Stop signs

[PscyclePath]

Stop signs require you to do two things under the law:

1) Stop, e.g., cease forward motion. This can be a track stand, or you can unclip and put a foot down. But you have to stop; and

2) Yield right-of-way to any crossing traffic. Only when the coast is clear can you take off again.

If you make a habit of running stop signs or red lights, you're gonna get hit. Maybe not this time, but Fate will eventually catch up to you. Sooner or later... just how lucky do you feel?

There are no exceptions for groups or group riders. Every individual rider is responsible for individually obeying the traffic laws and signals, so each must stop and yield. What's "Clear!" for the guy at the front of the pack probably isn't for the folks struggling to hold a wheel on the back. All must stop and yield, and considerate ride leaders will soft-pedal or hold up on the other side until everyone is across and back together again.

And yes, motorists blow stop signs all the time, or more commonly, one of those "California stops" where they slow and roll on through. With the exception of a few purists, most of us are motorists, too, and carry over bad habits from our automotive driving to our cycling.

Tom

[OakLeaf]

A track stand is a legal stop, but try and convince a cop who saw you not put your foot down - or waste a day in court with your bicycle demonstrating your ability to track stand to some judge.

I don't encourage anyone to break the law. But it seems that some people's definition of a rolling stop is different from others'. To me, a rolling stop means preparing to stop, unclipping if I'm on the velo, foot on the rear brake if I'm on the moto, and being absolutely prepared to come to a complete stop without loss of control in less than 6" if necessary.

I don't do it on blind corners (although some motorists don't realize that we can see a LOT more than they can...). But IMVHO, maintaining a tiny bit of forward momentum is actually safer on a two-wheeled vehicle as long as I'm prepared to stop. With forward momentum, I have the ability to steer and to quickly accelerate if something approaches from behind or beside me. Once I put a foot down, I'm nothing but a target.

Again, just my opinion and I don't advise anyone else to break the law!

[mimitabby]

I slow down and almost stop at a stop sign. If there is traffic, yes, I do what the cars are doing, wait and take a turn. But if i have good visability, and there is no danger, I don't come to a complete stop unless I am on Mercer Island.

[bean fidhleir]

I stop these days, tho sometimes I used not to where safety wasn't an issue. But I want the ethical authority that comes with playing it straight, so now I play it straight.

[SheFly]

There are no exceptions for groups or group riders. Every individual rider is responsible for individually obeying the traffic laws and signals, so each must stop and yield. What's "Clear!" for the guy at the front of the pack probably isn't for the folks struggling to hold a wheel on the back. All must stop and yield, and considerate ride leaders will soft-pedal or hold up on the other side until everyone is across and back together again.

I FORBID anyone doing a group ride with me to call "Clear" in an intersection (or anywhere else). Why? If the front person calls it, and misses something, and someone behind gets hit, the person calling "Clear" is actually liable under the law. Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves at any intersection!

That said, any ride I lead (and I do this A LOT) soft pedals after a stop to make sure that everyone got through and is reconnected.

We all want to be seen as having equal rights - that means following (and knowing) traffic laws. I usually come to a complete stop at intersections (although in a trackstand)... but not always. That said, a week ago at our weekly club TT, one of the racers was pulled over and read the riot act for not riding to the right - which ISN'T the law in MA...

SheFly

[Deborajen]

I always try to stop and unclip at every stop sign, but I'm guilty of not always completely stopping at a wide open intersection that has very little traffic. I'm going to try to make it an always commitment now, especially with gas prices so high and so many new and inexperienced riders coming out. I've seen some bad stuff lately with inexperienced riders blowing red lights, cutting in front of cars, etc. Especially now we need to set a good example.

Deb

[sundial]

If I'm out on a lonely stretch of road with no cars present, I look both ways and proceed through the stop sign. If I'm in traffic, and I make a right turn at either a stop sign or red light, I stop 1) if there are cars signaling to turn and they have the right of way or 2) I do a rolling stop if there are no cars and proceed to turn right on a red light. Otherwise, I come to a complete stop, unclip, watch, and yield to traffic.

[Flybye]

Not all states are the same. In Idaho, we can slow through a stop sign but we should always stop at a red light when approaching an intersection of two way traffic:

49-720. STOPPING -- TURN AND STOP SIGNALS.

1. 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.
2. A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic-control signal shall stop before entering the intersection, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn without stopping or may cautiously make a left-hand turn onto a one-way highway without stopping.
3. A person riding a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of section 49-643, Idaho Code.
4. A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.

That being said, I rarely stop at a stop sign and unclip - I only do so if the need arises to wait my turn for a car that has beat me to the stop sign to proceed.

We only have 9 intersections in our city with stop lights. 10 if you count the one headed out of town. I stop for lights.

[malkin]

I figure that the rude bike riders become rude drivers when they get in their cars.

I stop when there's anyone around or likely to be around. When it's plainly deserted I roll through.

[bmccasland]

I generally stop at all stop signs, unless on an escorted organized ride where the cops are waving us through. What fun!

But like Jolt, there are some stop signs buried in my neighborhood to stop cars from barreling through, and I slow roll through them. Although early saturday mornings when I'm making my croisant run, I tend to ride through like they don't exist. Where streets intersect, I slow roll, ready to hit the brakes.