you are on a bicycle. I am a stickler for road rules in my car, but on the bike I always chose was seemed safest rather than the rules. Crossing on a red robot can be safer than waiting for traffic to flow. If you wait for a green light a taxi will drive off early and cut you off immediately past the robot and force you into traffic. If you are the most likely to die in an accident and everybody else breaks rules then follow them just for the sake of doesn't make sense.

That being said, I never did recreational road cycling because I don't believe it can be done safly in this country. I hate when cyclists take up a dangerous amount of road space causing multiple unsafe scenarios for themselves and drivers. Especially clubs driving in "trains". It doesn't seem that these cyclists even look if the robot is safe to cross, but I don't have the full picture here.

7

u/dayapark Jun 25 '25

Come to Cape Town and go to simons town on a Sunday morning via muizenberg.

That's where my dislike of cyclists started.

Single lane and its groups of them driving.

Hard to over take them, and you drive like 20 behind them cause of the size of the group sometimes.

The worst.

4

u/memesformen95 Landed Gentry Jun 24 '25

"We AlSO beLong oN thE roAds" yet we dont pay any licensing fees or adhere to any traffic laws and we throw a tantrum if someone honks at us and will get physical if it's a women by kicking in a door or throwing a water outlet at a vehicle.

4

u/MarshallZA Jun 24 '25

I am a MTB rider. I will NEVR EVER cycle on a public road in South Africa. I don't care how remote it is. Cycling on a Public Road in South Africa is asking to be un-alived in a very nasty way.

I am a cyclist and when I see them on public roads I honestly just think they have no brains under their plastic helmets.

I don't even ride my bike to the park 500m away from my house.

5

u/ukstonerdude Jun 24 '25

You guys would get along with my friends over at r/drivinguk over this 😭

All seriousness though how is this a globally universal issue with cyclists 😂

2

u/87Sphinx Jun 25 '25

Bro come to Melbourne Australia and get up at 6am and go down to the beach you'll see hundreds of them taking up the whole road there a pest

2

u/kelpdiscussion Jun 25 '25

As a cyclist (from Australia) I find this commentary hilarious 😂

2

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '25

Honestly, in general, cyclists are entitled and rude. Goodness me, can’t even crack a smile. Polar opposite to runners!

2

u/Jase28x Jun 26 '25

Wild how they want to be treated like road vehicles when hogging roads and lanes but can't be bothered to follow the simplest of road rules, that red means stop.

4

u/Elandtrical Jun 24 '25

The problem is that all the top guys in cycling are/were coke, speed and other stimulant users. That attitude filters down. In the '00, doing E's on the weekend bike ride was a thing in Cape Town.

The lack of safety conscious colours and lights is another issue with these guys. I am currently on a 2 week cycling trip in Europe and light grey outfits are now the fashion, on black bikes.

I am not a cyclist but a runner and the attitudes between the 2 types are vastly different. Runners know that getting hit by a car will hurt a lot, cyclists believe that a $$$$ carbon frame will protect them.

4

u/Flux7777 Jun 24 '25

Remember folks, you don't hate people riding bikes, you hate cyclists. There is a massive difference.

12

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

14

u/Salty-Award8406 Jun 24 '25

Please don't let your intrusive thoughts win😭

2

u/SwimmingAir8274 Jun 24 '25

That's a crazzzzzyyyyyy take

6

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

I've had near misses with cyclists who don't care about road laws, so yeah I'm part of the group that dislike them very much.

-2

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 24 '25

dafuq is wrong with you

10

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

What's wrong with them? Why can't they stop at a robot like everyone else? Are they better than everyone else? Wouldn't feel this way if they obeyed the rules like everyone else

6

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 24 '25

oh don't get me wrong. they are complete dumbasses. however, vehicular manslaughter is a bit extreme

3

u/limping_man Eastern Cape Jun 24 '25

Strongly agree

7

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

Vehicular manslaughter wouldn't even be a thing if they just stopped like everyone else. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm gunning to run one off the road, but if these mfs get hit by a car I hope it wakes them up. I've had 3 incidents (this year nogal!) where I've almost hit a cyclist (or they've hit me) because they disregard the road laws...

-1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

I'm finally understanding the anti-cycling sentiment in this thread. You think it's *unfair* that they get to cross but you don't.

