Comments on: San Francisco law would let cyclists run stop signs.

By: Bike Carson » Blog Archive » Bike News

Bike Carson » Blog Archive » Bike News — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:48:58 +0000

[...] Urban Velo recently discussed a new law that is being discussed in San Francisco that would allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and stoplights as stop signs. What an excellent idea! Well half of it anyhow. I think stop signs are already yield signs for most cyclists, and we do it quite safely. I’m not so sure about the stoplight issue though. I can see this causing accidents, as I don’t typically see many breaks in traffic at the stoplights. I think it would be way too unpredictable for all traffic involved. At least that’s how I see it here in Carson City. What are your thoughts? [...]

By: fixed gear home skillet

fixed gear home skillet — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:08:00 +0000

They already tried this is in California and it failed. Would be nice, but I don’t see it happening. The drivers here, Fresno, CA, are complete morons. My buddy and I ran a red light in deserted downtown only to be chased down by some old man in a van to lecture us. I could understand if I was some punk kid, but I’m a grown ass man. Needless to say, he got an ear full from us.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:34:22 +0000

As I reported last month *ahem* it’s a little more nuanced than what you report here. A subcommittee of a regional commission is looking at considering the law. If the MTA BPAC like it, they’ll make a recommendation to a state legislative committee who can then elect to introduce a STATE law (not SF city code) to make the Idaho style changes.

I’m in favor of the proposed change, but right now I don’t think there’s much chance of it happening. In Idaho, it was the motorcycle lobby that pushed that law through and it flew in under the radar without any press or before any motorist group had a chance to learn about it and lobby against it. In San Francisco, it’s gotten so much press that people have already written in to their legislators (local and state) saying how much they hate the idea.

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:28:24 +0000

The Idaho Style group has been and continues to work towards a similar law for oregon. I think we have a good chance of getting it passed this year because we have the support of high level lawyers and several bike lobby groups. There is lots of work to be done, but I think we will prevail, largely because the system has been tested for over 20 years in Idaho and is proven to be safer and to improve the flow of traffic. People can say it violates common sense, but the facts are in, Idaho Style works so lets use it here.

Bjorn

By: jimmy

jimmy — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:28:26 +0000

i’d rather stamp asshole on every other cyclist than have my ass stamped with the bumper of some inattentive driver while i’m standing in the middle of the road waiting for a light to change colors.

By: jim g

jim g — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:07:09 +0000

Victimless crime? Hardly. Every time you run a red light and steal someone else’s right of way, god kills a kitten AND you stamp the word ASSHOLE on bicycle riders everywhere.

Thanks for that!

By: jimmy

jimmy — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:07:11 +0000

legislate whatever you like, i’ll be riding the same regardless - running lights, signs or the traffic officers directive. whatever the situation calls for.

By: unixd0rk

unixd0rk — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:10:16 +0000

i also think that the peds want to get in on this “less segregation” fad. get rid of those pesky crosswalks and other lines on the road and lets ROCK people!

heck, why should i have to keep my car on the street and in between some painted lines? that’s segregationist orrin hatch type talk, son!

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:37:59 +0000

Bad law, bad, bad law. We don’t need more segregation between motorists and cyclists, we need less. This is just a step toward banning non-motorized traffic on what the motorized public views as their roads.