Why do people feel the need to tell me this? It’s not my job to defend cyclists who go through red lights just as it’s not my job to defend motorists who go through red lights. Or motorists who drink and drive. Or motorists who speed. Or motorists who go the wrong way down a one-way street. Or motorists who look at their phones while driving. Or motorists who do not give way to pedestrians on zebra crossings. Or motorists who kill pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.
When compared with the harm caused by motorists, the targeting of cyclists in this way is exaggerated. According to Cycling UK, 98.9% of all pedestrian fatalities from 2007-2016 were caused by collisions with motor vehicles. Not a single pedestrian was killed by a cyclist going through a red light. Singling out cyclists is irrational and the only reason I can think of for why people do it, while simultaneously ignoring the far greater harm caused by motorists, is because they are not cyclists themselves. It’s much easier to criticise something we do not do ourselves.
Some 3,287 people die every day in road crashes (involving motor vehicles) and more than half of those are young adults. Globally, car crashes cost us $518 billion. In the US alone, traffic congestion cost £305 billion last year. Pollution from cars is linked to diabetes, climate change, and asthma. The transport sector is the most polluting sector for greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Why aren’t the same people criticising motorists? Because they are motorists themselves. This Tweet sums it up rather well:
rachel.blog 
Are you involved in this – https://awprgonortheast.co.uk/2018/06/11/campaign-launched/?
No, I’m not involved in that. The AWPR will be banned to cyclists. This “unique” opportunity for cyclists to use it is indeed unique because after that we’ll be banned. It’s tragic. It could have been a segregated cycle route from the Deeside Cycleway all the way to Aberdeen airport or even Balmedie beach. Instead it’s just another road for cars and we all know that building new roads increases traffic because of the concept of induced demand.
This is so bloody true – here in Sydney, Australia, it’s a very similar story. A lack of infrastructure and cycle paths means that we’re not only in the way of motorists most of the time, but also invite their wrath as well. Sad to see that it also happens nearly 10,000 kilometres away, but again, i’m not surprised. We’re currently creating a project to unite cyclists in Sydney together as a forum, and it’s great to see content like this from another part of the world! love it.