Running red lights on Bicycle in LA, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills

[zenkonami]

You've got to understand something about California, and particularly Angelino drivers. They just don't know you're there. This has two effects.

1) People just merge and turn and go and what have you because everyone thinks they're invisible, whether they're a bike, motorcycle or car. Consequently, no road rage...I mean, not really. It's just expected that if you want in, you take it.

2) People are paying attention to everything *but* what's near them. That's not to say they're *trying*, but there are so many distractions, and as was mentioned above, you can be paying all the attention in the world, but not notice the guy who just pulled out of a local street onto the avenue and then makes a right turn right into you before you had a *chance* to notice he was there.

Yeah, accidents can happen any time, but what's the point in intentionally increasing that risk?

[zabala]

Assume they WILL ticket you for running through a red light.

Originally Posted by xxgrzesx

Also I have noticed that many cars just turn right and make U-turn in 20 feet. Is it OK to do that?

This is what I do on my bike when it's safe. Turn rt at red light, check traffic, make u turn, make right at same light. Sometimes there is too much traffic and I have to circle back & wait at the light but for you at 5am probably not a problem.

If it were me I'd do the u turn thing even at 5am just to be safe. I'm not exactly sure of the street legality of the "right u turn" move but it's less obvious than going straight through a red light at least.

[Gabrielr]

Replying to an old thread, but it seemed necessary. Too many people are ignorant of the laws and I'm tired of getting yelled at by pedestrians when I'm obeying the law.

In Los Angeles Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on the sidewalk. The police can not ticket for riding on the sidewalk, they can only ticket for Reckless Driving if you're behaving recklessly on the sidewalk. Keep in mind, Pedestrians have the right of way when on the sidewalk.

West Hollywood is a slightly different matter. You are allowed to ride on the sidewalk when there is no bike lane. If there's a bike lane, you MUST use the bike lane and can be ticketed for riding on the sidwalk. This means you have to ride in the street on Santa Monica blvd through downtown WeHo. Pretty dangerous spot to be in the street, expecially at night.


More information can be found on the DOT website: LADOT Bicycle Services



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[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by Gabrielr

West Hollywood is a slightly different matter. You are allowed to ride on the sidewalk when there is no bike lane. If there's a bike lane, you MUST use the bike lane and can be ticketed for riding on the sidwalk. This means you have to ride in the street on Santa Monica blvd through downtown WeHo. Pretty dangerous spot to be in the street, expecially at night.

It's too bad WeHo decided to force bikers to use the same road as cars. I think it would have been great if they had put a dedicated bike lane in the median, similar to the Chandler Bike Path in Burbank.

[AL_Phonz]

This website has all kinds of information about bicycle commuting, including tips on safety and good riding practices:

How to bike commute in Santa Barbara County, California.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

What makes some drivers hate bicyclists: Running red lights and stop signs, riding on the wrong side of the road, hogging the entire right turn lane where there is ample space between it and the through lanes, and most of all .... CRITICAL MASS!!!

(By the way, I am a cyclist ... I am the goody two shoes guy everyone sneers at ...)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

If a bicyclist doesn't pull over for a police car, will they employ the PIT maneuver? Ouch...

[Huckleberry3911948]

no matter what a happened in chicago, dont run red lights on a bike its against the law.
and very very dangerous.

[zenkonami]

Seriously...traffic laws (for the most part) were not put there just to inconvenience people. Social contract and liability. If you followed the laws to the best of your ability and the other person didn't, then you are unlikely to be held at fault...furthermore, you might live longer.

But then if you're one of those people that believes all government is evil, and that obedience is giving in to big brother and an absolute loss of your freedom, and that everyone will behave according to enlightened self interest (thereby benefiting everyone in the end) then by all means, break traffic laws as much as you want. May Darwin have the last word.

But if you cause an accident I'm in, I'm gonna sue you like only a patriotic red-blooded American can.