Is it “often safest” for cyclists to go through red lights? Cyclists’ reactions are split, but some call it a response to tailgating; Regent Street turns to Paris and Barcelona to curb car traffic; 2029 UCI road Worlds in Denmark? + more on the live blog

Before we begin any discussion on today's live blog, it'd be nice to provide a disclaimer: Jumping red lights is illegal for cyclists according to the Highway Code.

With that said, let's get into the latest storm that's brewing up in the world of cycling Twitter (cycling X doesn't have the same ring). Andy Boenau, an urbanist and active travel campaigner from Virginia, USA, has shared a video of a cyclist in London going through on red lights at a junction, with the words, arguing that it's "often safest for a cyclist to go through a red light", and claiming that video was an example of how a cyclist can safely keep momentum.

"Bicycles and motor vehicles should never be treated as equals, so "but red means stop!" isn't a useful reaction," he added.

It's often safest for a cyclist to go through a red light. Here's an example of safely keeping momentum.

Bicycles and motor vehicles should never be treated as equals, so "but red means stop!" isn't a useful reaction.
pic.twitter.com/o8oHQGQb6z

— Andy Boenau (@Boenau) January 30, 2024

While such a tweet was certain to bring the most staunch anti-cycling fanatics from the pits of the universe, this opinion has even led to a lot of cyclists in the UK disagreeing with the statement. Besides the rather lengthy and detailed Community Notes on Twitter reiterating the Highway Code rule 69 which says that cyclists "MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals" (Is this the first time we've seen Community Notes being used for something like this?)

Cycling instructor and advocate from Birmingham Tim reacted to the tweet saying: "
This isn’t true. This is terrible cycling. And the red light jumping is only part of it. Cyclist should be in primary position for a start"

> Should cyclists be allowed to ride through red lights? Campaigners split on safety benefits

However, a few people, including Boneau also took an issue with the bus driver tailgating the cyclist, with some also arguing that jumping red lights is one way for cyclists to get rid of drivers creeping up way past the point of comfort behind them.

Boneau wrote: "With all the attention focused on this cyclist rolling through red at the end of the video, no one talks about the bus tailgating the cyclist at the start of the video. It's bad enough to ride up on a bike like that, but even worse knowing the bus is about to stop."

That might be the camera angle ie looking down by some margin I assume double decker.

This said london buses are driven poorly ie will tailgate and so on particularly slower cyclists and so on.

Still not convinced it’s wise or safe though!

— Roger Merriman (@rogermerriman) January 31, 2024

Another campaigner and Twitter user named Plastic Irony said: "Not going to jump onto a thread started from Virginia, but in UK context, I'd be taking issue with the tailgating first. Does that exonerate the cyclist? No, don't think it does, because car on other side is indicating right and not all junctions are directly symmetrical.

"Even if we take out the car on opposite, I've never accepted argument that it's ok to go through red simply because it builds gap from vehicles behind - they can just catch up anyway.

"But in early hours, especially on bike with step through frame, there's case to rethink law, but for now, just step out of frame and become a pedestrian, no law is being broken. See also lights that won't change due to poorly designed sensors. In my humble opinion neither apply here."

If I am honest from the chap position, I assumed he wasn't a very confident rider, stopping at the lights would have been fine, I assumed they wanted to get ahead of the bus following relatively closely behind. I can understand that motivation.

— Christopher Lang (@langoo) January 31, 2024

Just a couple of weeks ago, Surrey Police stopped and fined four cyclists jumping a red light and shared the video on social media, leading to a lot of commotion and questioning of the police force's actions.

> Under-fire police force releases full video of cyclists fined for ignoring red light amid questions over original footage

It also might be interesting to point out here that the safety of cyclists having to stop at red lights is probably one of the most divisive topics amongst cyclists. In fact, in some parts of the world, such as Colorado in the United States and Paris, France, it is perfectly legal for cyclists to go through red lights.

Cycling campaigner Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet of Bike for Good, speaking to Scotland on Sunday last year, even argued that similar practices could be implemented here in the United Kingdom.

But as we can all assume, the odds of that happening in the country right now seem quite low. But as always, no better place to express your opinions than the road.cc live blog comment section. So go ahead and let us know if you think cycling through red lights could be safer or not...

In a startlingly adverse decision for active travel in the city, Newcastle City Council has decided to remove the Jesmond low-traffic neighbourhood trials, citing increased residents journey times and unaffected emergency services, with 77 per cent in opposition of the scheme.

However, as one person pointed out, the increased journey times were of those using a car, and didn't include pedestrians and cyclists.

Newcastle-based researcher and urban planner said: "Newcastle Council to rip out Jesmond LTN despite the data being extremely positive. Whose voice mattered here? Not the children and young people growing up in the city. This is hugely disappointing news."

