BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

For me it depends on a lot of factors. The two big ones: How "dead" the intersection and streets are, and how visible all approaches to the intersection are to me. When an intersection is busy, I try to match what drivers are doing. If people are coming to complete stops, I'll do the same and put a foot down. Most of the time however, even the cars are doing the "Idaho Stop", so I feel it's in my best interest to match pace with them and keep the "rhythm" of the intersection. I'm a big fan of the "Idaho Stop" and I think it's very safe when practiced properly. Unfortunately, I see some cyclists taking it too far and using it as an excuse to completely blow stop signs. Conversely, I don't expect many motorists to understand the difference and just accuse all cyclists of running signs. Hard to say if it would work here. :-/

I usually "Idaho stop" at a stop sign in an empty intersection regardless of what mode of transportation I'm using; as habitual behaviors go, it balances sanity (why should I stop completely when there is no other traffic anywhere near the intersection) with safety (if I zone out or miss something and am cruising on autopilot, I'm less likely to cause harm to anyone). I guess that means I'm both breaking the law AND driving/riding inefficiently...go me!

I think it's a really bad idea to get into the habit of not at least slowing down for a stop sign. You don't have to stop, but you should slow down and make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding. Otherwise, you'll be so used to sailing through the intersection that you'll miss the time when something unusual happens, and, say, the car coming through the other stop sign doesn't stop either. Which is what I;m guessing happened last summer to a cyclist in the South Hills -- the cyclist died, and the driver wasn't charged. And this applies even though it means you have to use your leg muscles to speed up again after the stop sign. If you are really so averse to pedaling that you don't want to slow down for stop signs, perhaps you would be happier on a moped.

Major variables: Sight lines, amount and speed of typical traffic, amount and direction of light, shape of corner. Lesser variables: mechanical issues (my brake pads are on their last, so I avoid unnecessary wear). There are a couple of quiet residential streets in my neighborhood where I blow through those red octagonal signs at full speed. Traffic is typically non-existent, any that might exist is < 25 mph, and I can see 100 yards every direction. OTOH, Smallman St inbound has lots of stop signs, sight lines are poor, vehicles do appear from out of nowhere, and is often speeding. Full, foot-planted stops most of the time; toe-on-ground-but-keep-moving most of the rest of the time. Those are the two extremes. Explaining each variable, and its interaction with every other, would fill several pages.

This and helmet use come up in discussion here quite regularly. While I support the “Idaho Stop” it doesn’t really matter. When was the last (first?) time you saw a car’s driver getting a ticket for speeding/ running red light/ running stop sign/ etc. Enforcement of all traffic laws is pathetic. I would like to add a comment about running stop signs though. I’ve had two interactions with drivers recently where they both accused me of not stopping at a stop sign. In both cases I came to an almost complete stop, but did not put a foot down. I did a (not quite) trackstand and waited for my turn at the intersection, then proceeded through the intersection – not dissimilar to what a motorcyclist does. Upon further contemplation, I think what the drivers were calling “not stopping” was really what we call “filtering,” which is perfectly legal by the way. So some of the negative comments directed towards cyclists about running stops signs could really be the drivers expressing their limited knowledge of the traffic laws.

idaho stop most of the time , i feel it is safer to have a small head start so you can claim your place on the road , when traffic is too heavy i don't even filter i just get in line and claim the lane when passing is unsafe anyway , (west carson ) example

For stop signs: depends on the reputation of the intersection, my familiarity with it, time of day, and apparent congestion. Generally I flow with automotive traffic, which often means not coming to a full wheels dead stop - for example Smallman and 26th outbound at evening rush... few vehicles actually stop. I just follow the non-stopping speed of the cars which is somewhere around 5 mph. On neighborhood / non commuting driver streets such as Coral in Friendship, I brake and roll if it's obviously clear. If there is another car approaching, I slow down and proceed according to the rule of who's first in line at the stop sign. Common courtesy. Drivers often think they're "stopping" at stop signs, but in reality just slowing down to 6 mph from 30-35 in a 25 mph marked zone. A cognitive bias which is apparent to most of us. For red lights: I always put a foot down. Sometimes glare at the nearest driver from behind my sunglasses for some sort of validation that they have noted that this particular cyclist has actually stopped at a red light. Then I take a sip or two of water, clip in, and roll on green maybe 2 seconds before the cars know it's coming. Sometime next week I'll set up a cam at Smallman & 26th-ish & record 100 non human powered vehicles going outbound after work to get a count of actual stoppers. Cyclists will be noted but am guessing that what the cars are doing will be more provocative.

