European Cities Allowing Bikes to Run Red Lights

[soprano]

Is it okay that I don't move up to the intersection or am putting myself in danger? I feel moving up to the front causes a backup in traffic and I'd rather not aggravate drivers who are already upset about all the traffic they have to deal with (though they are also creating it! ).

Make sure to position yourself so that oncoming, left-turning traffic can see you.

[rubysoho]

Make sure to position yourself so that oncoming, left-turning traffic can see you.

Genuine question: How is it different than when I am riding through an intersection though? In case it matters, our lights are timed so left turn either has their own light that turns red before straight moving traffic goes or they are required to yield to oncoming traffic.

I make sure I wear my high viz windbreaker and have lights on the front, back and my tires. They are either going to see me or they have to be blind. I am much more worried about merging traffic from other roads when they are coming across my lane or vehicles wanting to get to the right turn lane since most decide to speed up to cross ahead of me while another waits to take the lane behind me and the two come close to colliding. I'm worried one of the drivers will forget where I am in order to protect their car from hitting the other. (Saw this yesterday except they the car behind just braked to prevent getting hit.)

[soprano]

If you are in the lane behind anything bigger than a compact car, oncoming drivers who are waiting to turn left can't see you. They will assume that the lane is clear and start to turn as the car in front of you goes past them.

I've come close to being hit several times this way. These days I either go around waiting cars so I can wait at the front of the intersection, where I am most visible to everyone in the intersection, or I wait in the leftmost part of the lane so oncoming drivers can see me. It doesn't matter how bright my clothing is or how good my lights are if there is an SUV between me and turning traffic.

When I am driving, good defensive driving practice dictates that I wait and verify that there is nothing hiding behind oncoming cars before I turn. Now, wouldn't it be just peachy if everyone did this? The problem is that they don't.

[rubysoho]

Thank you for pointing out that situation to me. One more thing to be aware of on the road.