I always unclip and touch a toe down, if however briefly on a rural intersection, or on a lightly traveled city street. On a busy street it is always a stop with a foot down. I certainly agree with the comments above, that cyclists who routinely run red lights or stop signs are playing Russian Roulette, and pissing off drivers (at all cyclists) in the process.

Well I'll admit to being a "CA. Stopper", ie: up to the sign without the feet touching the ground, (ultra quick track stand) BUT, we are offically joining the Colorado Springs Bicycle Club and they've got a "big" deal about "following the same rules as the cars/trucks" so we will start, "foot down" at stop signs and lights from now on.

Stop signs


Personally, I am in favor of signs, and see no need to stop them!

Is this some sort of a national campaign?

That about sums it up for me. On small side streets with no traffic around I just ignore stop signs.

Makes sense to me -- almost every motorist I know opens the car door and puts his/her left foot on the pavement at every stop sign.

There is nothing whatsoever in the UVC which requires "foot down" as part of stopping. I never blow through stop signs, but I do slow to walking speed and look both ways before proceeding. The only time I put a foot down is if I need to stop for more than a second or two.

Don't usually put a foot down unless it will be a protracted stop. For STOP signs, I usually come to a 'virtual stop'. Sometimes do put a foot down at a four-way stop in order to be less confusing to motorists. I try not to mess with the right-of-way of others.
If there are no witnesses..............who's to know if I do or don't stop?

I stop and look both ways. At least as much as I can without clipping out.

It's the law. It's a matter of respect for other people using the same road.

But most importantly, long experience has demonstrated that I am anything but infallible. Because of that, it's foolish for me to roll through stop signs counting on myself to make no errors in determining whether it is safe to do so. If I stop at the stop sign before proceeding, even if I were to miss the vehicle coming the other way, they would likely see me and stop. If I roll right through ... well ... I'm more likely to get creamed. :eek:

I've noticed that a lot of such accidents are really the product of multiple failures. One person rolls through, thinking it's safe. And so does the other, either distracted by a kid, a cellphone, a babe in a bikini, or what not. Either failure by itself is not the cause of the accident ... but combined together ... pow.

I dunno. Frankly, I ride too many miles not to want to minimize my risk exposure every time I ride.

The only exception to the rule is if I am in a good sized paceline. In those situations and depending on who you're with, stopping itself is risky. And that's one of the reasons I'm not enamored with pacelines.

Edit to add: I'm amazed at the number of "I stop" responses here. Frankly, 95% of the cyclists I see appear to ignore stop signs altogether or give them a casual glance.

And in Europe - the right foot?

Is "cager" a common term among cyclists or do you also ride a motorcycle? :)

No motorcycle, some cyclists thought the term apt, so we adopted it.

There are Stop signs?

Yep, as a motorcyclist that's been my term for them. I think anyone on two wheels gets to call them that.

what gets me is how pissed drivers get when they have to stop at their stop sign, not because its a stop sign, because I'm coming down the road perpendicular to them. when they keep rolling I stare them down and THEN they stop. 8 out of 10 are on their cell phone.

joy rides are so much better than commuting

If there drivers who could claim right of way, I come to a stop.

If there drivers who might be looking on and who might give a hoot, I stop.

If there ain't nobody nohow, I slow and go.

Not continental Europe. Only GB.

Well DUH!! I'm sure you know what I mean, they do a full stop, we do a full stop!!

It's funny, I started a thread like this on another forum a while ago, and most of the responses were "What part of STOP do you not understand?"

Anyway, in going to clipless, I recently practiced unclipping and stopping about 200 times in a row. I realized that if I'm going to do that, I may as well stop and unclip at stop signs to further my practicing.

"Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
Blockin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign"

+1,

And, when ever a cager yields the right of way to me...I offer up a friendly wave of thanks and recognition.

Just seems like common sense to me.

I always try and get eye contact and like you give a wave/nod of thanks.

I'm like the truck driver who posted above. It is dangerous and a disservice to cycling to treat Stop signs according to your own personal set of rules. Bikes on the road need to follow road rules, period, no exceptions. So, it is inconvenient. So what? We all put up with inconvenience in our daily lives, regardless of what we drive. Besides, if you can't come to a complete halt, look both ways and react appropriately at an interesection there is a real question whether you are skilled enough to be allowed off your driveway.

So many times I see, whether I'm on my bike, or in my vehicle, cyclists not only breaking traffic laws, but doing so in a dangerous and cavalier manner. Get real; if you want respect you have to give respect. Not only that but the motorist you tick off with your self-centered and dangerous riding may very well take it out on some innocent third party.

My experience is that most motorists will be very courteous to cyclists, even making up for a human mistake by the cyclist, if they see you are trying to ride by the rules and respecting all on the road.

I always stop.

It's good trackstand practice, and sets a good example.

If a bike rides through a stop sign out at a totally deserted intersection and nobody's there to see it.....how loud is the disapproval?

Ignore alien orders.

Anarchy now.

Eschew obfuscation.

Rebel against authority.

Unless you like the party in power.

or if you respect the institutions.

+2
I always unclip and at least tap my foot down. As has been stated, we as cyclists need to observe the rules of the road if we ever hope to gain respect from motorists.

As for safety, stopping reduces the risk factor that you didnt see a car (or another cyclist on the cross street who didnt stop). I slowly rolled thru a stop sign on a quiet street on a club ride a few years ago. Just missed getting hit by another cyclist on the other street who didnt slow down at all.