A cyclist putting a foot down at a stop sign is analogous to shifting your car to "park" at a stop sign.

At red lights, I stop, foot down. At most stop signs, I try to slow my bike such that I'm rolling the stop sign at the same speed that auto traffic is rolling it. This is so that I have a snappy comeback available. At a few stop signs -- typically those at the bottom of a big U -- if I have good sight lines I'll try to blow them, so that I can use some of that downhill velocity to my advantage. I'm a fat guy and I need every edge I can get when going uphill.

I "Idaho Law" cycle. Stop at stop signs if somebody else is there. Otherwise I slow down and turn my head to the left and right several times to show that I am being cognizant of my surroundings. I typically stop at all red lights if any driver is there. There are only a few intersections that I do go through after stopping. A few in the "dead" area between Lawrenceville and the Strip that take forever if you are caught at and on a Sunday morning nobody is coming. Another is Liberty and Aspen street in Bloomfield by the car dealership. If you are in the bike lane nobody coming up Aspen would be in your way as they are turning left. Also, nobody ever comes up this street. What a waste of a stop. One thing I do is go through intersections where the light is still red but the walk-sign turned for pedestrians. A big example is Forbes and Murray (a route I do often). Is this legal? I don't blaze through them dodging pedestrians. I am very courteous to people crossing and wait for them to walk out of the way before crossing. It gives me a head start prior to the light changing.

"One thing I do is go through intersections where the light is still red but the walk-sign turned for pedestrians." I do the same. I don't think it's legal, though. OTOH no one seems to mind. Motorists are generally OK with you getting out of the way of them, in my experience. Just keep being respectful of pedestrian's space. I never cross in front of a pedestrian.

@ quizbot Drivers often think they’re “stopping” at stop signs, but in reality just slowing down to 16 mph from 40-55 in a 25 mph marked zone. Fixed it for you.

"A cyclist putting a foot down at a stop sign is analogous to shifting your car to “park” at a stop sign." Agreed, 100%.

I find it useful to put my foot fully down to signal to drivers at other stop signs that I have, indeed, stopped.

I stop at red lights if cars are there in any direction. I sometimes will go through a light after I stop if it means I can get clear of cars in some why (bike lane ahead/street widening or the like). At stop signs I slow down, but will go through if no one is there. My goal is to avoid motor vehicles and my safety comes before theirs.

@gg Agree. Safety first, and that includes the law. I'll tell that to a cop, I'll tell that to a judge. No way in hell is the law more important than my own safety, as sensed by me in the moment. And if this is going to publication, you can quote me on that. You can put it in 24-point bold italic.

When I am commuting between 5 and 6am, I don't stop in panther hollow because there are good sight lines. I will slow and look for traffic if an intersection is empty. I used to stop no matter what and stay stopped at red lights when there was not another car in sight in any direction. Then I realized that was stupid.

@stefb: "I used to stop no matter what and stay stopped at red lights when there was not another car in sight in any direction. Then I realized that was stupid." this.

At empty intersections I'll do a pseudo-trackstand rolling stop. However, I cross two relatively big Shadyside streets on my commute (Shady and S. Highland, both 2-way stops) and and I'll always foot down then and creep forward until I know it's clear. If there's ANY traffic at a stop sign I usually do put a foot down. (Not counting the situation where I've already started through the intersection and a car is approaching.) Also at red lights, though I do turn on red. Same as I do in my car. Basically, I want car drivers to know 100% that I'm following the rules and they don't have to be nervous about me or pissed off that I'm getting away with something. If I ever get into an accident, I want to have that evidence on my side. And your side. I'm not getting anywhere fast anyway, what's the harm. Ironically, some drivers then wave me through ahead of them - which is a nice gesture, but really inefficient since I take a long time to get moving. They should just take turns like I was a car. But I appreciate the thought.

Interesting: the Brookline MA Police Dept was asking for Idaho Stop input on their Twitter feed.