Gamecoug

Do you stop for stop signs?

Tigerprawn

Honestly, I should, but sometimes run them depending on the situation. I need to make it a habit to stop all the time. I rather stop for a few seconds than pay a ticket.

TheLifeOfBryan

Totally situational. Main factors are visibility and other vehicles approaching the intersection. If I have full visibility and no other vehicles, I slow only somewhat, if at all. If there is another vehicle approaching the intersection, I come to a complete, (usually) unclipped stop.

supramax

Years ago, I tried a frequent 60 mile ride with stopping dead at every stop sign. It took a hell of a lot longer and of course, then you have to make steam. I always slow down for stop signs and stop dead when there's other traffic. Otherwise, I employ the (multiple) 'look left/look right/look left again' wisdom we were taught as kids.

JPprivate

Yes, always unless it's a 4-way stop sign. Then it kinda depends on traffic and visibility, I usually slow down though.

adaminlc

It says "stop" for a reason. Running stop signs perpetuates many of the bad attitudes that motorists have about bicyclists. We are not above the rules of the road. Do everyone a favor and stop. Someday you'll be glad you did.

CACycling

Unclipped stop if traffic allows.

weavers

50% of the time. a few stops signs around here are really dangerious so i make sure to stop no matter what. others, i slow down and coast threw them unless i see another motorist then i stop, put a foot down and stand over top tube and wait for them to go or the wave me threw. i always stop at red lights even if other cyclist run them. i think i do this because traffic is moving faster, its unpredictable who is going which way.

cz2509

Often

IbikezLA

I stop if someone else has the right of way or if I get to the intersection and a car gets there right after me, I don't want confusion to end in an accident or anything. But I don't blow through them, I slow down enough to see if anything is approaching before I decided to start pedaling again.

BigDaddyPete

Mostly.....but if I have good visibility and there's no traffic, then no. But if there are cars around, I stop.

knobster

I stop when there are other cars. It's always a blast to stand there and play the "no you go ahead, no you, no.. you..." wave thing that people here like to play.

BigDaddyPete

I don't play that game. I point directly at them and in my loud stern voice, I say "YOU!! GO!!" I got that from Carlin, and started doing that in my car years ago. It's far more effective when the windows are down.

EKW in DC

Let's say I never blow through them. I always slow down, but I am guilty as charged on the count of obeying the Idaho stop law even though I live far, far away from Idaho! ;-)

I actually only encounter one stop sign on my commute route. Rest is traffic lights, which I always stop for if red, and MUP. As others have said, when there's traffic there, I stop and yield ROW as I would if in a car. When I'm on quieter sidestreets though if I alter my route or take a weekend ride, and there's no other cars/bikes at the intersection, I will coast through after slowing and looking very carefully.

ItsJustMe

I slow down quite a bit, and stop if there's any traffic at all. Honestly, I slow down to a whole lot slower than I see ANY car slow down to. If there's anyone around on either street, yes, I stop. However, I only have three stop signs on my route, one is between two back alley streets that there are hardly ever cars on, one is when that road meets the main road and I usually have to stop, and the other is at the end of the private driveway going into the private parking lot at work. I always slow down a whole lot there even though there's never been anyone coming.

So it's situational, I'd say I stop 1/3 of the time, and come to a very slow speed the rest of the time. By "slow speed" I mean slow enough that it's the next best thing to a trackstand, and most people would probably think I stopped.

TwoShort

If there is any other traffic present, I stop. If there is not, I don't sacrifice my precious momentum to pointless rule following.

Discounting both motorists in the world who never exceed the posted speed limit, everyone bends the strict directives of traffic laws based on conditions and their perception of actual risks. It is certainly debatable when and to what degree one should substitute one's own judgment for that of the traffic code. But it seems to me that the likely impact of a misjudgment on others is a significant factor in that equation, so it's perfectly reasonable to run stop signs on a bike in situations where I'd like a car to stop.

So if I'm on a bike and there's nobody else at the intersection, I can't imagine why I'd stop or why anyone would care if I did. If there is anyone else at the intersection, I'm going to strictly adhere to the rules of the road. The cars won't, usually out of trying to be nice, and that will annoy me; but that's a different issue.

Tigerprawn

I find the idea of not stopping when no one is around a bit concerning... I'm guilty of it too, but we ALL should really STOP no matter what.

We cyclist fight to have the same rights as vehicles and in most if not all states a person on a bicycle is considered a vehicle. My mindset has changed and when it comes to making decisions about running stop signs or cheating traffic lights I ask myself one question, "If I was in my car instead of riding would I run it?"

I don't know about you guys, but I stop at stop signs when driving in the dead of night and obviously no one is around. I don't run a red light even if there are no cars visible.

As someone stated. We're constantly fighting for equality on the road, but we really perpetuate the negative stereotypes and connotations connected to cycling when we pull maneuvers like running stop signs or red lights.

EDIT:

One more incentive... I rather not have a cop who is scouting the area see me run a red or stop sign. It'll go on your driving record (weird I know) and you'll be paying a hefty fine. I rather spend that money and time on my bike.

Supertick

The stop sign is there for a reason. I always stop for stop signs. It seems to me that it creates a good image for bike riders. I know several people in our group that get yelled at, on a regular basis, by drivers when they do not stop. Presenting a good image is important to me for the future of bike riding.

Pinyon

Where I live, you would be just about the ONLY person that stops at a stop sign, no matter what they were driving. People ALMOST come to a stop, but unless there are multiple cars coming from different directions at a 4-way stop sign, people just sort of lurch to an almost-stop and then continue. If you don't slow down to an almost-stop, then people will get angry, and you could get a traffic violation from the police.

You can't blow-through stop signs, but stopping is actually dangerous. If you DO stop, people figure that you are playing with your radio or cell phone in an automobile, or they think that you have a flat tire or something when you are on a bicycle, and they pull right out in front of you.

So...it depends on the habits of drivers in your area, as to what you should do. If local law enforcement really gives out tickets for not stopping, and people in cars stop, then you should as well. If they don't, then just be as safe as you can. My focus is on being safe. I'll take "wrong" and safe, over "right" and in the hospital any day.

chipcom 

define stop

Chris516

I don't come to a dead stop, for every stop sign. In the small town(400 people; really just an enclave), I don't since there are very few of them. But, in the city that surrounds it, I do stop.

maddyfish

I stop. BTW I was hit by a stop sign running biker a couple years ago, luckily only he was seriously injured. So I have no patience for them.

Matt1972

I roll through the one stop sign on my route. I need to go right, and I only stop if there are cars coming, or a vehicle is behind me- because I like to make a good impression for us bike commuters

sd_mike

I stop. Every time. Stop = cessation of movement. I have clipless pedals too. Doesn't seem to bother me to stop, or unclip. Sometimes I don't put my foot down, but show me where I have to. I don't stop for fear of a ticket. That would be stupid and putting a rather low price on my life. I rarely see others stop, sadly. Worse when they run a stop sign/red light that I've stopped for. I figure, stopping is healthier. I get more excersize from accelerating. If stop signs are a big problem on a long ride - find another route!

jeffpoulin

Yes, but fortunately they're rare here (France). You find them mainly when a little road crosses a big road. In these situations, I'd stop even without a sign. Most intersections are roundabouts which are nice on a bike since I barely need to slow down.