Running a red light

Is that bicyclist who goes through a red light a reckless scofflaw? Perhaps not in all cases — he or she might be doing what’s best in the circumstances. A proposed bill in the Washington state legislature has generated some clamour, as it would allow cyclists to go through red lights.

That’s not as dangerous as it might sound. According to an article in the Seattle Times, the law would let cyclists proceed after their bike fails to trigger a sensor that is supposed to give them a green light.

The cyclist could only proceed if it were safe to do so, of course. And they would have to wait the full cycle of the traffic signal.

“Some traffic signals require drivers or bikers to trigger a sensor hidden in the roadway,” writes Seattle Times reporter Evan Bush.

“Many of these sensors are designed to detect metal. If the sensor doesn’t work, cyclists can move on ‘after exercising due care.’ ”

When sensors depend on a mass of metal, or on sheer weight, it’s not surprising that some might not detect a bicycle, especially one with a carbon-fibre frame.

In Washington, motorcycles already have the privilege of running red lights if they’ve waited a full cycle, because in the last session, the state legislature passed a nearly identical bill for motorcycles. Oregon legislators are working on a similar bill.

Cyclists should not be exempted from obeying traffic rules. For one thing, their survival is at stake. But occasionally, the rules should be altered to acknowledge changing circumstances.