Advocacy & Safety - How many times have you heard that cyclists just don't obey stop signs?

check out this video... http://warren-t.blogspot.com/2007/08/stop.html

Pretty bad behaviour...

However (and I'm all for observing traffic regulations, and practice what I preach) I detest the stop sign. It is extremely rare in Britain, where I grew up and learned about road use, so the notion of being required to stop in full, rather than yield as necessary seems absurd - although there it is, right at the bottom of my street.

In certain residential situations, I can accept how the stop sign acts to mediate traffic behaviour. The problem is one has invented a regulation that is hard to enforce.

Must go and make the dinner.

Ed

But this video is not complete. I can't see the intersection. There might have been a cop directing traffic and waving the cars through.
I've seen both cars and bikes run stop signs. I hate when people try to explain their behavior because of the behavior of others. The, "Well, cars speed all the time, so I run red lights." is not a good argument. I do find car drivers to be hypocritical when they complain about cyclists disobeying the law when I do see more cars breaking the law then I do bikes. But that is probably because I see a lot more cars than bikes everyday.

"It's okay, this group of cars do it too!"

Yeah, okay, whatever.

I should take some video of the stop sign directly outside my house. cars just blow right through it like it isn't even there, without braking or anything. some people even hit the gas while going through it.

this is a residential neighborhood that has lots of children playing outside.

I should take some video of the stop sign directly outside my house. cars just blow right through it like it isn't even there, without braking or anything. some people even hit the gas while going through it.

this is a residential neighborhood that has lots of children playing outside.

Or pick up the phone...

Same thing here in my village. I see people EVERY DAY blow through the stop signs. And there are lots of kids and pre-teens around playing too.

Guess they figure no major road="I can blow through this sign".

Those that say that cyclists always run stop signs are simply bigotted hippocrates, they have an irrational hatred of cyclists and logic will certainly not convince them.

Cars are by far the biggest bargers of stop signs, because they outnumber cyclists, and also because the vast majority of cars think that "slowing down" for a stop is fine for them, but will go into conniptions when a cyclist does the same thing.

Sure drivers are hypocrites. Cyclists are hypocrites too. I think by nature, many people hold others to higher standards than themselves. Since drivers and cyclists are people ...

Nevertheless, I like the video. Stuff like that is helpful. Although such blatant behavior is atypical around here.

In the 15 miles I've driven this morning I've seen two cars run stops signs, eight cars not come to a complete stop at a sign, one car run a red light, four cars not stop before a right turn on red, many failures to signal a lane change or a turn, and too many speeders and tailgaters to count.

Are all drivers scum???

Actually, if there was no opposing traffic present.... those rolling stops are average or better by Toronto standards.

This is more typical (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4QQrIcwxM) of the "respect" that stopping at a stop sign gets you here.

But this video is not complete. I can't see the intersection. There might have been a cop directing traffic and waving the cars through.
I've seen both cars and bikes run stop signs. I hate when people try to explain their behavior because of the behavior of others. The, "Well, cars speed all the time, so I run red lights." is not a good argument. I do find car drivers to be hypocritical when they complain about cyclists disobeying the law when I do see more cars breaking the law then I do bikes. But that is probably because I see a lot more cars than bikes everyday.

Yea, you sort of have to believe the author. It's a bit better than the evidence presented against cyclists. It usually goes like this: "Cyclists never stop at stop signs, I'll like eat my own shorts if I see one stop, really stop, at a stop sign or stop light when they don't have to."

In the 15 miles I've driven this morning I've seen two cars run stops signs, eight cars not come to a complete stop at a sign, one car run a red light, four cars not stop before a right turn on red, many failures to signal a lane change or a turn, and too many speeders and tailgaters to count.

Are all drivers scum???

No,you're in the DC metro area.

And if you were to tell any of them that what they were doing was illegal,they would've threatened to run you over.

Sure drivers are hypocrites. Cyclists are hypocrites too. I think by nature, many people hold others to higher standards than themselves. Since drivers and cyclists are people ...

Nevertheless, I like the video. Stuff like that is helpful. Although such blatant behavior is atypical around here.

+1. All I have to do is watch a stop light outside of my work. I see so many cyclists blow the red, even when it's been that way for 30 seconds, it's embarassing. But I also see drivers blow the red a few seconds after it's turned from yellow. Bad left turns, the I-totally-paused-right-on-reds, using the center lane as their own personal travel lane. And pedestrians, totally jaywalking, ignoring flow of traffic, I'm entitled to crossing the sidewalk against the light.

+1. All I have to do is watch a stop light outside of my work. I see so many cyclists blow the red, even when it's been that way for 30 seconds, it's embarassing. But I also see drivers blow the red a few seconds after it's turned from yellow. Bad left turns, the I-totally-paused-right-on-reds, using the center lane as their own personal travel lane. And pedestrians, totally jaywalking, ignoring flow of traffic, I'm entitled to crossing the sidewalk against the light.

Sure, all this happens and it is the reality of human nature... BUT... only motorists hold it against cyclists... dangle it in front of us as "you are so bad..."

Of course obviously we give it right back. (as in this thread).

But the basis for so much of the lack of acceptance (even rage) comes down to a perceived ownership of the road by motorists based on their belief that they pay "road taxes" and always obey the laws. Neither of which is true.

So to motorists... stop flying that red flag... and share the road.

Bottom line, next time you get that same old tired argument... just remember, it's all BS.

No argument from me, genec. As long as motorists are safely behind their steel cage and we have nothing to protect us except common sense and a bunch of blinkies and bright clothing, we're always going to be more vulnerable.

It helps if you avoid talking to any non-cyclist.

It helps if you avoid talking to any non-cyclist.

They talk to me. Somehow they feel they understand better how I should ride my bike. :rolleyes:

No,you're in the DC metro area.

And if you were to tell any of them that what they were doing was illegal,they would've threatened to run you over.

:lol: