Taking off at the Light

[SLu]

Newbie here. When I'm driving, I generally like to wait a second or so after the light turns green to let the red light runners pass. On my bike, I'm concern about the guy behind me jumping the gun and running me over. What should I do?

Also what about when I split lanes and move to the front? If I don't jump out right away, one of the cars on either side will. In fact, they seem to be much more aggressive at the light when I pull up.

 

[ItsOverJohnny]

No they are not more agressive. You are in there territory. Before the light turns green, look both ways then quickly leave the light. You need to be on point when cutting to the front.

When you have your own lane, fuck the person in back. I would rather get ran over VS t boned any day.

 

[kyles here]

if your not comfortable then dont split and go to the front, i jump out first just so the cars dont but after that i back off and double check each way then go

 

[Kato]

1> Keep your foot or hand brake light on until your ready to proceed.

2> Don't split unless your ready to deal with other aggressive drivers. It's
not nice to hold up traffic. Be alert & one step ahead of the other guy your
splitting in front of.

Newbie here. When I'm driving, I generally like to wait a second or so after the light turns green to let the red light runners pass. On my bike, I'm concern about the guy behind me jumping the gun and running me over. What should I do?

Also what about when I split lanes and move to the front? If I don't jump out right away, one of the cars on either side will. In fact, they seem to be much more aggressive at the light when I pull up.

 

[Disco]

Most of the time I look left or right before the light turns green so I will know if there any runners. Or I just don't lane split because those 5-10 seconds you save aren't worth your life.

 

[209manny]

I check both ways to make sure its clear and then I take off.
If I'm sharing I do the same, if cars on the sides take off before me its not a big deal for me, since I can pass them up in a matter of seconds.

 

[highonF4i]

Definitely wait a few seconds before entering the intersection.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268016

As for getting rear ended because of your few seconds of caution...I wouldn't worry about that too much, but that's why they say to keep it in gear. If there's not a car stopped behind you but cars approaching, pump your brake lever to flash your taillights for visibility.

 

[masameet]

I check both ways too. Turning my head left and then right before I start means a 2-second delay. I also time the green-to-amber-to red light for cross traffic. Still sometimes hanging back and riding with a car next to you might help should a driver run a red at the intersection, as what happened to this poor rider last Thursday. So just don't take it for granted that cross traffic will stop on their red. We've have several BARFers post how a late red-light runner almost nailed them in crossing on their green light.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I usually take off instantly when the light turns green. But I am watching all other traffic and I know whether the intersection will be clear when I head into it. Usually I can see the light going yellow for the other traffic and I watch who is slowing for the coming red and who is trying to make it through before it changes. I don't go until I'm sure nobody will be coming through the intersection the other way.

There have been a few times when I've filtered to the front and there as been a car trying to catch a late yellow, but the cars next to me see green and take off anyway. Once or twice this has come close to a collision. That is the only time I don't beat the cars across the intersection. I almost chased a guy down once to explain how he almost got into a wreck because he wasn't paying attention to traffic.

As for getting run over from behind, if you have a proper brake light and it's still on, there is no reason to expect people to take off with you in front of them. I've never seen that happen. Of course, maybe people notice my yellow bike and yellow helmet a little better than your Ninja 500, who knows.

 

[jbt56]

I always take off quickly from a green. One of my favorite activities is to accelerate directly at red-light-runners (while watching them like a hawk!), somethimes while on the horn. I do this both on the bike and in my car. Instead of condoning their behavior by inaction (enabling them by waiting like a sheep), this lets them know that THEY are wrong. What amazes me are the pissed-off looks I get, like I'M doing something wrong! I say , society shouldn't put up with their crap!

 

[kxmike]

I usually take off instantly when the light turns green. But I am watching all other traffic and I know whether the intersection will be clear when I head into it. Usually I can see the light going yellow for the other traffic and I watch who is slowing for the coming red and who is trying to make it through before it changes. I don't go until I'm sure nobody will be coming through the intersection the other way.

There have been a few times when I've filtered to the front and there as been a car trying to catch a late yellow, but the cars next to me see green and take off anyway. Once or twice this has come close to a collision. That is the only time I don't beat the cars across the intersection. I almost chased a guy down once to explain how he almost got into a wreck because he wasn't paying attention to traffic.

As for getting run over from behind, if you have a proper brake light and it's still on, there is no reason to expect people to take off with you in front of them. I've never seen that happen. Of course, maybe people notice my yellow bike and yellow helmet a little better than your Ninja 500, who knows.

+1


It's all about awareness. Pay attention to the enviornment around you and learn to predict what other motorists are going to do. After that, it's easy.

