Red lights, white lines, black tar rivers

[j4]

"I try not to go through red lights but I'm not the Pope," says one of the ninety-three cyclists caught jumping red lights in three hours in central Oxford.

I've often seen cars and buses creeping slowly through a red light, as if they were cyclists who couldn't take their feet off the pedals, but I've cynically assumed that they were just intent on being a yard or two further ahead of the car behind them when the lights change (or that they didn't know how to brake). Perhaps I misjudged them: perhaps they're actually grappling with their conscience.

I wonder if the cars I photograph parking on double yellow lines and in cycle lanes are also trying really hard not to park illegally. I'm trying really hard not to photograph them, but they just keep slipping into the viewfinder. Imagine how hard it would be to avoid it if I had a camera strapped to my head.

Comments

[brightybot.livejournal.com]

Andrew and I saw a car go straight through a red light in Kidlington the other day, without bothering to stop to check the way was clear, even. Maybe the next psychological step from bikes jumping red lights is for cars to do it too. I think he was just a teen racer though.

I can't say I've never jumped a red light, although mostly I don't. I guess you can 'try' not to, but be tempted if the road is completely clear. I know it doesn't make it right.

[j4.livejournal.com]

Maybe the next psychological step from bikes jumping red lights is for cars to do it too.

I've seen cars go through red lights; more buses than cars, though. I think it's more to do with the attitude of the person in control of the vehicle than the type of vehicle involved.

I've cycled through red lights at pedestrian crossings when there were clearly no pedestrians around. But I really don't think there's any sense in which I was "trying not to" do it: at the time I think I just thought "fuck it, they pressed the button and then didn't wait for the lights, I'm not waiting for the lights either". I don't do that any more, either. It's really not that hard to make a decision not to do it.