Politician hits cyclist (Page 2)

I agree with moondawg (again, not blaming the cyclist).   I think is point is not going thru greens slowly, but timing it so you reach the intersection when it turns green.  I have seen it lots of times, a cyclist will blow through a green light RIGHT as it turns green, timing it to get there at the perfect moment.   It always makes me cringe.  The problem is there is just no room for error.  And I don't ride "in lanes" unless there is absolutely no shoulder (which is very rare for me), so I wouldn't be holding up any traffic as I waited for the light to turn green.

You can assume its OK to cross on a green at the moment it goes green..... just like this guy.  Didn't work out that well.

Agree... I have been known to "time" my cycling speed with the lights so I don't have to unclip, but I can ALWAYS see all directions of the intersection. I don't think I'd ever just blow through blindly, even with a green light, especially the instant it turned green.

I never go thru any GREEN light without looking both ways.  Jackholes down here run reds all the time.  I agree that in this case he probably should have slowed and taken a look, however he was 100% legal in what he did.

X2, as terrible as this was we can also learn from this situation.  I also ride a motorcycle and I would have been very cautious approaching an intersection where there is a bus blocking my view of the lane to my left when the light has just turned.  I took a motorcycle safety course prior to getting my license and one of the first and most important things your taught is that you always assume that you are not seen.  When I am driving down the road I am always reposistioning myself in traffic and analizing where I need to be based on traffic flow.  Sometimes this means slowing way down when approaching an intersection where I might dissappear behind a truck, van or in this case a bus. 

Being rear-ended only accounts for 3% of car-bike accidents.  Left and right hooks are the big ones.

Here is an update on the Toronto car (politician) vs. cycle accident that resulted in the cyclist death. May not be as it appears.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090902/fatal_colli...

That video is chilling.
I don't think it matters at all if the bicyclist wasn't starting from a stop. He was lucky on the timing.
That car clearly, and admittedly blew the light.
As is mentioned, the cyclist will have to sue in civil court as there isn't much criminal about it-without intent.
I think it does raise the issue of bicycle safety.
HIJACK-
In the comments on the forums I have noted many complaints and concerns about road cycling. I was surprised recently when I looked up the applicable laws in Florida about where and how cyclists can ride.  I wonder if many cyclists, much less auto drivers, know the rules.
Not that it applies in this case.
/End HIJACK
I do hope he is OK.