Should cyclists follow the same rules of the road as motorists?

[iceratt]

That said, $10 spent any outlet benefits the reciptient the same. Everyone is just fighting for the same peice of the pie.

Its a pie of a different flavor. Auto pie creates pollution, requires more roadway, greater parking needs, fragmentation of neighborhoods, and increased oil dependance- all with covert costs greater than God's Gift to Transportation, The Bicycle.

[randya]

That Idaho statute says you have to stop if going straight through the intersection at a stop light. You can slow down when making a right turn on red, or a left turn on red onto a one way higway(street?). I think the reasoning is that we go from using the right side of the lane on one street, to the right side of the lane on the other. Some places with wide lanes/bike lanes we don't even interact with the flow of traffic on a right turn. Idaho seems to be looking at a common sense approach to riding.

To clarify, the Idaho statute does not say you need to stop and remain at a red light if you are proceeding straight, only that you must stop before entering the intersection. therefore, in Idaho, *stop sign = yield*, and *red light = stop sign* for bicyclists.

[Dchiefransom]

To clarify, the Idaho statute does not say you need to stop and remain at a red light if you are proceeding straight, only that you must stop before entering the intersection. therefore, in Idaho, *stop sign = yield*, and *red light = stop sign* for bicyclists.

I learn something new everyday. I looked at the code, and it actually says a car has to remain stopped until the light changes. They got very specific. I never knew that, but then, since we're young, we know to stop and wait at a red light in a vehicle. It looks like Idaho is indeed progressive about laws concerning cycling and walking. Thanks Randya.

[LittleBigMan]

So then, the entire automotive industry and the petrolium industry is not part of the economy? How does spending $10 at Starbucks fuel the economy more than spending $10 at Auto Zone?
Perhaps a better question would be, how does spending $30,000 on a new SUV fuel the economy more than spending $30,000 on a college education?

[cyclingshane73]

I guess it makes you the world's most perfect cyclist.



I never said I was perfect, I just have strong opinions on the subject. The laws are also different up here in Canada. Green means go, yield means yield, and stop means stop. I do admit that Idaho seems to be a little more pratical to the cyclist.

The only problem I see with this is that the vast majority of motorists, who do not know the details of the law pertaining to cyclists, may think you are just snubbing the rules becuase they think that what applies to them applies to you. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I'm pretty sure we can agree that unfortunately most motorists are pretty ignorant when it comes to us and the road.

[Avalanche325]

Perhaps a better question would be, how does spending $30,000 on a new SUV fuel the economy more than spending $30,000 on a college education?

It dosen't. That is exactly my point. They Both fuel the economy, just in different sectors. Oh, and that student loan that the majority of people don't bother to pay back actually hurts the economy.

[LittleBigMan]

...that student loan that the majority of people don't bother to pay back actually hurts the economy.
I'd rather borrow to further my education than borrow to buy a new car. The new car will become an old car, but my education will help me earn more money (and stimulate the economy) for a lifetime.

[randya]

I'm pretty sure we can agree that unfortunately most motorists are pretty ignorant when it comes to us and the road.

Hear, hear! My fantasy is motorist reeducation camp; maybe we can reduce the 42K +/- motor vehicle fatalities per year in the US, 1M +/- per year internationally, most of which motorists' inflict on each other.

[cyclingshane73]

Hear, hear! My fantasy is motorist reeducation camp; maybe we can reduce the 42K +/- motor vehicle fatalities per year in the US, 1M +/- per year internationally, most of which motorists' inflict on each other.

Ahhh yes. But remember, the machines tried the perfect world program and it crashed. ;)

[gobybicycle.com]

only follow rules if they make sense. if they don't make sense, then don't follow them. there are plenty of laws and rules which are completely ridiculous and have no connection with the real world.

rules must be written unambiguously, and the police have no choice to enforce the laws by the book. real life situations, however, vary quite a bit.

i think the main glitch has to do with people being overly concerned with the exact letter of the law all the time. if you are constantly concerned with the exact letter of the law, common sense flys out the window. of course, if you break a law that happens to be a stupid law, you might get some police attention because they've got no choice but to go by the book.

scott

[Mercy Seat]

Stop signs = yield signs.

Red lights = stop signs (if no traffic is coming etc..)

These two infractions of the law make cycling safer.

Any time a cyclist is at a complete stop and/or un-cleated she is more vulnerable because she is less able to get away from danger.

Waiting around at intersections opens you up to the possibility of being rear-ended. The only car accident I've been in, I was rear ended while stopped at a stop sign...

The problem is when cyclists blow through stop signs/lights without even yielding. This rightfully pisses people off.

I also violate the law by using a blue blinky tail light in addition to red ones... This helps distinguish from the sea of red car lights... And I believe gets more attention from motorists, because they usually only see blue on cop cars... but this too is illegal.

[orguasch]

yes, cyclist are equal user of the road, and we should follow the law , who ever you are

[Hunter]

bicycle

\Bi"cy*cle\, n. [Pref. bi- + cycle.] A light vehicle having two wheels one behind the other. It has a saddle seat and is propelled by the rider's feet acting on cranks or levers.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Given this definition, and as in most cases throughout the u.s., a bicycle rider is responsible to obey the same vehicular laws as a motorized unit.

[iceratt]

There are two main camps, devided over whether cyclists should follow the laws as written in most states. Some of you say that it is safest to come to a complete stop at all stop signs, etc. because thats what motorists and other road users expect. There is the advantage, also, that one has a greater ability to survey traffic when stopped. I still believe that some hold that the law is the law, so just follow it like a good citizen.

Others in our community feel that they know what is safe and what isn't and they dang well will take care of themselves. Pedestrians have different capabilities and limitations than vehicles, and because of this, it is accepted that they have different requirements for road use. Bicyclists, it is argued, are also different, and should have laws adjusted to accomodate them safely, but with privledges not appointed to motor vehicles.

Lets face it, none of us wants to be road kill, and we all think that we are doing what it takes to cycle safely. Beyond this, I think that it's worthwhile to concider what behavior makes each of us a respectable ambassador to all other bicyclists. We are in the minority out there, and the majority could have us all on sidewalks with training wheels, if they so choose( I've stated this before).

OK, so there is a difference of oppinion, as to what cyclists should do given the laws as they stand now. But are the laws exactly as they should be? At least one state allows stops at lights and yields at stop signs. should others follow suit? We know what the law-breakers think. What about the rest of you? Even if you don't think that rolling stops are right for you, might others be able to do it shamelessly, and possibly safely, if they go slowly enough to stop prior to entering the intersection?

We are a relatively loose community that will benefit from working together. I think that this is a worthwhile area for discusion, if it helps us get closer to consensus. Then we might fight for the same changes in public policy, more effectively.

[closetbiker]

Geez!

[LittleBigMan]

As a cyclist, I try to follow the road rules established for cyclists as closely as possible, as an example to motorists that, since there are rules for me, I belong.
Most seem to get it, though I suppose some just play along in ignorance.

Yet while practical example is worthwhile in convincing motorists of our place, we all know the law is inadequate to protect us completely. Even motorists follow this gut feeling, themselves.

All road users should be fully educated and experienced.

[prestonjb]

Nice comment LBM.