Are they really in such a hurry ? <Part 2>

[Darryn]

Speeding on your bicycle? There are very few locations in Singapore where a cyclist can exceed the posted speed limit......

 

Its not that hard to hit 50 km/h on a bike, even 60 is pretty normal if you are a good cyclist on a decent bike.

 

Even on my old man legs and ancient bike I have hit 40...

 

 

[Nzy]

Speeding on your bicycle? There are very few locations in Singapore where a cyclist can exceed the posted speed limit......

 

Yep. With the right wheels and gearing and a slope, possible to hit 70km/h also.

[macrosszero]

I once went over 70kph on a carbon roadbike in the mountain regions of New Zealand and swore never to do it again. The bike was oscillating, the wind was blowing tears out of my eyes despite the Oakleys I was wearing, and I daren't haul hard on the brakes for fear of something giving way...

 

Roads with no posted limits are by default 50kph in Singapore - some twisty roads like South Buona Vista Road and NUS campus are 30 or 40kph, otherwise most are 60-70kph. The TP would have to be *really* bo liao to haul up a cyclist for speeding......

[Kyokonitori88]

Well maybe they are in the sort of race or something. And the good thing was they have successfully crossed the road. IMO, I think it would be safer if the government built a lane for the cyclist for more smooth traffic and avoidance of traffic.

[Bluemice]

Well maybe they are in the sort of race or something. And the good thing was they have successfully crossed the road. IMO, I think it would be safer if the government built a lane for the cyclist for more smooth traffic and avoidance of traffic.

 

yeah, even if its in a race, it still doesn't give them the right to beat any red light.

[Taipan49]

They are employing a technique called the rolling stop. http://vimeo.com/4140910

 

Effectively they treat the red light/stop sign as a yield sign instead.

[Bomby929]

So which would you prefer - having law abiding cyclists who stop at a red light - but in front of your car - light turns green - they accelerate like a snail, and you have no choice but to wait behind them, because at a traffic light, all vehicles are bunched up like the start of a F1 race - and you are unable to change lane to give them that 1.5m spacing.

 

Or....have these three guys who are comfortably ahead of the traffic - so when you catch up to them, they are already at 20-30km/h - but more importantly, about 100 or 200m down the road, giving you enough time to change lanes - or at least slow down to 20km/h vs stuck behind them at 2km/h.

 

If they abide by the traffic rules, they should not even stop in front of the car. reason

 

1) if I am the first car.. I will stop before the stop line.. they should too.

2) If there are cars in front of me. the gap I leave will not be enough for them to come in.

3) Rules also state that cyclist need to be not obstructing traffic.

 

only if everyone follow rules. I have seen this time and time again.. at traffic light.. cyclist just go in front and stop in front of the vehicle.. come on cyclist!! U think you can accelerate faster than a car/bus? U think your flesh is tougher than metal? Drivers will sure be pissed off. Dun (not all) act as if you have the right of way and own the road. Sharing means both ways.. not asking vehicle drivers to share and you (not all) selfishly act as if you own the road.

[Bomby929]

seriously i also see nothing wrong in this video.

probably TS just pick on cyclists?

 

Nothing wrong? If you are a car/bus/lorry/motor.. its beating the red light.

 

If pedestrian.. its jaywalking.

 

So cyclist is where?

 

My theory is very simple

 

on road = follow traffic rules

 

on pavement.. = follow pedestrian rules.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Bomby929

[Bomby929]

seriously i also see nothing wrong in this video.

probably TS just pick on cyclists?

 

So your pt is must have near accident or someone get hurt then the cyclist is in the wrong?

[Taipan49]

If they abide by the traffic rules, they should not even stop in front of the car. reason

 

1) if I am the first car.. I will stop before the stop line.. they should too.

2) If there are cars in front of me. the gap I leave will not be enough for them to come in.

3) Rules also state that cyclist need to be not obstructing traffic.

 

only if everyone follow rules. I have seen this time and time again.. at traffic light.. cyclist just go in front and stop in front of the vehicle.. come on cyclist!! U think you can accelerate faster than a car/bus? U think your flesh is tougher than metal? Drivers will sure be pissed off. Dun (not all) act as if you have the right of way and own the road. Sharing means both ways.. not asking vehicle drivers to share and you (not all) selfishly act as if you own the road.

 

The reason they go in front of the car at the front of the queue is so they can be seen by the drivers. Gives them a chance to get going and move across to the left-hand side of the road when the light goes green safely. If they are caught up in the traffic behind the other cars, you get squeezed into the curb very quickly as the cars are more concerned about the other cars around them than a cyclist. The cyclist is trying to get going and put into a dangerous situation. Same reason why most motorbikes squeeze to the front as well.

 

And what amount of time are they slowing you down by? We are talking seconds right? And how far to the next traffic light, it seems every few hundred metres at times in Singapore so why the need to go and stop and wait at the next traffic light so quickly? A bit of patience goes a long way.

