Raise the Hammer

In the case of blowing stop signs as a matter of course, you are right, it is irksome. I actually support "Idaho stop" at 4 way stops, and usually roll through when nobody is there, having slowed and looked of course. Everybody rolls through if there is nobody else to stop for, so we can overlook that, since everyone does on cars and bikes.

If other vehicles or people are using the intersection we must follow the rules all the time, in order to be predictable. That means you stop! Even though I think we should have more yields and roundabouts (everyone rolling through stop signs is actually a symptom of that) and fewer stops littering every corner, you do have to do what other people are expecting you to do, so, having stop signs, they do need to be used correctly.

The first week I'm back on the bike, after my knee injury this winter, I come to a 4 way stop one day. Other cars are present, and we all stop and take our turns. I go when it's my turn - another girl blows through the stop sign on her bike and almost crashes into me. Yells sorry over her shoulder as she pedals away. I didn't appreciate it. But us bikes can stop on a dime (when paying attention :) so no harm was done.

And then so many drivers wave me through when it's not my turn. So interactions at an intersection do have awkward moments where for a few seconds nobody knows what anyone else will do. So I do advocate for cyclists being responsible in order not to make things more difficult.

However, running a red light is a whole different ball game, very serious, totally kills people. If a car runs a red light, they will kill someone. If a bike runs a red light, they will get killed. The seriousness is supposed to be why those cameras go up as deterrents.

Comment edited by mikeonthemountain on 2014-05-21 22:54:24