 

[OldFatGuy]

I always take off quickly from a green. One of my favorite activities is to accelerate directly at red-light-runners (while watching them like a hawk!), somethimes while on the horn. I do this both on the bike and in my car. Instead of condoning their behavior by inaction (enabling them by waiting like a sheep), this lets them know that THEY are wrong. What amazes me are the pissed-off looks I get, like I'M doing something wrong! I say , society shouldn't put up with their crap!

I do this sometimes too, especially when I'm driving a large vehicle. If they have to go home and change their shorts because they think they almost got run over by a dump truck, I think they're less likely to run red lights in the future.

 

[Sane_Man]

I usually take off instantly when the light turns green. But I am watching all other traffic and I know whether the intersection will be clear when I head into it. Usually I can see the light going yellow for the other traffic and I watch who is slowing for the coming red and who is trying to make it through before it changes. I don't go until I'm sure nobody will be coming through the intersection the other way.

There have been a few times when I've filtered to the front and there as been a car trying to catch a late yellow, but the cars next to me see green and take off anyway. Once or twice this has come close to a collision. That is the only time I don't beat the cars across the intersection. I almost chased a guy down once to explain how he almost got into a wreck because he wasn't paying attention to traffic.

As for getting run over from behind, if you have a proper brake light and it's still on, there is no reason to expect people to take off with you in front of them. I've never seen that happen. Of course, maybe people notice my yellow bike and yellow helmet a little better than your Ninja 500, who knows.

I always take off quickly from a green. One of my favorite activities is to accelerate directly at red-light-runners (while watching them like a hawk!), somethimes while on the horn. I do this both on the bike and in my car. Instead of condoning their behavior by inaction (enabling them by waiting like a sheep), this lets them know that THEY are wrong. What amazes me are the pissed-off looks I get, like I'M doing something wrong! I say , society shouldn't put up with their crap!

I do this sometimes too, especially when I'm driving a large vehicle. If they have to go home and change their shorts because they think they almost got run over by a dump truck, I think they're less likely to run red lights in the future.

I always do the former, but doing the latter, even in my cage, acting like I could have ran them over.

I give them the look while blocking them so they can't clear the intersection. Now they look like dumb shits, sitting in the middle of the street with cars trying to get around them.

I thought I was the only one fucking with people.

 

[GhostRider]

I do this sometimes too, especially when I'm driving a large vehicle. If they have to go home and change their shorts because they think they almost got run over by a dump truck, I think they're less likely to run red lights in the future.

What's odd is that when driving different vehicles, i can observe a clear pattern between people's driving.

myfavourite, the "onramp pass, merge last possible minute, cut off everyone".
they are much more aggressive when i'm in my "nice" car.

every time i'm out in the truck, and i'd LOVE to have one of those fuckers bump into my side (1/8th inch steel plated running boards, 2x2 tubular steel re-inforced).

but strangely - people drive A LOT more civilized when they see a "mad-max" themed sub-urban assault truck.

really pisses me off....

 

[jbt56]

I always do the former, but doing the latter, even in my cage, acting like I could have ran them over.

I give them the look while blocking them so they can't clear the intersection. Now they look like dumb shits, sitting in the middle of the street with cars trying to get around them.

I thought I was the only one fucking with people.

I LOVE it when they get stuck in the middle of the intersection, as traffic shuts them in. Puts them on 'public display' with a "Look at me, I'm really stupid" sign on!

 

[ScottRNelson]

I had an interesting related experience on my way home from work this afternoon.

As I was stopped at the light at Hopyard Road, first in line in the right lane, with a mini-pickup in the left one, I revved my engine once before going from neutral back into first gear. Apparently the guy in the pickup thought I wanted to race or something, so he starts revving. The opposite lane going straight and the left turn lane coming towards us got the light first, and someone at the end of the line of left turning cars pushed the yellow light so that he was right in front of me when my light went green. The pickup took off as soon as the light went green for us, and if I had done the same, I could have hit the car making the late yellow light. Of course, as is my habit, I waited until my path was actually clear before going, while the pickup went ahead, changing immediately into my lane, then making a right turn at the next parking lot entrance.

I suppose if I had been driving a dump truck or something, I should have gone as soon as the light went green, then honked at the car there. But on my Ducati, I just let people clear the way first instead.

 

[ST Guy]

The intersection where you can't see if left and right adequately is rare. Therefore, if you're looking ahead of time and know the traffic situation, there's no reason why you can't go when the light turns green.

 

[Mike T]

1> Keep your foot or hand brake light on until your ready to proceed.

2> Don't split unless your ready to deal with other aggressive drivers. It's
not nice to hold up traffic. Be alert & one step ahead of the other guy your
splitting in front of.

+1 yuppp....#2 especially

 

[sea bass]

I've stalled at the front before and cars blew by me. It's hard to fail harder than that.

 

[WHOisDAN]

Intersections can me extremely dangerous.

If you're lane splitting, proceed with caution or this something like this can happen.

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