Ignoring that my country doesn’t allow Idaho Stops, or that my Provincial Government wants to actively kill cyclists by removing safe cycling infrastructure, I’ve always wondered if there’s a reason why cyclists aren’t allowed to simply ride through an intersection like the one in the photo.
I’m talking about the right side, where the bike lane could extend through the intersection without interfering with other vehicles, including those that are turning left.
This would not only keep those stops safer (clears the cyclist out of the intersection), but would just make sense from a transportation efficiency standpoint.
Is there something I’m missing, or do cyclists have to stop only because motorists would take a tantrum if they weren’t required to?
So, respect cyclists as much as car drivers, except when it’s inconvenient for you to follow the rules of the road?
Intersections are probably the most dangerous place on the road, or at least that’s what I was taught in motorcycling class 40 years ago.
If a cyclist can ride right through this, why can’t I on my 125 motorcycle?
And yes, I disagree with filtering. I understand the arguments for it, but it introduces so much risk as cagers aren’t looking for you.
I can imagine any reasonably size truck, semi etc turning left may need to use the bike lane to avoid clipping the front of a vehicle in the lane coming through from the other way. That portion (the passenger side of the semi) of the road would be in a massive blind spot for the driver, so they’d probably be relying on bikes to have stopped according to the standard rules of the road.
Probably a pretty rare scenario, and easy enough for a cyclist to see and avoid, but rules are built around worst case scenarios, not most frequent scenarios.
I can imagine any reasonably size truck, semi etc turning left may need to use the bike lane to avoid clipping the front of a vehicle in the lane coming through from the other way.
That’s a reasonable concern. In areas where large trucks are expected to turn, you’d see traffic lights (not stop signs). At least, that’s what I’ve noticed, since the intersections themselves need to be large enough to accommodate large trucks like that.
But three ways in areas where you’d only expect small vehicles are very common around here, and stopping doesn’t make sense.
Really, we just need to permit the Idaho Stop so a question like this one becomes irrelevant. 😂
Idaho Stop is permitted at every location lacking a police officer.
I wouldn’t take my bike onto the road with a sidewalk right there. If there wasn’t a sidewalk I’d ride in the grass. If there was no grass I’d find another way. If even that’s not an option I just live in America.
Seriously tho. People who talk about bicycles online aren’t representative of those who use them.
I’d be riding through this like it didn’t exist pretty regularly
I’d ride through it if nobody is around.
I’m not taking chances that someone won’t swing too wide and smash into me if there’s traffic though.
Exception is oncoming traffic, because they won’t be closer than 20ft to me unless they’re aiming
People are dumb. Expect them to do dumb things and you’ll live longer.
Are cars allowed to park in the intersection there? A bicycle could get hit on the rare occasion someone coming from the other road swung out to park there.
I can’t think of any other reason. And this one sucks, too.
Are cars allowed to park in the intersection there?
Generally speaking, cars are usually not allowed to park within a certain distance of any intersection. Do they abide by those laws, designed to keep other road users safe? Of course not.
I’ve come across so many of these three-ways where it really doesn’t make sense for cyclists to have to stop. Even more so when you are forced to stop at a light (that will never change due to no cars being around you), and simply permitting cyclists to ride through in the bike lane just seems like a no-brainer.
Ontario law? 9m, 15m if it has lights.
In practice? LOL
I’m floored by how many Ontario drivers I witness parking under stop signs, or at the edge of an intersection turn. Then again, “NO PARKING” and “NO STOPPING” signs are usually treated as suggestions.
Like, what cereal box did they get their license from?
Like, what cereal box did they get their license from?
DriveTest
My guess is because it’s a crosswalk.
In that example, you’re right. Not that it would make a difference, since there are crosswalks in places that permit Idaho Stops. But in other 3-ways, especially in residential areas, crosswalks are absent (so are sidewalks on the right side), so stopping feels… off.
Take this example:
Ignore that the bike lane “'continues” through the stop, as this stop sign is pretty new and the lines were already painted.
There’s no sidewalk on the right side, and no crosswalk at those stops (only on the left side). This particular area is part of our waterfront trail, an extremely popular bike route. It would make sense for cars to stop there (they speed down this road on a regular basis), but bikes?
Cyclists don’t give a shit about crosswalks.
Friend, I’ll stop at pedestrian crossings while riding my bike, only to have cars blow by me while a pedestrian is already crossing.
Cyclists may annoy pedestrians, but cars kill them.
Probably because a lot of people have poor driving skills and will “swing wide” when making the turn.
I love that you think any cyclists will actually stop.
Well, I do.
But since you think that way, it sounds like permitting an Idaho Stop is the answer here. It would keep cyclists safe, and make it easier for them to travel through these areas.
There still being a crosswalk there is a reasonable excuse, but I think it’s more simple. The less complex the traffic rules are the easier they are to build signage for, learn, and follow. Everyone stops at the stop sign. Plain. Simple. Easy. Safer.
There still being a crosswalk there is a reasonable excuse
Do they not have crosswalks in States that permit Idaho Stops? How are those intersections managed (all of them, really)?
Cars are the danger at any stop, not bikes in the very far right of the road. But yes, if pedestrians are crossing, everyone should be stopping.
The less complex the traffic rules are the easier they are to build signage for, learn, and follow. Everyone stops at the stop sign. Plain. Simple. Easy. Safer.
That would be nice, except that motorists aren’t following those simple rules, and they are the ones running people over. When cyclists follow rules designed for large vehicles, it actually doesn’t make them safer.
This is why having the same rules for “everyone” doesn’t work. Everyone should understand the responsibilities of other road users (including when pedestrians should be given the right of way and what that looks like), but not everyone should have the same rules if it doesn’t make sense or puts them at greater risk.
The rule for an Idaho stop, at least in my area, is that you can only do it if there’s no traffic. That means no cars, no other bikes, no pedestrians.