 

[Darryn]

So your pt is must have near accident or someone get hurt then the cyclist is in the wrong?

 

I won't answer for others, but for me = pretty much.

 

If the cyclist can do this without inconveniencing others I don't have a problem with it.

 

Do remember that a cyclist has much better sightlines (and hearing) than someone in a car, can stop much sooner and change direction faster.

 

 

[Darryn]

The reason they go in front of the car at the front of the queue is so they can be seen by the drivers. Gives them a chance to get going and move across to the left-hand side of the road when the light goes green safely. If they are caught up in the traffic behind the other cars, you get squeezed into the curb very quickly as the cars are more concerned about the other cars around them than a cyclist. The cyclist is trying to get going and put into a dangerous situation. Same reason why most motorbikes squeeze to the front as well.

 

And what amount of time are they slowing you down by? We are talking seconds right? And how far to the next traffic light, it seems every few hundred metres at times in Singapore so why the need to go and stop and wait at the next traffic light so quickly? A bit of patience goes a long way.

 

Besides which, I can get moving and get across to the left without blocking the car at all.

 

So why should there be a problem?

 

[Taipan49]

I won't answer for others, but for me = pretty much.

 

If the cyclist can do this without inconveniencing others I don't have a problem with it.

 

Do remember that a cyclist has much better sightlines (and hearing) than someone in a car, can stop much sooner and change direction faster.

 

Yep, no distractions like passengers/kids/mobile phones/music etc. Plus you are sitting higher and don't have any interruptions to your view nor rely on your mirrors.

[Turbonetics]

Nothing wrong? If you are a car/bus/lorry/motor.. its beating the red light.

 

If pedestrian.. its jaywalking.

 

So cyclist is where?

 

My theory is very simple

 

on road = follow traffic rules

 

on pavement.. = follow pedestrian rules.

 

 

this video is seriously no big deal.

its just like people jaywalking along orchard rd.

TS probably wants to show off the new in car camera and post for the sake.

 

[Taipan49]

Besides which, I can get moving and get across to the left without blocking the car at all.

 

So why should there be a problem?

 

Seems to be a big bugbear. The US is amending the laws in some states to allow cyclists to use stop signs/red lights as yield signs instead. It allows the cyclist to get away from the waiting cars at intersections in a safer manner. Some people believe they should obey the laws, but then get upset when the cyclist is in the way due to them obeying the laws. Can't have it both ways.

[Bomby929]

I won't answer for others, but for me = pretty much.

 

If the cyclist can do this without inconveniencing others I don't have a problem with it.

 

Do remember that a cyclist has much better sightlines (and hearing) than someone in a car, can stop much sooner and change direction faster.

 

in my own experience.. I almost knock down 10-20 cyclist just because they beat the traffic lights.. that is why I hate cyclist doing these stuns. I was lucky that time round for checking my right while doing a turn left on red with a green arrow in my favour. I was able to stop in time while these 10-20 cyclist just zoom by not even thinking of stopping. Its not until I horn did two or three cyclist brake just before my car.

 

Let say if I hit them.. then whose fault? My fault for not looking out? Or 10-20 cyclist life because they break the rule.

[Darryn]

I have to ask the obvious question....

 

Did you have your left hand indicator on?

 

For me, I don't have a deathwish, if I think the car is going to turn left, I WILL NOT go up the left side - I don't wanna get road rash or be a hood ornament.

 

That so many were willing to do it means one of three things to me

1. You weren't indicating

2. There is no left turn on red there

3. They didn't know this was a left turn on road

 

OR maybe number four

 

they are morons with a death wish.

 

[Bomby929]

The reason they go in front of the car at the front of the queue is so they can be seen by the drivers. Gives them a chance to get going and move across to the left-hand side of the road when the light goes green safely. If they are caught up in the traffic behind the other cars, you get squeezed into the curb very quickly as the cars are more concerned about the other cars around them than a cyclist. The cyclist is trying to get going and put into a dangerous situation. Same reason why most motorbikes squeeze to the front as well.

 

And what amount of time are they slowing you down by? We are talking seconds right? And how far to the next traffic light, it seems every few hundred metres at times in Singapore so why the need to go and stop and wait at the next traffic light so quickly? A bit of patience goes a long way.

 

From what I witness.. those cyclist along pasir ris drv 3 will move in front of the car.. and then bunch up in front and not move to the left. All cars.. buses just queue up behind them. Sat and sun morning pasir ris drv 3 left lane in both directions are for cyclist bunching up. Anyway this is beside the point.

 

The point is if they are at the back.. drivers do not need to see them. Vehicles move forward.. not backwards. They can bunch up behind the car and not move in front. Why do they need to move in front in the first place. If stay at the back. a car will not reverse to knock you.