Cyclists in Amsterdam Routinely Ignore Traffic Signals
So says a New Yorker cyclist who rode while in Amsterdam:
To be sure, cyclists in Amsterdam routinely ignore traffic signals, just like in New York. And pity the pedestrian who wanders on to the wrong side of the line between the sidewalk and the bike lane, which is often worn away to a shadow.
The Law & Order BrigadeTM — the folks who routinely carp at cyclists for not stopping at stop signs and red lights (and presumably also disapprove of the behavior of the millions of curfew-breaking citizens in the Middle East — outlaws!) — and even some cycling ‘advocates’ (not me, of course) often suggest that cyclists in good cycling cities/countries, like Amsterdam/The Netherlands and Copenhagen/Denmark, always obey traffic signals. I always thought that people would behave normally all around the world, and that stupid, unjust laws would be ignored by almost everyone. Maybe my instincts were correct all along?
We know that smart, just laws are often ignored by drivers every day — they often seem to go out of their way to break the speed limit on every single road they travel every single day — regardless of the death and destruction and misery these outlaw drivers rain down on innocents every day. You’d think cycling ‘advocates’ and livable streets heroes would have something to say to dangerously destructive and murderous drivers — but then you’d be wrong — at least, if we’re talking about New York City.
The takeaway? Support the modified Idaho Stop — cyclists should not have to stop at Stop signs or red lights unless someone else has the right of way — simple. Traffic control signals were created by drivers for drivers — they simply don’t apply to pedestrians or cyclists. Walkers and bikers need to do what we need to do to stay alive, we know that disobeying stupid traffic signals can make us safer, and pedestrians and cyclists will never ever obey the laws of the land while they continue to make no sense — and this argument, of course, extends to all road users, and all citizens and residents of this and every country on the face of the earth. Criminalizing safe, normal, everyday behavior has always been a losing proposition — unless your goal is to “marginalize and discard” some segment of the population — and we don’t need that kind of sick, twisted policy in the transportation world. So write your local advocacy group and ask the question — “Where are we on the modified Idaho Stop? I’m tired of getting honked at and cussed at and stared down and harassed for trying to stay alive and engaging in normal, safe, everyday behavior.”
Update: Good title — Charge of the Red Light Brigade.
