REDLIGHTRUNNERS.mov

Motorists go through this intersection off Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia... they ignore three stop signs and a blinking red light--just like bikes do....
only inside three ton vehicles, and with a worse view of the street.
No, I'm NOT saying drivers have to stop and count to three at every stop. I am saying that drivers want to hold everyone else--but themselves--to a special standard.
mcget/trophy bikes philly

• Category

  News & Politics

[mcget99]

Dear Fpyout: your comments show the beginnings of a line of thought; but your use of tired vulgarities gets them deleted. So--verily, you faileth.

--mcget/trophy bikes

PS -- that's a Philly accent you heard--deal with it.

[Hoobencan]

That's not a good example at all, I wouldn't stop at that intersection either. There is clearly no road to the left and the one way continues on ahead. Really there is no reason to stop there. They should put in a flashing yellow light. Bad example.

I am from Texas.

[mcget99]

Dear Hoobencan -- the fact is that under Pennsylvania traffic law, an officer can give you a $119 ticket and 3 points on your license if you roll through that light--period.

MY point -- various pols in Philly were pushing a bill that would fine bicyclists $300 for rolling through that same intersection--more than motorists would face.

Thus my video--which shows how "stop as yield" works in the real world. Only one state (Idaho, I believe) allows it.

So my video is, er, not so bad! --mcget

[joechill1]

How about putting this same camera on Walnut Street outside your store and film the legion of bicyclists riding east on the sidewalk? Or better yet, how about the red light on 32nd and Chestnut at which not a single bike messenger has ever stopped, thus endangering the lives of pedestrians.

[mcget99]

well, duh, that's my point... no one's planning for cyclists, and cars (which way a teensy bit more than bike messengers) are doing whatever they want. I've been riding for more than 40 years and I find Chestnut Street between 38th and 22nd unrideable for much of the day--thanks to poor planning and selfish drivers. That fear of getting maimed/killed is why cyclists are on the sidewalk, eh? --mcget/trophy bikes philly

PS -- not everyone with a messenger bag is a messenger

[Frank Roche]

Brilliant, man. I work near that corner. And well said about the cracking down on bicyclists while cars roll unimpeded through stop signs. Ugh.

[UltraHotAaron]

Mike, I think you should also post the same video where you have bikes actually stopping at that intersection so people can see how trailing cars treat a stopped bike ahead of them in this city. It is tantamount to constant assault if you follow existing stop laws on a bike it this city and a car behind you has to wait for you to stop.

[Nick Millevoi]

Thank you.

[thirstofink]

Last night i was wondering do i need to totally stop still at a stop sign, i always stop at red light, and then today i was at 38th street, saw 3 policemen on bike went straight thru red lights

[Dealyplaza]

Put a cop there and you could close Philly's budget gap in a couple days. Most of these drivers would scratch their heads in wonderment if they got T-boned by someone. The pedestrians should definitely be telling these bozos to f%^k off. The cars and bikes have to STOP for pedestrians.

[deezynar]

I understand your point, but this is not a fair example since it's a 'T' intersection. I understand that STOP means STOP, but I think you'll find that a much higher % of drivers actually stop at 'X' intersections, not all, but more. FYI, I'm a cyclist myself and I'm very much in favor of the "Idaho Law."

[TheTiagoespanhol]

hy people stop is for stop is not to slow down is for stop ... people respect the stop sign stop is to stop ok !!!!!

[SupercarrotAway]

yeah, i've walked across there before. it's terrifying. (but even more terrifying is a few feet westward where the drivers make a left on 19th. oh lawdy! a blinking yield sign there would be nice, but surely ignored.)

i like that in NJ, there are signs at intersections that remind people that it's a state law to stop for peds at crosswalks. (even those that are nowhere near lights or stop signs, or corners for that matter)

[malxx16]

there is nobody walkin across the street.. well 2 people

[CHERRY LIN]

HAHAHA THIS DRIVERS DONT GIVE A FUCK!!! I WOULD LUV TO SEE THEM GET A TICKET AND ASK WHY?

[CHERRY LIN]

HAHAHA THIS DRIVERS DONT GIVE A FUCK!!!

[RACINGMIX]

Wow. Get a cop there to give out tickets. If this is PA thank god I dont live in that community.