Turning left on red, and getting stuck at a red light...?

[buck000]

Paging Mr. 10-95... :-D

Regarding Stop Turn Left on Red, I think that's OK, if I'm reading this blurb from this source (http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/tr/tr0054400.html):

(d) An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady red signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. In the absence of a stop line, the operator shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. A vehicle that is not turning shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. After stopping, standing until the intersection may be entered safely, and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using the intersection, the operator may:

(1) turn right; or

(2) turn left, if the intersecting streets are both one-way streets and a left turn is permissible.

I couldn't find any obvious verbiage my 2nd wonderment, namely, if I get stuck at a stop light, and all is clear, can I treat it as a stop sign / flashing red, and proceed on about my business? :angel:

Thanks for any pointers to the relevant TX statutes. Folks at sport-touring.net (http://www.sport-touring.net/cgi-bin/msgboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=f80fe2ed088f316f808a86ce0f11937c;a ct=ST;f=1;t=5872;) brought it up, got me to thinking...

[10-95]

The Transportation Code statutes are a mouthful, aren't they??? :?


Basically that statute means that:

1) You have to stay behind the crosswalk (Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk). If there isn't a crosswalk you stop behind the intersection (imagine a line painted from corner to corner forming a square)

2) If there is a stopbar painted on the ground you stay behind it

3) You must yield the ROW before entering the intersection if someone has the ROW (ex. turning right on red)

4) After yielding the ROW you can turn right on red

5) On a one way street, after yielding the ROW, you can turn left on red if it's posted that you can do that (Never seen anyone get pulled over for left on red on a 1-way)

That's it. So, no, don't treat a red light as a flashing red or a stop sign.

Then again, never say never. There are 2 lights in my town that I run constantly on my bike. The sensors simply don't recognize a bike and the light won't change for me. I've called time and time again and it's just not getting fixed, so I really have no choice. I treat them as a stop sign.

Hope that helps and if you have any more questions feel free.

[buck000]

Thanks a bunch.

[brd]

I couldn't find any obvious verbiage my 2nd wonderment, namely, if I get stuck at a stop light, and all is clear, can I treat it as a stop sign / flashing red, and proceed on about my business? :angel:


I've heard something about if the cross light cycles 3 times and you don't get a green, or you wait more than X (3?) mins without a green, treat it as a stopsign. That may be CA law though?

I run the ones on either end of my street all the time. They never give me a green left arrow, and I've called the city about them.

BTW, the "green light trigger" $10 magnet you strap to the kickstand didn't work either.

[buck000]

I sure didn't see anything in the statutes I was reading that indicated what to do if the sign fails.

I've got a Green Light trigger. Seems to work with some lights, but it's no good for the fricking left turn to southbound on 122 at 79...grrr..

[Sabre_Tooth]

I was going to buy the Green Light Trigger but found out you can do the same with a ceramic magnet and two nylon zip-ties. You can buy the magnet at Radio Shack for 99 cents. I'll let you know if it works.

Cheers,

Sabre_Tooth

01 Shadow Sabre 1100

[Sabre_Tooth]

Well, the Radio Shack ceramic magnet works! 8) I tried it on two left turns that always give me grief and there was no one on any lane.