Swiss city Basel says trial allowing cyclists to turn right at red lights a success

Yep, I'd agree with that. We are still getting new infrastructure that puts cycle lanes/paths on the pavement and 'shared space' schemes. If bikes and pedestrians can safely share space in those circumstances there's no reason red lights should be anything other than 'Give Way' for non-motorised vehicles.

I'm definately in favour if this, would save quite a bit of time being able to left-U-left to get through a red at a crossroads.

i don't know why left turn on red isn't allowed in the UK for cars as well as cyclists.
saves fuel, cuts pollution, cuts journey times, saves on frustration when sat at a red at a clear junction.

I think this could go further.
The law should be changed to make red lights the equivalent of give way junctions for cyclists.

Wouldn't this be the equivalent of cycles being allowed left turns over here, thus avoiding conflict with cars setting off early?
It'd be right turns would put you across the front of cars.

Surely the easiest way of protecting left turns would be a segregated corner cutting path that didn't actually go through the red light? Perhaps with a bollard on the corner to the right hand side of the cycle lane? I may well be missing something blindingly obvious with that suggestion though.

America has been using a similar system for donkey's years and it works well with a country dedicated to car driving. Can't see it happening in UK though not with our bureaucracy.

I'd love to know how many on here also drive and wether they are prepared to admit the fact. How do they drive around bicycles on the road ?

Having seen the sheep mentality of most car drivers, how many UK drivers are going to assume the lights have turned green for themselves and set off into the unsuspecting traffic once they see the cyclists pootle past (remember we are anecdotally talking about a driving populace that will happily drive off bridges and piers just because their satnav tells them to, and we a l know they'll tank it off the "starting grid" without even looking to see if the road is clear).

But in Switzerland, everyone follows the rules

This is great news, but requires sense from all users. It will work as long as cyclists and other users are aware. We don't know the full details of what happened in Central Park, but cyclists need to be respectful of pedestrians (et v.v.).

Quote:

the Australian state of Australia

This just seems like common sense.

I have a number of traffic lights on my commute which when I stop at the red light (and I always do) I am actually putting myself in danger from the motorists revving their engines and eager to gain pole position as soon as the green light glimmers into life. If I were able to carry on through the light, even at a slower pace but maintaining some momentum, it would put me out of harms way when the wacky races mob set off again.

I hope we see something like this here.