running red lights

[Buddfox]

There's no-one around and I want to get home quicker? (This in response to post #75)

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The only other I can think of is if by stopping you would cause an accident eg being tailgated by an idiot.

We're getting there. Yes there are different punishments for breaking different laws and even for breaking the same law. But they are equally illegal, it's the mitigating factors that govern the seriousness.

Now provide situations where there are mitigating factors for jumping a red light. The only one I can think of is to allow an emergency vehicle to pass

Sent while following my Garmin's instructions

 

[SportMonkey]

You said I asserted we should break laws that make no sense to us, indeed I would only ever suggest we break laws that we or our peers may deem unjust, afterall it is the justice system. It is of note that in the UK statute is set by government, policing controlled by government and justice is controlled by the Law Lords

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Are you seriously suggesting that is a mitigating circustance?
"Well Officer I was doing 150Mph on the motorway as it was quiet and I wanted to get home faster......"

There's no-one around and I want to get home quicker? (This in response to post #75)

 

[SportMonkey]

So jumping a clear pedestrian crossing pinch point when followed by a White van who has previously close passed you by 4 inches good enough?

 

[RedRider]

and will they claim continued discrimination if the law does not change?

If the law doesn't change people will continue to break it unless far more resources are thrown at policing. Bad laws get broken all the time. Who's claiming discrimination?

Back to OP, I don't go through reds, at least very, very rarely. I used to but that was ten years ago when I'd feel a bit embarrassed sat there when most everyone else was piling through. More comfortable doing my own thing now.

 

[Buddfox]

Are you seriously suggesting that is a mitigating circustance?
"Well Officer I was doing 150Mph on the motorway as it was quiet and I wanted to get home faster......"

Of course. Riding a bike through a red light is neither as serious nor as dangerous as driving a car at 150mph (in my judgement, of course yours may be different and I'm not questioning that), so why is this comparison being drawn? The question was what mitigating circumstances would there be for riding through a red light on a bike. For me, there being no-one around and it allowing me to get home quicker fits the bill.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Only if by stopping you would cause an accident. Past events are not mitigation for breaking a law, an on going action maybe. Remember mitigation is a defence not a get out od jail free card.

So jumping a clear pedestrian crossing pinch point when followed by a White van who has previously close passed you by 4 inches good enough?

 

[martint235]

But no judge or jury would accept that as mitigating evidence and you should expect to be done if caught

Sent while following my Garmin's instructions

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Mitigation is a legal defence so I would think both would be treated with the same distain in a court of law.

Of course. Riding a bike through a red light is neither as serious nor as dangerous as driving a car at 150mph (in my judgement, of course yours may be different and I'm not questioning that), so why is this comparison being drawn? The question was what mitigating circumstances would there be for riding through a red light on a bike. For me, there being no-one around and it allowing me to get home quicker fits the bill.

 

[Buddfox]

Of course, it's not about constructing a legal defence it's about justifying the decision to do it. That's how I interpreted the reference to mitigation. If I get stopped by a police officer for jumping a red light, then I'll take my punishment.

 

[lejogger]

Now provide situations where there are mitigating factors for jumping a red light. The only one I can think of is to allow an emergency vehicle to pass

How about my example where the red light only has traffic filtering from the right, and stopping places the cyclist in more danger than carrying on through the red because:
a) it is on a hill with a right to left curve - anyone using clipless pedals and carrying heavy panniers knows that it is trickier to get going than otherwise. Therefore...
b)Trying to clip in whilst in secondary position can be dangerous with all the traffic attempting to get past pushing the cyclist into the kerb on a right to left corner...
c) Trying to clip in up a hill in a primary position puts additional pressure on the cyclist from the traffic behind.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I sware I am not leaning over your shoulder watching what you type

But no judge or jury would accept that as mitigating evidence and you should expect to be done if caught

Sent while following my Garmin's instructions

 

[Buddfox]

I sware I am not leaning over your shoulder watching what you type

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Interesting. I think the response would be you shouldn't ride the bike that ladden in traffic if you know it will cause you that much of a problem.

How about my example where the red light only has traffic filtering from the right, and stopping places the cyclist in more danger than carrying on through the red because:
a) it is on a hill with a right to left curve - anyone using clipless pedals and carrying heavy panniers knows that it is trickier to get going than otherwise. Therefore...
b)Trying to clip in whilst in secondary position can be dangerous with all the traffic attempting to get past pushing the cyclist into the kerb on a right to left corner...
c) Trying to clip in up a hill in a primary position puts additional pressure on the cyclist from the traffic behind.