Biking In Traffic

I have read a few different posts and articles recently talking about the red light issue.  As in vehicles of all types including bicycles not coming to a complete stop and basically cruising through red lights.  I have stated many times that as a cyclist I fully believe that my fellow cyclists should be responsible and obey all traffic laws just as those in metal cages should.  We should all be signaling our turns, obeying posted traffic signs and yielding to pedestrians.

However, there are times when I feel threatened when doing so.  Case in point.  Here in Beaverton on a regular basis I come across aggressive motorists who get very agitated when I am in the bike lane or riding in the right hand lane and I come to a major intersection and stop at a red light.  Typically it is on Hall and Allen or Canyon and Allen.  Sorry folks, I try to move up without fully blocking the crosswalk and I am not going to move onto the sidewalk just so you can turn right.  I am on the road, behaving like a vehicle.  If it were another car in front of you going straight, you probably would not be so vocal about trying to get it to move out of your way on a red light just so you could turn.

Revving your engine or inching up to my rear tire doesn’t sway me.  It does add to the stress of biking in traffic but unless my safety is directly threatened, I am staying put until the light turns green and I can proceed across the intersection.  When facing behavior like this from other motorists it is easy to see why some cyclists might choose to blow through red lights or stop signs.  So just remember when you are crying foul about a cyclist not coming to a complete stop take into account your own behavior and how that may affect those around you.  Yes, a bicycle is a vehicle, so treat it like one.