[nxkwkfhik]

The problem with waiting at lights is, unless you are quick, cars will try and overtake from lights. This will usually be at a crossing, where there are more likely to be tight spots that cars want to get into before you. This means more dangerous situations for the cyclist.

This is known to city planners, and when you have bicycle and car lights at a crossing, the bicycle light will go Green before the car lights. This is taken to the extreme when joining Parliament Square from Millbank.

That’s why cyclist jump red lights: The required infrastructure is not there to keep them safe.

This has lead to a general disregarding of the rules (a British trait c.f. speed limits on motorways), which has in turn lead to people doing things that obviously are not in the interest of their safety: riding through a red light when there are pedestrians crossing, especially bad when it’s just a two way crossing.

[alias_neo]

That's unfortunate. I never really thought about this when I was cycling. I'd stop at the front of traffic, middle of the road.

As a driver, I don't see the need to accelerate any faster than a reasonably fit cyclist who's willing to stop at the front of traffic (the slower ones do not typically).

I have no issue waiting for a cyclist to cross the junction and get to where there is sufficient space for me to pass, but I suppose, in London in particular, most drivers aren't as courteous (I hated being a driver in and around London let alone a pedestrian or cyclist).

I moved away recently, and I've really noticed, now that I use electric-scooter hire during my commute, that drivers where I am now are much more courteous.

[nxkwkfhik]

I would actually consider myself fortunate.

I’ve been cycling in London for 20 years and sometimes view it as a form of extreme sport, like running with the bulls in Spain