I'm not sure how useful it is to make comparisons like this anyway. Drivers and cyclists break different laws, some of which are more dangerous than others. Speeding and close passes in vehicles are far more dangerous than cyclists going on a red-that's-about-to-change where they can see that there's nothing coming.
this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2025
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What I find weird is why do cyclists break the law the same amount when they have so much more to lose? I run a red in my car, another car hits me, maybe a minor injury but I likely walk away. I run a red on my bike, a car hits me, I’m fucking dead or at least laid out. As a biker you have more incentive to obey every law all the time.
If the infrastructure/driving conditions are bad enough you run almost the same danger when driving lawfully. Eventually you learn to trust your senses more than traffic laws. Sometimes it's actually safer to break some laws as a pedestrian/cyclist. Maybe people who ride a lot get used to it eventually and don't see running a red light (when no cars are passing) as more dangerous than going on green.
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Fuck cars and up with cycling and bike infrastructure and all that but unless this study is more specific than the article states, it's useless. And if it is more specific this article may be misleading.
It just gives a percentage of "in compliance with traffic laws" and doesn't give a breakdown of what laws. Since most drivers speed at least a little quite often, and most cyclists are incapable of speeding anywhere near as much, what laws are the cyclists breaking to get them as low on compliance as drivers? If it's stop signs and red lights, that is right in line with the stereotype of them being dangerous scofflaws the article is saying this study shows is incorrect.
The only time I’ve seen a cyclist stop for a red light is when I stare them down while crossing the bike lane with my small child. Rest of the time it’s tally ho motherfuckers. NYC specifically
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This seems right for NYC, in that I see both bikes and cars frequently running through reds and riding where they aren't supposed to be
When I visited my friends in NYC they had a rule about 2 wheelers not stopping but 4 wheelers will stop. I was only there a few days but crossing the bike lane when I had the right of way as a pedestrian was scarier than crossing the street.
Oh 4 wheelers don't stop half the time. You have to lock eyes with the driver and assert dominance as a pedestrian so they understand that you will sue them for everything they're worth if they touch you.
To give you an idea of NYC drivers, I almost got run over once by a guy flooring it in reverse out of a one way side street, turning sharply onto the pedestrian crossing. We flipped each other off then he sped off
I see you've never been hit by a truck.
I think that depends on country...
"Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks and to horse riders on bridleways." - nope, you hear a bell you dodge as they're not slowing down. Happens every time I use a shared path.
"Only pedestrians may use the pavement. Pedestrians include wheelchair and mobility scooter users." - nope, we get plenty mounting the pavement illegally; again, you hear a bell and you dodge. Happens 1--2 times a day on my trip to work.
I reckon people in a hurry just bend the rules more readily than people taking their time.
Yes. Even accounting for those idiots, car drivers still break more traffic laws. And it's exponentially more dangerous when they do. This is what the article is getting at.
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not a high bar to pass though