running stop signs
 

as im sure all cyclists do... i always run stop signs. has anyone had anything bad happen involving another cyclist? me and my girlfriiend had a close call the other day.

I used to stop for all stop signs and put one foot down, now I just look and blow. The only problem I've ever had was a 4 way stop light that one of the roads was into an industrial park and I didn't think that they were included in the light. The guy from the industrial park went, then he slammed on his brakes and I felt like an @$$ but all was well.

its legal here.. ha

just don't run them near garbage trucks dude

Cyclist: HEY! We're cars too! We get the lane!
Motorist: But you run stop signs. You're supposed to stop.

Repeat.

i was riding with this guy the other day and we came to a red light and he totally blew through... i was like "dude! what's the deal?" and he was all like "man.. it's cool, me and my brother do it all the time". I was pretty freaked out. We kept riding and he kept blowing red lights and i was getting kinda freaked out. So we keep going, and i see a green light up ahead. I was pretty stoked that it was green, since this guy would have just gone through if it were a red- but coming up on the green he pulls a long skid and i'm like "buddy what's the deal?" and he goes " i had to stop... my brother might have been coming the other way".

hahahahaha.

I'll admit I giggled

my running of stop things (both lights and signs) depends on the location and the situation. If it is a open intersection where I have an unobstructed view of the crossing street, I am more likely to keep truckin. If its busy or there is something blocking my view at the corner I slow heavily/stop.

also that "story" made me laugh as well.

i yield to other cars when i come to a stop sign, but i don't put a foot down. and most people **** themselves when they see someone on a bike and have no idea what to do, so i usually just end up running every stop sign i come to. it's hard to navigate through the idiot parade out there sometimes.

I dont stop at them but usually roll thru em...if theyre a 4 way stop.
Running thru 2 way stops across a lane that doesnt stop will eventually get you killed.

I yield to nothing at stop signs/lights (except pedestrians)....fuk oncoming traffic...yield to me!...first to get their nose in the lane gets right of way!!

and yea, being cautious of other cyclists slows me down way more than cars would

if no one is around i'll run it. if there are cars around i'll time it so when the traffic heading in my opposite direction gets to go, i can just run the stop sign too. or mirror a car turning left.

It depends where I'm riding. Some communities within LA County are really strict with stop signs and regularly cite cyclists.......Sierra Madre in particular.

I've seen several people on bicycles blow signs/lights and slam right into pedestrians or almost take me out. I don't care if people don't stop as long as they're not making an intersection unsafe for other cyclists/drivers, but too often they are.

I never run reds. I'll roll through stop signs if I have an unobstructed view of traffic and/or it's a small neighborhood. I don't think I have the right to run anything. Some of you guys are delusional.

Excellent parable.
Actually, I am often more worried about cyclists than motorists. There are many times that I've come to a four way intersection at the same time as another cyclist and most don't even slow down (and thereby evoke the death glare).

You must have the biggest sack in the world

You've got to at least slow up, in my book. Also, if you never stop, how do you show off your sweet track-standing skillzerz?

I stop at every light. If the intersection is empty I'll run it but I still typically slow down. If there is a line of cars I will go up to the front of the line sitting next to the first car and wait for them to go then go next to them(the same way you would do it in a car if there were two lanes in the same direction). This generally applies to most of my riding.

when I'm in the loop it gets a little crazy since intersections will get jammed with cars and its all gridlocked I have no problem running reds or whatever when its like that.

youtube link sewed onto my messenger bag flap to my profile. [v/]

I think thats why most of these people dont stop.
Cause theyll just fall over. :rolleyes:

This. exactly this.

In my neighborhood and on my entire commute to school (only 2.2 miles) I hit 4 way stops for the first mile every 1/8 of a mile. I just blow through them. I'll slow down if there's a car but most cars freak out and even if i were to stop and held up a big sign saying "PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, PROCEED!" they would wave me on even though I've already stopped and lost all momentum for THEM. So I blow through most, even with cars as long as I can see they've stopped fully.

as for red lights and non-4 way stops I always stop and check. A glance isnt enough to see if a car is coming or pulling out of a parking spot.

I usually freeze and pose for 3 seconds when I have to stop but once this nice female police officer in Sierra Madre gave me a warning because I didn't put my foot on the ground at the stop sign. Therefore, I no longer trackstand in Sierra Madre. :D

Haha there is a nice little game theory lesson in here.

I am very courteous at four way stops. When people try and wave me through I smile and shake my head in an "Oh no, after you" way. Usually they get the idea and go. As well, when someone is taking their right of way and I am approaching the intersection, when they look at me to try and figure out if I'm going to ignore their ROW and enter their path, I smile and nod to indicate that I see what they're doing and will stop in the legally required spot. I figure this is good cycling PR because it reinforces the idea that cyclists are vehicles, and it makes us look nicer and more human. This is about the only time i get all a&s in my daily riding.