Originally Posted by
bizzz111
That's not where the outrage lies. Whenever a cycling story appears in the paper, on the news websites, etc. the #1 comment by far is:
"I have never seen ONE cyclist stop for a red light or a stop sign. They are so arrogant that they think they can ignore ANY of the laws us drivers have to follow every day."
Guaranteed that will be one of the first comments every single time. Of course we cyclists are well aware of the hypocrisy with this statement, but just because it reeks with hypocrisy doesn't mean we can dismiss it.
Why is it such a hot button issue with motorists? Because they think we are getting one up on society. Why should they have to sit through a red light or stop at a stop sign (which many drivers don't do) when some scofflaw cyclists can just ignore them and get where they want to go quicker than a driver?
It's the same feeling seeing some driver going 40 over the speed limit and you hope there's a cop over just the next rise. The only difference is we generally don't equate one driver's bad actions with the entire group.
What can be done to change this mentality in drivers? Well you would think the obvious answer would be to stop at all lights and signs, but if drivers aren't 100% compliant is it really realistic to expect cyclists to do it? No,there has to be another answer here, I just don't know what it is.
it would seem to me that most of the people on the road don't know or understand the law governing cycling. i hadn't looked up my states law on biking until just a few days ago and what i found is quite interesting. i found the following quote in my states laws governing bikes responsibility as it applies to stopping
"A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping."
i'm not entirely sure but i think (at least in idaho we can roll through stops under certain conditions).
i guess my point is that drivers don't know as much of bike law as they probably should