RVD72

Here's a quick question. One of the streets near my house has a bike lane on the right side. It's a typical narrow bike lane between cars moving and parked cars. However, there are periodic stop signs where a car from a perpendicular street can take a left turn to come into this street.

Of course the cars must stop. But do the bikes in the bike lane have to stop as well? At first I used to slow down but I've realized that nobody else does this (everyone just bikes straight through). Should bikes stop? Cars (if they drive correctly) shouldn't encroach into the bike lane since it's to the right so in theory even if a car turns left into my lane while I am in the bike lane, the cyclist should be ok.

If this is difficult to visualize, it's Esplanade St. in Redondo Beach (https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...5&ie=UTF8&z=15). Just imagine riding down Esplanade and having cars turn left from the streets like Ave. A, Ave. B., etc.

thanks.

10 Wheels

To ride safe just watch the front wheels on the cars.
Don't pay attention to the driver or turn signals.

Anytime your come to any intersection it is a New Scenario, even if you have been through it 1,000 times.
Ride safe.

noisebeam

I'd avoid the bike lane if it puts you in a door zone and also not assume that left turning vehicles will not swoop over the bike lane stripe. To follow traffic law you need to stop. That is up to you if do.

RVD72

Sounds logical to me that I should stop. It just seems like I'm the only one around here that actually obeys stop signs by at least slowing down to an almost stop. Everyone else just runs through them like they don't exist.

But yeah, I'll stay safe...

annc

Since you're not in Idaho, you're legally required to stop. However, if you have enough visibility (assume there's vehicle entering the intersection without stopping) and are not taking else's right of way, then it's probably safe to continue without stopping.

Digital_Cowboy

Is there a stop sign in your direction of travel, or just for the cross street?

Pscyclepath

If there's a stop or yield sign for the street you're traveling on, it applies equally to the traffic lane and the bike lane. Ideally bike lanes end about 200 feet out from intersections so that you merge with the traffic lane (avoiding the "right hook" from motorists behind you), but few bike lanes are ideal

njkayaker

It's not clear what street you are talking about.

==================

Ahh, here's something that illustrates the issue (I think).

Street-eye view looking north just south of Ave A intersection.

https://tinyurl.com/lmuztz


The google maps link is too long.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...2,9.02,,0,4.71

North-bound traffic on Esplanade has stop signs at intersections, like with Ave A. The stop signs legally apply to cyclists. Any stop sign applies to cyclists.

West-bound traffic on Ave A also has a stop sign.

sggoodri

Left turning drivers may become alarmed if they see traffic from their right fail to stop.

For example, when entering four-lane roads, left-turning drivers entering the inside lane need to be cautious about traffic in the outside lane which may be about to change lanes. In the case of the bike lane, it may not be clear to the left turning driver that there is enough room for everybody, or that you will stay out of their way, even if it is clear to you.

So in addition to being the legal thing to do, stopping is also more polite to other drivers by creating a more predictable environment.