86 replies to this topic

[frymasterspeck]

Interesting take on bike lanes - laser-generated bike lane follows rider. But only at night.

[frymasterspeck]

Cool video about the "Idaho Stop" law now being considered in Oregon.

The 27-year-old Idaho law allows bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs as long as the rolling stop does not create a danger. In reality, this is how most cyclist handle most stop signs. I'm kind of amazed that any state would make this a legal practice. Amazed because its innovative and helpful, not because it's a bad idea. Keeping your momentum is key to efficient cycling.

[runawayjim]

frymasterspeck, on Apr 15 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

Cool video about the "Idaho Stop" law now being considered in Oregon.

The 27-year-old Idaho law allows bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs as long as the rolling stop does not create a danger. In reality, this is how most cyclist handle most stop signs. I'm kind of amazed that any state would make this a legal practice. Amazed because its innovative and helpful, not because it's a bad idea. Keeping your momentum is key to efficient cycling.

The problem is, most cyclists who do this don't use it as a yield sign and instead just fly through it even though there might be a stopped car at the stop sign about to pull out into the intersection.

If cyclists paid attention as they should, it wouldn't be an issue. I'm still in favor of cyclists obeying the same traffic laws as cars.

[matt]

runawayjim, on Apr 15 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

The problem is, most cyclists who do this don't use it as a yield sign and instead just fly through it even though there might be a stopped car at the stop sign about to pull out into the intersection.

If cyclists paid attention as they should, it wouldn't be an issue. I'm still in favor of cyclists obeying the same traffic laws as cars.

In theory, I would agree with you, but you must admit, pedaling on a bike is a lot different than simply applying pressure to a gas pedal.  Read this from bikeprovidence.org

[runawayjim]

matt, on Apr 16 2009, 12:39 PM, said:

In theory, I would agree with you, but you must admit, pedaling on a bike is a lot different than simply applying pressure to a gas pedal.  Read this from bikeprovidence.org

I agree with and understand that. The problem is that the bikers aren't, in my experience, yielding or even slowing down at stop signs. Whose fault is it if a biker blows through a stop sign and get's hit by a car? Pedestrians have the ultimate right of way, but do bikers come next? I don't think the law distinguishes bikes from cars. They're both moving vehicles. If a biker ignores the stop sign and blows through it, he risks hitting a pedestrian. I have been hit by a biker while on foot. It's not fun.

[frymasterspeck]

runawayjim, on Apr 15 2009, 12:17 PM, said:

...most cyclists who do this don't use it as a yield sign and instead just fly through it even though there might be a stopped car at the stop sign about to pull out into the intersection.

I'm pretty sure that this is anecdotal data that wouldn't withstand scrutiny. Virtually every cyclist uses the rolling stop technique, regardless of legality. Therefore most cyclists would be flying through stop signs at full speed. Therefore we'd have dead cyclists left, right and center.

It only takes a few examples of an extraordinary event to get the impression that it's more common than it is. In reality, we tend not to notice the ordinary because it is so ordinary. The few extraordinary examples stand out in our minds more than the hundred ordinary examples that we don't notice.

What's good about a law like this is that:

a - inevitable debate will create better understanding between cars and bicycles
b - cars will know what to do with a bicycle that's slowly approaching an intersection but not stopping
c - cyclists will know its okay to do what they naturally do at intersections

In cars, on foot, and on bikes, there are always a-holes that want to make their own rules. For every anecdote about a douche bag cyclist, there's at least one about a douche bag motorist. How does straight-on-red-from-dedicated-left-turn-lane sound? Seen it. LMAO.

[mental757]

From this PROJO article:  http://www.projo.com...29.3a47dbf.html

"Broadway is slated for a $1.8-million federally financed facelift this summer. That project will, among other things, bring bike lanes to both sides of the major crosstown road."