| Comment | Taking off at a green light in front, at the side of or in between impatient, angry and entitled car drivers is uncomfortable at least and potentially deadly, its where more often than not people have tried dangerous overtaking.
The road rules were designed to ensure heavy fast machines didnt kill "too many" people, they still kill lots but at a level most people find acceptable, the idea that the same rules should apply to bikes which are vastly slower and lighter, ie less dangerous, is frankly silly.
Most infrastruture is slowly being updated to make sense of that situation, where it has not then I will be prioritising my safety over some angry dude on the internet.
The other day I was on the cycle markings at the front of the junction at byres road with my children in a trailer behind me and the car behind me shouted at me in a fairly threatening manner. As if I was going to wait to take off in front of him revving while the green pedestrian lights were showing and let me get out of the way safely and easily.
Obviously pedestrians have priority, whether you are having to cycle on the path, on shared paths or at lights, but ones it is very clearly safe to proceed then I would say its far safer for cyclists to get a start while the cars are waiting. |
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