Seems a silly thing to get angry about. Why don't you just let them do what they will?

3

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

This comment is brain dead.. Why don't we all just do what we want? Why don't we all just disregard the rules? Let's just all drive over red robots, I'm sure nothing bad will happen :)

0

u/Nicolaiii Jun 25 '25

I’m not sure if you didn’t read what I said, or if you’re disengaged at this point but I clearly stated that - in this specific instance - there was no harm in people crossing.

It’s a slippery slope fallacy to expand my point across all red lights and all types of traffic. I’m talking about a very isolated set of circumstances and road users.  

Oh wait, I forgot. Cyclist stoopid. Me hate - is that better? 

-10

u/valamei KwaZulu-Natal Jun 24 '25

psychopathic take

18

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

They're riding over a red robot? If someone were to hit them they'd even claim to be the victim. No mercy

-9

u/valamei KwaZulu-Natal Jun 24 '25

yeah but you're clearly indicating a desire here for them to face some sort of injury as punishment, imo wishing harm on others isn't okay

5

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

No not wishing them harm, just saying I wouldn't feel bad if they did come to harm for thinking they're better than everyone by breaking the rules 🤷

-5

u/Fancy-Ad-4490 Jun 24 '25

Not feeling bad at the idea of someone getting seriously injured is quite literally psychopathy. Seek help.

-8

u/valamei KwaZulu-Natal Jun 24 '25

i fail to see how those are significantly different

5

u/Electronic_Week4787 Jun 24 '25

I honestly feel like the only way most cyclists will respect the road law is if they get into an accident and learn from it. Otherwise why don't they follow the laws? So if that's the only way for them to wake up then so be it :) I'll be proud to be called a pshyco 🤪

3

u/metalklingon Jun 24 '25

Tthe trucks in Mpumalanga will drive over them, without a second thought.

2

u/S_E_S Jun 24 '25

All fun and games till the "Think bike" stickers meet the "remember sjambok" stickers.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/dizzy-dane Jun 24 '25

You dudes need to come to London. Hundreds of them running reds!!! 😂

1

u/Ashez7 Jun 25 '25

Has a bike lane then they think they own the road

1

u/BlackRed1313 Jun 25 '25

When they stop at the Seattle Coffee shop nearby, you'll observe that most of them are just bros, but older. The typical bro, now wif jobs. So no suprise.

1

u/ZillesBotoxButtocks The price of liberty is convenience Jun 25 '25

The glut of musky boets and boetinas at my favourite coffee shop(s) is a perpetual source of irritation.

1

u/khayaRed Jun 25 '25

That’s illegal lol

1

u/Electrical_Shift_729 Jun 25 '25

The motorists must stop being so grumpy and respect those getting out, moving their bodies!

1

u/homieholmes23 Jun 25 '25

Thought red lights were optional for all in SA

1

u/ShelterShot592 Jun 26 '25

I'd throw pies, custard, yogurt . etc. at them if they're rude to me on the road. 🙂

1

u/Katoolsie Jun 24 '25

I would hoot behind their asses. Fuck them

3

u/KeenyKeenz Jun 24 '25

I agree with drawing attention to fuckery.

-5

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

Why though? Open to having my mind changed but I can't imagine a single instance where a cyclist caused you actual harm. Can you share an example?

4

u/Katoolsie Jun 24 '25

Are you defending these guys? They are clearly driving over a red light.

-4

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

If you watch the video, the light changes to green at the end. Which means while they were crossing, all 4 lights were red. 

I’m just saying no harm, no foul. 

Why would you be aggressive towards them if they’ve not harmed a single person? Seems like an odd reaction 

3

u/Katoolsie Jun 24 '25

Wow. What a way to look at it. So everyone can just break the law...as long as they don't cause harm to anyone? So all cars can just cross red lights however they want as long as they don't harm anyone? No. Rules are there for a reason. If the rules count for one person then they count for everyone. You cant simply ignore the rules of the road because you are on a bicycle. If you use the road, then you need to follow the same rules as anyone else

-1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 25 '25

Just a thought: if no harm is being done, why would something be illegal? 

