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Cyclists allowed to run a red light in Brussels

09:16 16/05/2014

The Brussels-Capital Region installed 100 new signs that make it possible for cyclists to ride through a red light in situations where that is not a danger, announced Brigitte Grouwels, Brussels Minister of Public Works and Transport, and Bruno De Lille, State Secretary for Mobility.

There are two different signs: B22 and B23. The B22 sign allows cyclists to ride through the red light at an intersection, and to turn right. When there’s a B23 sign, however, cyclists may ride through a red or yellow light, but do not have priority.

The region, the first in Belgium to install such signs for cyclists, now has a total of 184 signs.

Written by Robyn Boyle

Comments

Timothy Cooper

Both signs allow cyclists to ride through a red or yellow light, provided they follow the direction of the arrow (B22: right; B23: straight on). However, cyclists have to give way (yield) to other road users, e.g. pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing. These signs are only installed where this involves no particular danger. Usually the cyclist will be joining a cycle lane, cycle track, or shared bus and cycle lane, so there are no possible conflicts with other motorised traffic (cars, lorries, motor bikes, etc.). These signs avoid unnecessary delays for cyclists in situations where the lights are intended for other road users and the cyclist can pass the red or yellow light without causing any danger or inconvenience to anyone else (as long as they give way to pedestrians!).

May 16, 2014 18:36
ulrixco

Thanks Tim for the excellent explanatory comment ! ;-) Amazingly, the Brussels City police do not allow these signs to be put onto Brussels City run traffic lights (so only Brussels Region run traffic lights sport them right now) - because they read the legislation as flawed : where it is said that cyclists should not cross other "traffic fluxes" where these signs are installed, the Brussels City police consider pedestrian flows to be "traffic fluxes" (thus implying that Belgian law-makers are uniquely daft, because they invented a self-destructing rule that could never be applied). Who would have thought the police force in Brussels would be such a vibrant source of Surrealism - and more, that politicians "in charge" would stick to that piece of advice ??!!... Belgium is such a wonder !!... :-D

May 16, 2014 20:09
gellis

Whatever.... I would venture that one third of cyclists don't respect traffic lights anyway. Have you ever seen a cyclist stopped by a traffic cop for running a red light and given a ticket? Never!

May 21, 2014 21:40