Denmark has made a landmark decision to allow people to cycle through red lights at right turns, after a successful two year trial showed the change did not lead to more collisions.
From September 1, cyclists in Denmark, the world’s happiest country, will be able to take right turns at 33 selected junctions, to improve journey times for those commuting by bike.
The trial, from 2013-15, saw the number of cyclists turning right through red lights increase by 30 percent at the junctions involved with no increase in accidents.
Danish ‘turn right on red’ trial worked says government
Transport Minister, Hans Christian Schmidt, said: “Like everyone else in the traffic, cyclists need to reach their destinations quickly”.
“With the option of turning right through a red light at selected intersections, we can provide cyclists a simple option to continue their routes. But it also requires cyclists to be considerate on the roads.”
The junctions were chosen based on criteria, including that the bike path is wide enough for separate right turn and straight ahead lanes, as well as low numbers of pedestrians using affected crossings.
It will still be illegal to turn at other intersections in Denmark, and the permitted junctions are clearly marked with “turn right” signs.
Head of the Danish Cyclists’ Federation, Klaus Bondam, welcomed the move.
He told the Copenhagen Post “It will create flow during daily cycling trips, which is the most important thing for everyday cyclists.”
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Institute of Advanced Motoring has said although the road rules should be clear and fair to all road users, cycles proceeding through red lights impact other road users less than drivers doing so, and the UK should look at changing the law as Denmark has done.
After a man was fined in Norwich for cycling through a red light, the IAM’s Martin Woodhouse told the Eastern Daily Press: “Perhaps we should be looking at amending the interpretation of the law to make it safe for them to do so in certain circumstances."
I was supposed to be in court next Monday as a witness to careless driving but sadly Birmingham Magistrates Court has been closed due to fire...
Funnily enough this does 95% of what my ex-Birdy did for 25% of the cost! Only omission on a commuter imo is the mud guards.
no I dont believe it currently calculates the aspect that this vehicle that starts behind you then passed within randomly plucked from air value of...
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20138199.cyclist-involved-four-in......
Just from that one picture, it seems obvious to me that the separate bike lane turns off to the left through a modal filter, so cyclists who want...
Same here, and the bottle never leaves my hand afterwards either...
Going by updates, it looks like Chris' supplies were actually (accidentally?) donated to a local food bank. He now has them back.
LOL, it was Grace o Groats, that was John's mother; he didnt bring the correct messages from the Shop in scotland and had to go back again.
I expect a driver to be able to judge for himself how far he can move over without tipping over. If he does tip the tractor over into a ditch on...
No. You must have missed the memo about the new HC rules which put the onus firmly on the bigger, more powerful vehicle operator.