You’re probably the type of old man shaking his fist at skateboarders in a parking lot  

1

u/MicV66 Jun 24 '25

“idiots waging war on normality” – Jeremy Clarkson on Cyclists

2

u/CoffeeMonster42 Jun 24 '25

I've seen motorists doing the same thing.

1

u/jeffreyrichar Jun 24 '25

The sign to Sandton is... "chef's kiss"

1

u/JoMammasWitness boerewors, beer and boobies 🇿🇦 Jun 25 '25

When a car takes those c**t$ out they cry like babies. I know because I've seen it happen twice. I'm a cyclist and I still hate these oaks and there ball hugging onesies

1

u/CompetitiveChest6008 Jun 24 '25

Lycrans and they have attitude lol. I can never understand why someone wearing a condom thinks it’s ok to jump to intersections or ride 2 or 3 abreast.

0

u/thenameclicks Jun 24 '25

One day a truck will run through them while they’re skipping a red light, and civil obedience will be restored.

-9

u/greatdane114 Jun 24 '25

Yeah, annoying. But you're sat in your car and it's literally not affecting your life at all.

7

u/Prestigious-Wall5616 Western Cape Jun 24 '25

It sure affects me if I'm coming in blind from the right side, through the green light. PS: it's not me sat in the car.

-7

u/greatdane114 Jun 24 '25

Yeah but, how much does it actually affect your life? I'm guessing it's not much at all. Certainly not worth you getting angry about.

7

u/Prestigious-Wall5616 Western Cape Jun 24 '25

Although I'd almost certainly be cleared, facing a culpable homicide charge would not be ideal.

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

It really amazes me how much people seethe at the slightest inconvenience. I wonder who had a better start to their day: the mates going for a cheeky cycle 'round the city or the bloke make a video in his car

3

u/greatdane114 Jun 25 '25

Oh jeez, this won't be popular. You are right though, seething at things that doesn't affect their lives.

-15

u/stinky_girbil_bum Jun 24 '25

Definitely the most ridiculous outfits of any sport. The chicks do look hot though 

6

u/curiouslycaty Jun 24 '25

At a previous place of employment the HR manager biked to work and then arrived in just in time to start working. Which meant he often conducted the first things on his to-do list for the day dressed in a way that had me subtly holding things in front of me to block off his lower half, or avoiding him all together until he changed. Those pants were so tight you could see the texture, and nobody should ever be subjected to that.

-27

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

This affected motorists... how? If the intersection was clear, absolutely no harm in going across.

23

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 24 '25

there are laws for a reason.

-6

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

Hint: laws can be dumb. Laws can be suboptimal. Sometimes breaking the law doesn't lead to bad things. Like cyclists crossing an empty intersection

2

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 24 '25

but sometimes, breaking those laws leads to cyclists getting hurt. hence the laws. laws are meant to protect us from our own stupid decisions.

like exactly what kinds of laws are you okay with breaking? obviously you have no regard for traffic laws meant to keep yourself and other road users safe. so you don't really care about safety, or lives for that matter. is murder okay then. since it's just another 'dumb' law to stop you from getting rid of people who inconvenience you.

what separates you from a corrupt politician who also thinks it's a dumb and suboptimal law that prevents them from getting rich off my tax money?

laws are made by the people, for the people. and if you don't agree with them, there are ways to dispute laws and have them changed thanks to our wonderful constitution. but you don't care about any of that, do you? no, because you are just a lawless parasite on society.

-1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 25 '25

If this had been a 4 way stop and there were no oncoming cars, would we all be as mad at the cyclists? 

I doubt it. Because there would be no inherent danger - free intersection. 

In this case intersection was free but there’s a “law” - a red light - saying that they can’t cross. 

In both cases the intersection was free but we have different laws applying to each case. 

Ergo, if we’re okay with the first instance but not the second, then it must hold that the law is the problem and is suboptimal. 

But heck, what do I know? Just another lawless parasite running his filthy cyclist mouth in an Internet forum. Shame on me 

3

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 25 '25

Both scenarios are against the law, because of the danger involved. Just stop pretending to be so thick. 

-1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 25 '25

I get where we're missing each other - I'm talking about ethics whereas you're talking about laws. Both attempt to answer the question of whether an action is right/wrong but they don't always align

I'm applying the principle that if no harm occurred, then it isn't an unethical action. Crossing an empty intersection = no harm = not unethical

Yes, it might be illegal but that's an inflexible definition that doesn't cover whether there was an actual negative impact to society.

