Stop signs

[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.

[malkin]

Cops waving us through is the best! In that case I wave and shout "Thank You!" and wish that more riders did too. Even though it's their job and they're getting paid and all that, we can still let them know we appreciate it.

[susiej]

Do you stop or slow down at stop signs? I ask because I usually do stop at stop signs and stop lights, but today, in the car (had to go to outlying county courthouse) I notice several bikes whizzing through them at 4 way stops (we have stop signs everywhere around here). I also had a guy almost run me and my dogs down a couple of years ago while we were in the crosswalk at a stop sign and he actually swerved, fell over and started to swear at me until I politely told him I had expected him to stop at the stop sign and we were in the middle of the crosswalk. Just wondering what you all do.

Yeah, I had one ... rider ... who nearly ran me over complain I wasn't in the crosswalk when I started crossing and prevented her from running the light.

Full stop at a light (behind the car in front of me).

Almost always full stop at signs. If I'm at the top of a hill and nearly in my granny gears, I'm already almost at a full stop and do coast through IF I see no traffic.

[Fujichants]

I also do what Veronica does. But yesterday a cop was patrolling next to me, so I stopped at the stop sign. I looked over at him and he winked at me. Lol.

Anyways, my friend got pulled over once for ignoring the stop sign on his bike. He didn't get a ticket because he didn't bring his driver's license along.

[SouthernBelle]

One odd thing that frequently comes up for me are those traffic lights where there is a trigger buried in the pavement. I don't trigger them. So I stop, check then either proceed if it's safe or hope a car comes along to trigger it.

[malkin]

One odd thing that frequently comes up for me are those traffic lights where there is a trigger buried in the pavement. I don't trigger them. So I stop, check then either proceed if it's safe or hope a car comes along to trigger it.

When we come to those on the tandem, I usually hop off the stoker seat and trot over to push the crosswalk button and run back. I'm always afraid the light will change before I get back, and we'll miss our whole turn.

[Aint Doody]

The "trigger" or smart lights in our area respond to metal. Maybe it's that way everywhere. We just get off the bike and lean it over the wires as much as possible. It works most of the time.

[Geonz]

My safety is more important than the law IMHO, and predictability is important for my safety. The stop signs were erected based on politics and car culture; only *sometimes* because coming to a full stop is the safest way to handle that intersection.

So, usually I stop at a 4-way or do a very safe low speed roller - though we've got some 4-ways out in the boonies that yes, indeed, I ride through when the corn's not up. I can see miles in all directions.
When I'm approaching a 4-way, and there are cars approaching it from further back... fact is, if I come to a legal, full stop then the car will be at the 4-way just about then and wondering just what in tarnation I'm doing, since cyclists generally don't do that. They may process that I'm yielding the right of way (or figure that maybe they don't even have a stop sign) and go forward just as I am... clock!
... so I slow down lots but then proceed forward as it is my turn to do so, and *don't* confuse and slow down that other driver further.
I confuse 'em a little bit when I pull up behind them at the 4-way and wait my turn, though even then I will sometimes pull 'round to the right of 'em if there are people likely to left turn into me, not seeing me behind the other car.
I don't want to stop thinking just because there's a law.
I have often waved cars through when it's their turn (or it's just close and by the tiem I stop they could have gone through four times even if technically I was .01 seconds before them.) There's that perception thing - since I spend more time closer to the place to stop, it looks like I've gotten there first sometimes.

I've been told some of the triggers respond to metal, others need motion. My big honkin' bike triggers most of 'em if I ride right over the dark line in the pavement.

[ACG]

I'm from SoCal, Pasadena, I ride all over, in traffic. Lots of stop signs. I will slow down and un-clip one foot. I will call out slowing and stop sign. I've see other riders pass me and blow thru the intersection while I touch my foot to the pavement. Sometimes drivers will wave me thru. Sometimes drivers will gun it when they see cyclists and roll thru a stop sign, I guess they think stopping at a stop sign where a cyclist is the other vehicle is degrading. I am very defensive when I ride.... cuz I don't want to die and I don't trust vehicles. Sometimes someone in our group goes to the middle of the intersection, stops and waves the group thru.

I hate to see cyclists speed thru and intersection when I'm in a car with other people, then I get told that all cyclists are un-safe. No I say, those are what I call organ donors.

[OakLeaf]

The "trigger" or smart lights in our area respond to metal. Maybe it's that way everywhere. We just get off the bike and lean it over the wires as much as possible. It works most of the time.

I could always trigger the light with a steel framed bike (and getting off isn't necessary), but half the time an aluminum frame motorcycle doesn't have enough ferrous metal to trigger a light (and trust me, there's more steel in the crankshaft than in any bicycle frame, it's just farther away from the sensor and encased in aluminum). A bicycle with a non-steel frame doesn't have a hope triggering a light with nothing but the bearings and races.

[tc1]

Always come to a full stop. Sometimes it's a trackstand stop, where I don't put a foot down, but a stop nonetheless. I am kinda self-righteous about following rules, and since I have commuted by foot and bicycle and skates and skateboard and motorcycle and large and small cars and vans and trucks I feel more than qualified to comment. I used to be one of those jerks who shouted at stupid jaywalkers, I am almost over that but it's so hard. Don't have a combination endorsement, though and probably won't ever get one.

And yeah, the traffic actuated lights work by induction if they are working properly-a ferrous conductor cutting through a magnetic field. Aluminum is a fantastic conductor but not an inductive material. The lights default back to a timed cycle if the detectors aren't working.