Lobbying for Idaho stop law in Ontario
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There is no comparison: In large Metropolitan areas........Boise Idaho is not the size of Toronto Ontario nor does it behave like Toronto. To make this work, Ontario will have to still think through the whole process. There has to be some sort of cultural shift in thinking. If this is such a great solution, then why haven't other large US cities done this, like New York, Boston Chicago...........or maybe even where you live in San Diego?
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Cyclists going straight from a bike lane on the right of MV traffic that is turning right. Technically the MV traffic should merge into the right turn lane with cyclists... but few motorists seem know this.
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There is no comparison: In large Metropolitan areas........Boise Idaho is not the size of Toronto Ontario nor does it behave like Toronto. To make this work, Ontario will have to still think through the whole process. There has to be some sort of cultural shift in thinking. If this is such a great solution, then why haven't other large US cities done this, like New York, Boston Chicago...........or maybe even where you live in San Diego?
As to why the 'Idaho rules' haven't been widely adopted I'd guess it's mainly that bicyclists are such a small proportion of the traffic mix that there's no great political motivation to cater to law changes that only benefit a tiny minority - especially when you already have quite a few motorists who feel bicyclists are 'getting away with something' by not being subject to licensing/registration laws. Just because something is a good idea and would be beneficial doesn't mean it'll be enacted into law unless there's a strong political pressure pushing for it.
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It really doesn't matter how big the metropolitan area population is since traffic safety only depends on the other traffic in your immediate vicinity. Busy intersections in Boise look and operate just the same as busy intersections in NYC, SF, or Toronto. And there's hardly much need for a "cultural shift" since the 'Idaho rules' are already being practiced by a majority of cyclists with regard to Stop signs and by a substantial portion with regard to traffic lights as well. The only difference is that motorists would no longer have a legitimate reason to get mad at such cyclists and the cyclists could stop worrying about getting traffic tickets (i.e. could focus more on traffic dangers and less on looking around for police officers).
As to why the 'Idaho rules' haven't been widely adopted I'd guess it's mainly that bicyclists are such a small proportion of the traffic mix that there's no great political motivation to cater to law changes that only benefit a tiny minority - especially when you already have quite a few motorists who feel bicyclists are 'getting away with something' by not being subject to licensing/registration laws. Just because something is a good idea and would be beneficial doesn't mean it'll be enacted into law unless there's a strong political pressure pushing for it.
As to why the 'Idaho rules' haven't been widely adopted I'd guess it's mainly that bicyclists are such a small proportion of the traffic mix that there's no great political motivation to cater to law changes that only benefit a tiny minority - especially when you already have quite a few motorists who feel bicyclists are 'getting away with something' by not being subject to licensing/registration laws. Just because something is a good idea and would be beneficial doesn't mean it'll be enacted into law unless there's a strong political pressure pushing for it.
Laws were passed in the 70's for right turn on red due to a supposed desire to reduce the waste of fuel... bicycling is the ultimate reduction in fuel use, so based on that, and car pool lanes and anything else done "to be more green...," cyclists should have laws that favor them in a similar manner as laws have been made to favor motorists... and the Idaho stop laws are just that law... a law that favors cyclists... in the name of green.
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Except that Idaho (and Colorado) motorists still get mad at cyclists. Motorist tantrums about bike scofflaws are not genuine...they are just histrionics and the best approach is to deflect and ignore. Taking this kind of nonsense seriously only harms cycling advocacy.
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Agreed, but when the cyclists' actions are safe but technically in violation of the official vehicle codes it gives those tantrums about bike scofflaws a legitimacy that they would no longer have if the 'Idaho rules' were adopted. Much easier to 'deflect and ignore' if one could point to the official vehicle codes and show that the cyclists are in compliance with them.
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As a priority I'd much rather see elimination of unwarranted stops starting with 4-way stops that were intended as traffic calming.
https://ma-northampton.civicplus.com/...nter/View/1060
https://ma-northampton.civicplus.com/...nter/View/1060
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The Meggs study is more of an epidemiological report looking at crashes and cyclist fatalities. Meggs showed quite convincingly to me that it is safer to cycle in Boise where they have the law than in Sacremento where they don't. He matched the 2 cities and found them similar so used them for comparison. He also looked at Bakersville and found the same thing.
