Ignoring that my country doesn’t allow Idaho Stops, or that my Provincial Government wants to actively kill cyclists by removing safe cycling infrastructure, I’ve always wondered if there’s a reason why cyclists aren’t allowed to simply ride through an intersection like the one in the photo.
I’m talking about the right side, where the bike lane could extend through the intersection without interfering with other vehicles, including those that are turning left.
This would not only keep those stops safer (clears the cyclist out of the intersection), but would just make sense from a transportation efficiency standpoint.
Is there something I’m missing, or do cyclists have to stop only because motorists would take a tantrum if they weren’t required to?
Because them some driver’s feelings are going to be hurt that they can’t also do it.
Except they do run stop signs, all day, every day; I see it all the time. But, you know, evil cyclists.
Because you still need to yield for pedestrians.
Stop signs aren’t just to control traffic but to make sure everyone takes the time to take in their surroundings and not make hasty decisions.
If bikes could ride through without stopping, they may fly by a vehicle that’s stopped there and not see that it’s stopped to let a pedestrian cross the street and then it’s too late for the bike to stop before hitting them as they step out front in front of the truck.
That’s at least one reason I can think of.
Because you still need to yield for pedestrians.
Of course. I’m not suggesting that you blow through the stop sign while other people are there! That’s not how an Idaho Stop works.
Honestly most stop signs in rural areas and subdivisions should probably just be yield signs, for bikes and vehicles alike.
The overuse of stop signs makes it so people get used to just doing rolling stops at the intersections where it’s 99.9999% safe to do so and then start doing them unconsciously at intersections where it really isn’t safe to
Honestly most stop signs in rural areas
We’re lucky enough (at least, until urban sprawl takes it away) to have some really nice rural routes around here.
But I’ve come to some 4-way intersections where you’ll have two stop signs, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it’s incredibly dangerous for cyclists to STOP at those signs.
Cars and trucks travelling along the crossroad are usually going in excess of the speed limit, often times where there’s a hill so you can’t see them coming. A cyclist coming off a full stop may not clear the intersection safely.
Is there something I’m missing, or do cyclists have to stop only because motorists would take a tantrum if they weren’t required to?
Motorists would make a tantrum regardless, and they don’t stop too! Rolling through is very common; indeed expected in many areas. After all, how is a town supposed to enforce all of their intersections? For example, San Francisco has 18,525 intersections and 2,140 officers. Assigning 10 intersections per officer and to ignore all other police needs would be insanity. They’re trying their best but it’s an uphill battle.
So, respect cyclists as much as car drivers, except when it’s inconvenient for you to follow the rules of the road?
Intersections are probably the most dangerous place on the road, or at least that’s what I was taught in motorcycling class 40 years ago.
If a cyclist can ride right through this, why can’t I on my 125 motorcycle?
And yes, I disagree with filtering. I understand the arguments for it, but it introduces so much risk as cagers aren’t looking for you.
So, respect cyclists as much as car drivers, except when it’s inconvenient for you to follow the rules of the road?
Just to put this out there: this isn’t really about convenience, but safety. My question is basically “why isn’t an Idaho Stop permitted at a 3-way shown in the photo?”.
Since we know that Idaho Stops are SIGNIFICANTLY safer for cyclists (and yes, it can be more convenient as a secondary benefit), it’s not really about respecting or following rules, but “does this rule make sense for a cyclist, when it offers no benefit to safety?”.
Intersections are probably the most dangerous place on the road, or at least that’s what I was taught in motorcycling class 40 years ago.
Yes, if you are driving in the middle of the road, not in the gutter lane. And usually at 4-way intersections where vehicles cross each other’s path. You get none of that in this context.
If a cyclist can ride right through this, why can’t I on my 125 motorcycle?
As above, that would be dangerous. Unless you can provide evidence that blowing through stops on a motorcycle is actually safer for you.
If a cyclist can ride right through this, why can’t I on my 125 motorcycle?
Perhaps it should be allowed! Cars already treat stop signs as yields (“California Roll” is the car corollary to the “Idaho Stop”). Why would you stop if the car behind you isn’t planning to? (I’d love to see motorbike studies on this; please link me to some if you know any.)
Studies have shown that cyclists treating stop signs as yield signs leads to fewer accidents, both with cars and pedestrians.
Yielding also decreases time spent in the intersection. You have a motor underneath you. Cyclists don’t. Clearing the intersection quickly prevents cross-traffic from splatting you. That’s why slowing down, checking for traffic, but not stopping is so important for momentum vehicles.
The NHTSA (the US road safety org for my Canadian friends) has a good two-pager overview. It’s a good place to start if you’re still curious about the reasoning behind the Idaho stop.
I love that you think any cyclists will actually stop.