I'm not trying to be "thick" (as you so very eloquently put it). We're just talking about two very different things

3

u/benevolent-badger enema of the state Jun 25 '25

nah I was wrong. you are clearly not pretending to be thick

7

u/Only_One_Kenobi https://georgedrakestories.wordpress.com/ Jun 24 '25

Found the entitled cyclist

0

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

I'm not traffic, you're traffic

7

u/SaffaOnAFarm Jun 24 '25

You're clearly a cyclist. 😂

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

I'm a lot of other things too! Including a car driver. I just choose to not get worked up when people out for a ride are *harmlessly* crossing an free intersection

0

u/SaffaOnAFarm Jun 24 '25

Would you have the same view if I "harmlessly" crossed the intersection in a truck? Or what about a taxi?

The rules of the road are to be respected and obeyed by ALL users, not just those in cars. If cyclists are allowed to get away with not following the rules, then EVERYONE should get away with not following the rules and when that happens anarchy and death follow.

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

That’s a big jump from “cyclists skipping a light” to “anarchy and death”

If this was a 4 way stop, a truck or a taxi would also be able to go provided the intersection is clear

Your problem isn’t with the cyclists, it seems like it’s with the inefficient nature of traffic lights 

Also: “EVERYONE” should follow all the rules? We’re pretty comfortable having different rules for different folk. A member of parliament needs to disclose financial interests, society does not. The difference is the level of responsibility and accountability. 

Cyclists pose less danger to other road users so it’s patently illogical that the same rules should apply to them vs cars 

1

u/SaffaOnAFarm Jun 24 '25

Ok, you do you. 👍🏻

10

u/curiouslycaty Jun 24 '25

This is just a game of "how fast can the cyclist cross a red light compared to how fast a motor approach versus how quickly a car (or truck) can stop."

If we all decided we could cross red lights after checking the intersection, we'd be taxi drivers. But with the advantage that if you're in a taxi, you have a few pieces of steel cushioning you from the impact of another vehicle while a bicycle offers no such protections. I'd say getting harmed is the point.

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

Logical fallacy: I'm not saying every cyclist should cross every red light every time they see one. I'm just saying that at this specific instance, given the video we have to go on, there were no oncoming cars and the intersection was free.

4

u/PoopHatMcFadden Jun 24 '25

If they are going across a red robot, they should at least approach with caution, check the intersection, and then go. None of them appeared to be doing that.

It's illogical to assume that a driver approaching the traffic light will necessarily see the cyclists behind other cars, or know how many cyclists are crossing, or know that the cyclists are not going to stop and check the traffic before crossing.

And this is assuming that the driver is driving safely, is aware and not distracted, and is adhering to the speed limit.

It didn't affect anyone in this particular instance. But the more often people break road rules, the more likely accidents become.

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

Interesting take - not sure it's backed by psychology though. In the UK, they did a study on an intersection that had the highest rates of cars hitting pedestrians. Tried everything - more signs, warnings etc.

They removed all the road markings instead. Literally no lines or stop signs. Drivers ended up being *more cautious* because they didn't feel entitled to go across the intersection and had to stop and assess the current traffic before moving forward

1

u/PoopHatMcFadden Jun 24 '25

Your example above relies on people in the intersection being cautious, which the cyclists weren't doing. My understanding of the study that you posted is that caution is what prevented accidents. So in the instance of the cyclists going through the red light, their lack of caution would mean that they are still in the wrong.

5

u/Conzyyyyyyy Jun 24 '25

If they can skip a red light if an intersection when it's clear and get away with it, why can't I do so in my car without getting a ticket if a Policeman sees me?

1

u/Nicolaiii Jun 24 '25

The truth? You should be able to cross a free intersection. You're just making the argument that red lights are inefficient, rather than cyclists breaking the law is wrong.

You almost always cross an intersection when it's clear at a 4 way stop. These cyclists were just viewing the red light as a stop and go.

-37

u/Lazy_Platform_8241 Jun 24 '25

Sign of gentrification/whites.

3

u/SaffaOnAFarm Jun 24 '25

Why make this a racial issue?