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

Tags:

• Philadelphia Daily News
• bicyclists' rights
• Trophy Bikes Philly

[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

[CETMAracks]

I'm a cyclist. I don't believe it's necessary for these drivers to completely stop. I don't even think Stop signs are necessary here. Yield signs might be appropriate. It's a lightly trafficked, slow moving three-way intersection, and visibility is good. It looks to me like majority of the drivers in this video were able to pass through without endangering anyone. Most drivers appeared to slow and/or stop for pedestrians as necessary. Not a big deal to me.

[mcget99]

Hey, that's my point -- Philadelphia politicians are pushing to fine cyclists $300 for doing the same thing

That's the big deal here.

--I am NOT saying bust everyone for rolling stops--but I am saying, let's legalize stop as yield, as is done in Idaho or somesuch state. --mcget/trophy bikes philly

[frankroche1]

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

[sMASHsound]

i also saw a police car drive like normal there.

what is the purpose of stopping there? if u stop, and there is nothing ur holding up traffic. if u slow down enough to stop and then see something, then stop but if u don't see any thing and proceed, how is that unsafe. imagine if everyone stops until is is safe. is the blinking light 'a proceed with caution' or 'stop and then proceed with caution'?

all i am saying is to remove the stop sign, it is unnecessary.

[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

[appo323]

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

[appo323]

HAHAHA THIS DRIVERS DONT GIVE A FUCK!!!

[cascadia999]

haha taxi cab. stop. ah must be new in town

[illnacord]

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

[trorb]

I just love the commentary on this one. (It'd be so good to do a reverse camera angle so you could cut to see the motorist.)

Good job.

[Steven197981]

It is interesting that only one of the two red flashers is working.