Today’s QoW is an interesting one re: cyclists’ rights on the road. (And a bill our governor here in Georgia vetoed a couple years ago, claiming it would “confuse” motorists!) It’s from Premium Member Michael Leven. (Wikipedia definition: “The Idaho stop is the common name for a law that allows cyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and a red light as a stop sign.”)
(We really need to replenish our stock of Questions! Please submit you own QoW ideas using the Question of the Week Ideas link.)
Delaware has enacted the Idaho stop for bicyclists this past Octobe.! I didn’t realize how much I don’t miss coming to a complete stop at stop signs! Come to Delaware to ride your bike!
MN allows you to go through a red light that you can’t trip on your bike. I now tend to start acrossafter the last left turner coming at me has gone.
In Utah, we have a serious problem with MOTORISTS running red lights. Allowing cyclists to treat them as stop signs would a.) be extremely dangerous, and b.) encourage more drivers to do it. I’ve seen the Idaho stop in action, and too many cyclists seem to interpret it to mean that they NEVER have to stop. Just obey the traffic laws, people! It won’t kill you to stop (while failing to stop just might)>
Cyclists have a huge lack of respect problem from motorists. The Idaho stop can only fuel this problem. Even though getting the cyclists out of the intersections asap is often safest, fostering respect from motorists is more important. Change the cycling infrastructure, increase the number of cyclists and grow the social empathy for cycling.