When crossing the road, many people only care about the color change of the red, green and yellow of bicycle traffic lights, and ignore the details behind them. These details may be small, but they directly impact cycling safety and can even prevent unnecessary traffic violations and accidents. These are the important details that every cyclist should keep in mind, as the traffic light manufacturer Qixiang summarized.
1. Bicycle signal lamps and motor vehicle signal lamps should be separate.
This is the most basic and easiest detail to get wrong. Some intersections have dedicated bicycle traffic lights, usually presented as a “bicycle icon + color,” arranged separately from motor vehicle traffic lights, and positioned lower, closer to the non-motorized vehicle lane.
Many cyclists mistakenly use motor vehicle traffic lights as their guide, especially at intersections without dedicated traffic lights.
Note: When the green light for motor vehicles is on, if there is no green light for non-motorized vehicles, cyclists must not enter the intersection arbitrarily; they must wait for the pedestrian traffic light or proceed only after confirming it is safe to do so. If there are dedicated traffic lights, you must strictly follow the dedicated signal instructions. Do not run red lights or rush through.
II. Monitor the bicycle signal lamps’ countdowns and adjust your rhythm accordingly.
Most intersections now have countdown timers for bicycle traffic lights. This lets cyclists gauge how long it takes to cross and steer clear of accidents from rushing.
If the countdown is below 5 s and you’re still a certain distance from the opposite side of the intersection, it’s best to stop and wait for the next green light. Don’t speed up to go through. If the countdown is enough you can glide through, but keep an eye on other vehicles and pedestrians around you so you don’t miss a change in traffic lights because you were distracted. Also watch for sudden countdown jumps, this is probably a traffic flow adjustment at the intersection and you need to react in time.
III. Watch out for “green light blind spots” of bicycle signal lamps & don’t cross blindly.
It’s a thing that cyclists don’t often think about but a green light doesn’t mean you are 100% safe. The “green light blind spot” is the area where, when the green light comes on, there are still vehicles or pedestrians on both sides of the intersection who haven’t made it to the other side, or turning vehicles that haven’t seen the cyclist.
As soon as the green light comes on, cyclists should not dash across the intersection. They should wait for 1-2 seconds to check the traffic movement in both directions, particularly at the blind spots of big vehicles. At the same time, do not stop or change lanes in the middle of the intersection. Please drive smoothly so as not to meet other road users.
IV. Know about bicycle signal lamp problems and be flexible not panicked.
Bicycle traffic lights might blink, go out, or display strange colors. In this situation don’t freak out or try to run across the intersection haphazardly.
If the traffic light is not working, stop your bicycle in the non-motorized vehicle waiting area as prescribed, observe the traffic order of the intersection and obey the instructions of traffic police. If there is no traffic police, look for vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection. If there are none, continue slowly but with alertness. At the same time, report the traffic light malfunction to relevant departments in time to ensure the safety of the following cyclists.
Qixiang Reminder
The important thing for safe cycling at crossings is to know how to read and use the non-motorized vehicle traffic lights. First, make sure you can tell bicycle traffic lights from motor vehicle lights, so you don’t misjudge and run a red. When you get the green light, don’t floor the gas.
Be aware of traffic and pedestrians in your blind spot
When the yellow light is flashing, do not speed up, rather slow down and stop right away for your safety. Pay attention to the countdown timer when crossing big intersections, control your speed accordingly, and cross easily in one go. If the traffic light is out of order, obey the directions of the traffic police or proceed only when you are sure there is no danger.
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Post time: Apr-23-2026
