Idaho Stop
I’m a recreational cyclist that uses my bike for point A to point B trips from time to time. I try to follow the rules of the road, but probably have a few infractions each ride.
Slate ran an article about the debate about whether bikes should be treated just like cars or get special treatment. The article writer suggested that while cyclists should follow rules to make the roads safer he also likes the idea of the Idaho Stop. In Idaho – if the article encapsulates the law properly – a cyclist is able to treat a stop sign as a yield, not having to stop at each sign if there’s no oncoming traffic. By not stopping cyclists can maintain momentum.
Apparently, the Idaho Stop, hasn’t swept across the nation (I’m pretty sure it’s not sweeping across Canada either). Still, perhaps not stopping at each sign might be okay – assuming safety of other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians is maintained. I have never been ticketed for poor cycling behaviour, so perhaps this rule is already in place and police don’t stop bikes if they’re not causing problems. Still, if this were codified into law it would be a sign of good faith from government telling us that they appreciate cyclists’ unique status on the road.
2 comments:
I get around the city on my bicycle for most of the year and I have been a bike commuter for the past 4 years. I've also been driving cars for the past 8 years. I love the idea of the Idaho Stop. Cyclists have a much better ability to look around and see coming traffic than cars due to the fact that a bike is traveling slower, the biker is sitting higher up (than cars anyway), has no blind spots, and isn't distracted by radio dials and coffee holders.
The fact that a bicycle travels slower and is so much lighter than a car means that it can stop within a very short space (5-15 feet). All this makes cycling a much safer component of traffic (of course experience and training are important factors too!).
Plus, its a huge drag to have to come to a complete stop at an empty intersection. If traffic is light, I will adjust my speed to anticipate traffic lights and on coming cars, anything to prevent me from having to loose all my momentum. Cause I don't have an engine to get going again.
I'm all for the Idaho Stop. Great name too! I feel bikes and cars are not the same and therefore require slightly different rules of the road...with fairness and sharing emphasized for both.
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