Orange Lights

[stargirl]

Hi All,

I have been reading the forums for awhile.
I am from Australia- so I am still getting used to all the traffic here.

Anyway, today at an intersection I was all the way back at the end of the queue when the lights turned green- don't like to filter much yet (at home it is illegal) and to filter up to this intersection is usually pretty impossible as the cagers in the two lanes turning right are normally too close together- like magnetism! And the cars going through on green are going past at 40 miles.

Anyway- I anticipated that before I even made it to the intersection the lights would change- I was right. The light turned orange, when I still had a bit to go. I know I needed to stop- and I had time to stop- so I stopped. Isn't that what orange means? Go if safe to do so? It was not safe as I wouldn't have been through it before red- but not so safe behind...

Anyway, some idiot cager behind me DID not anticipate that the lights would turn. And DID not anticipate that it might actually be possible that a biker might not speed through an orange light. So cager sped through- lucky I saw and moved to the side of my lane avoiding being hit- beeped me- and ran through a red light! It was only orange for less than 1/2 a second.

So, I can see why it is important to filter to the front so you don't have idiots crashing into you.

[Walloper]

Welcome to bcf.
A few points there.

Its an AMBER light.

Do you have a boyfriend?

And if no other vehicles in front we see only clear road ahead when we come to lights...

Lights are where you will be killed just because you can be killed.
Never wait in the middle pull over to the left or right.
Dizzy cagers can fail to notice your bike and fat arse waiting at the line.
____________________
W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[lydanial]

red means stop
amber means stop
red and amber means stop..

none of this, go if clear, or get ready etc.

stopping on an amber if you have a safe distance to do so and will not effect other road users, ie if it changes to amber and you are going a bit too quickly or are close then carry on through. it seems in your situation you read the road correctly and braked in time and under control... you didnt just see amber and slam on your brakes did you??

go with the flow of the traffic and if its moving at a fair pace make sure you are slowing from a distance far enough to not make the guy behind have to brake hard.

i think that makes sense, if not sorry.

[salty21]

in my eyes, if its amber(flashing or constant) it means go faster now
____________________
04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[ms51ves3]

[lydanial]

it doesnt mean get ready.. doesnt mean you cant get ready but it doesnt.

https://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/lydanial/trafficlights.jpg

[G]

In the UK the official meaning of Amber is 'stop unless it is not safe to do so'. However a lot of people do take it to mean "speed up so I don't have to wait at the red light".

You did the correct 'legal' thing (for the UK at least(, but as you've seen it may not be what everyone does. Seems you handled the situation ok, however.

Red and amber is the 'get ready' - still red so you technically shouldn't be going at all.

[stargirl]

I don't think I stopped suddenly- as I did not need to e-brake.
And I was not trying to go super fast- as there is some obstacles I need to avoid there each time I turn ( man hole covers).

The cager behind had sped up to make the green light from a distance- as there was no one behind me until the light turned orange. I saw him in my right mirror- so moved over to the left!! Lucky it was not my left mirror- as that is tempermental and sometimes decides that it wants to start moving/ fall off. Handy for a tight squeeze- but annoying when you decide to adjust and it comes out in your hand.

I learn from this- that it is important to keep an eye on what's behind when slowing/stopping....esp there- as there is no way to go with traffic continuing straight through the intersection.

I hope cager learnt not to assume things.

And thanks for the heads-up with the lights. I was under the impression that red/amber before green meant that motorcycles could go- as the dude who I bought my bike from took me through a few....

I am 25, done 1,800 kms (1000 at home, 800 + counting here) Just on my Ps back home til August! Less than 1 year riding experience. Only on a 125. WISH I had gone and got my bike licence sooner! Biggest regret!

Live in Shepherd's Bush (not my intention,honest!)

So, if anyone around here wants to go for a ride-or if there is a particular forum I should join, please let me know.

[Mr Nice Guy]

A 25 year old Australian girl joins the forum looking for mates... one wonders if the server will last the night!
____________________
Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[Charlie]

I remember doing a bike simulation thing at the Honda stand at the NEC. Was going along nicely lasting a lot better than my brother until a van came racing along into the back of me. Now after 3 years of riding on the road I have never had to pull over for some idiot behind me, yet in this game it took less 3 minutes.

But I guess here is the truth that you have to check the rear mirror for plonkers on our roads.
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[G]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Green : Go
Amber : Go faster
Red : Go faster, paying attention to steering.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[hmmmnz]

riding in the uk is loads different to nz or oz thats for sure,
cars are obivious to every body else, not just bikes,
on the plus side, compared to nz anyway, the drivers are actually more courtious and will let others out. and generally stay in there lane on the motorway, its just at junctions and round-a-bouts that all the craziness happens have fun, wear all your gear, you will crash,
i was averaging atleast 1 a year
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Might be a good idea for you to joing londonbikers as there's some aussies and kiwi's on there I think, they regularly arrange meets and stuff too.

As to lights, in London it's almost a free for a all, Red means stop and everything else means go if it's safe. Learn to be aggressive with your riding, sitting in the middle/slightly right of your lane to keep it yours. And if some cunt squeezes up beside you then dont worry about it, he'll get stuck in traffic in a few seconds.

Dont do anything completely stupid in front of a copper and you'll be fine.

If you ever get lost or need to find somewhere to go/directions then ask a tattered looking courier or a cabby.

[Kal]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Kal]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]