Newcastle Council to rip out Jesmond LTN despite the data being extremely positive. Whose voice mattered here? Not the children and young people growing up in the city. This is hugely disappointing news. https://t.co/jb6m2XCg4h

— Sally Watson (@salawatson) January 31, 2024

Meanwhile, transport journalist from Jesmond, Carlton Reid said: "Good news for motorists. Until, that is, congestion builds up again because of the excess of cars, especially as new housing developments will add to motor traffic in years ahead.

"This scheme mostly benefitted pedestrians. A great many residents will be shocked by the reintroduction of cars. Goal was to reduce number of car journeys in a very walkable neighbourhood. Goal was achieved. The noisy (and often abusive) complaints worked.

"Key complaint was length of time to do car journeys at peak times (car journeys off-peak were as swift as usual). Predicted traffic increase on Coast Road will mean junctions will clog up, leaving complainers wondering why removing LTN didn't solve the congestion problem."

How utterly utterly depressing. Driver convenience trumps residents’ safety, health and wellbeing. What on earth are you doing? Listening to the pro motoring lobby. We can all see how that’s going to end. Congestion, pollution, road danger and unhealthy lifestyles. Deary me.

— Leicestershire Loves Cycling (@LeicsCountyBike) January 31, 2024

Absolutely disgusting verdict that doesn’t take into account children at all.

— History Gal (@historygal123) January 31, 2024

In May last year, a self-proclaimed "keen cyclist" had launched a petition littered with factual errors objecting to the Jesmond LTN, with many residents and signatories of the petition calling for the trial consultation to be "axed immediately".

> Petition with “factual errors” to scrap low-traffic neighbourhood launched by a “keen cyclist” after just two months of trial

Earlier this morning, news broke that the roads to the Cheddar Gorge, an incredibly lush (and also incredibly challenging — those who've tackled it on a saddle will know) route popular amongst the tourists in Somerset is set to close once a month to motor traffic, in order to make it more enjoyable for cyclists and walkers.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) has been placed by the Mendip Hills National Landscape Team who will see how the project goes, and are thus, looking for eventual feedback.

But naturally, the news hasn't been taken well by motorists and other petrolheads, who can't believe they will now have one day less to drive upto the ravine in Somerset.

Under the news post by BBC on Facebook asking if it was a "good idea", commenters have expressed their dissent, with one person saying: "For God's sake if you want to walk take the foot paths not the main road it's so laughable that someone got paid to think of that idea!"

Another person said: "Just another silly idea when someone's nothing else better to do, leave well alone its not just a visitors play place its home to many of us that use the road daily, and pay our taxes to do so."

A third person said that they've never had any problems with traffic in the area, however it was the cyclists who "tend to be the most inconsiderate road users in the gorge whilst also putting themselves and others at risk".

Others tried to be a bit more egalitarian with their outlook towards cyclists and drivers, one comment saying: "This is an excellent idea. However, in the interests of equality it should also be shut once a month for motor enthusiasts to do time trials. Fair’s fair and all."

Soudal Quick-Step's Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier has started the new cycling road season with a bang, winning the third stage of Tour of AlUla after missing out on the win and only managing a podium in the first stage of the race dominated by sweeping, sandy vistas (and echelons in the peloton, lots of them) in Saudi Arabia.

.@MerlierTim venceu a etapa 03 do #alulatour pic.twitter.com/1JksKBXimi

— O País Do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) February 1, 2024

He managed to hold off UAE's Juan Molano, Rui Oliveira and Team DSM's Casper Van Uden, the current points leader who eventually finished third.

A councillor has urged locals to respect the consultation process and "see how the trial progresses" amid noise and protests from an outspoken group of residents unhappy at the decision to close a "rat-run" through a park in order to promote a safer environment for cyclists and walkers. 

From 17 January, a road through Poole Park, in the Dorset town, has been closed to through-traffic, preventing rat-running drivers using the heritage listed park in a conservation area as a cut-through near Sandbanks, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country.

Councillor Andy Hadley, BCP Council's portfolio holder for the environment, insisted the council does not have an "anti-car agenda" but there is a "challenge on our roads about the dominance of the car" with vehicles "getting bigger and more of them".

Read more: > Councillor defends closing park "rat-run" to drivers to promote cycling and address "challenge" of "dominance of the car"

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Freddy Gladieux (@freddygladieux)

Cool image of 12 years old Tadej Pogačar winning the Criterium Grand Prix race in Idrija, Slovenia. Winner from the beginning. 🇸🇮🏆

📷: Klemen Petrič pic.twitter.com/ulMPlT15U0

— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) January 31, 2024