City Hall – DR assigned this issue to Police - JW (Communications)

cyclist here. Cambridge does indeed need to do a better job enforcing when cyclists running lights are impeding traffic flow (which does happen, to my great disappointment), as in your example. Cambridge also needs to do a better job enforcing turn signal use and not stopping in bike lines for cars, so that cyclists will be able to get around safely and efficiently. If you use your turn signal the cyclist can wait for the light to change somewhere that they won't block your turn (if you're going right), and bike lanes are there so that bikes can be outside major traffic flow, not as loading zones. There are problems everywhere, and everyone on the roads needs to respect everyone else and follow the rules.

Don't blame us all, there are cyclists who wait for green lights. Besides it being the law I wait for a green light because I know not all vehicle drivers signal left turns and more than a few drivers speed up when they see a yellow light and figure it's ok to run red lights if it has "just" turned red.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect.

Absolutely no reason to be beeping at cyclists. There is no harm in running a red light provided the intersection is clear. You're just upset that you're sitting in traffic.

The harm in running a red light is two-fold. Cyclists can get hit by a left turning car that doesn't signal and believe or lots of drivers think it's ok to run red lights. The other reason is that seeing cyclists run red lights enrages drivers prone to road rage. As I cyclist I want to do everything I can to minimize the number of drivers who feel justified in attacking me with their motor vehicles.

No, there's no harm. Again, when running a red or stop sign it is after slowing enough, even to a stop if necessary, and proceeding when safe to do so. And your second point is ridiculous. As cyclists gauging the emotions of other drivers or trying to behave in ways that you think will or will not have certain effects is really senseless. Running red lights and stop signs when safe to do so is for one reason...safety. People unable to restrain their emotions have issues and they are not concerned for my safety.

Cyclists run red lights more or less at the same rates as drivers. Why the focus on the cyclists? A cyclist is much less likely to kill a person than the person behind the wheel who runs the red or is distracted.

Michael M, why isn't it OK for motor vehicle drivers to also run red lights "when safe to do so?" One situation that I see regularly on Mass. Ave Cambridge is a red light in the direction I'm traveling and a green light for oncoming traffic for the benefit of left turning traffic. It's not fair. just, or legal but a lot of drivers don't use their turn signals. No matter how much I slow down or even stop there's no way I can tell the intentions of oncoming traffic at an intersection. I don't want to be hit by a left hook. As for my second point. I don't want to give drivers unconcerned for my safety an excuse to act on their inability to "restrain their emotions." Why egg them on?

If that isn't obvious to you maybe you shouldn't be behind the wheel! Again, egging on, or not, of drivers is an impossible thing to gauge. I ride with safety in mind. If a human being is actually going to use their car as a weapon because they don't like cyclists running lights then we have a psychopath on our hands. Nothing I do will change that, nor do I care to think much about them. Safety first. Getting through an intersection before traffic gets started is one of the safest things a cyclist can do. No chance of being hooked in any direction, and no harm to anyone else.

Cyclists are required to obey the rules of the road; from the Cambridge Development Dept website;
Section 12.2: Obedience to Traffic Control Devices
(a) Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.

So stop at red lights. I've seen CPD enforce this on occasion. Perhaps they need to do it more often.

Previously acknowledged.