The problem with such studies is "cause and effect". While I'm pretty sure it's safer to cycle in Boise, I'm not sure the reason why is the "Idaho law". This isn't addressed in this data, they have simply found it is safer; an observation. So what is required is ancillary evidence which is supportive (ex., for headphone use there is some suggestion from pedestrian fatalities, a European thing and a well done study showing that reaction times of cyclists listening to music and wearing headphones are longer). Unfortunately I did not find anything similar for the "Idaho stop".
But the above doesn't mean the "Idaho stop" wasn't a factor in improved cyclist safety either - it could have been, we just don't know what the factors are. I also wandered around and looked up all kinds of things in the world of safety. I came to think that there is a real shortfall of hard numbers out there for all kinds of things - like even stop signs. So I have to rely on common sense and common sense tells me it's safer to cycle in Boise, so maybe there is something to the "Idaho stop". Common sense also tells me it may not work everywhere or in all situations, but the concept is worth discussing.
Hope this helps, but I don't think I've cleared anything up.
r
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Last edited by Afdica; 05-26-15 at 09:20 PM.
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What evidence are you looking for?? All I'm suggesting is that each cyclist will behave differently at stop signs or stop lights and as such pose a risk that a motorist is not anticipating the same behavior form all cyclists. I'm not suggesting it is wrong or right. As a cyclist, do you want to be right or do you want to be alive??
Are you suggesting that all cyclists behave the same way now and legalizing existing behaviour will change this?
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No. I believe the original discussion was about inconsistency of individual judgement and how cyclists may behave differently and thereby place themselves at risk because motorists tend to see things black or white.
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I'm in favor of the concept of the Idaho Stop law, and have basically been operating as if it were law here in New York for 50 years. So I'm totally ambivalent about changing what already works well.
The reality is that police here (not necessarily within the NYC limits) have generally operated under a "no harm - no foul" rule as it comes to bikes, and only enforcing the stop sign law in egregious cases. The same applies to red lights, where I'll stop for cross traffic, or if there's a police car around, whereupon the officers will ask me why I'm waiting when the way is clear.
So, following Lincoln's train of thought, there's no need to change our stop sign laws (as regards bicycles) since they're not enforced strictly anyway.
The reality is that police here (not necessarily within the NYC limits) have generally operated under a "no harm - no foul" rule as it comes to bikes, and only enforcing the stop sign law in egregious cases. The same applies to red lights, where I'll stop for cross traffic, or if there's a police car around, whereupon the officers will ask me why I'm waiting when the way is clear.
So, following Lincoln's train of thought, there's no need to change our stop sign laws (as regards bicycles) since they're not enforced strictly anyway.
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I'm in favor of the concept of the Idaho Stop law, and have basically been operating as if it were law here in New York for 50 years. So I'm totally ambivalent about changing what already works well.
The reality is that police here (not necessarily within the NYC limits) have generally operated under a "no harm - no foul" rule as it comes to bikes, and only enforcing the stop sign law in egregious cases. The same applies to red lights, where I'll stop for cross traffic, or if there's a police car around, whereupon the officers will ask me why I'm waiting when the way is clear.
So, following Lincoln's train of thought, there's no need to change our stop sign laws (as regards bicycles) since they're not enforced strictly anyway.
The reality is that police here (not necessarily within the NYC limits) have generally operated under a "no harm - no foul" rule as it comes to bikes, and only enforcing the stop sign law in egregious cases. The same applies to red lights, where I'll stop for cross traffic, or if there's a police car around, whereupon the officers will ask me why I'm waiting when the way is clear.
So, following Lincoln's train of thought, there's no need to change our stop sign laws (as regards bicycles) since they're not enforced strictly anyway.
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In my area most bike lanes I'm familiar with are on busier roads without stop signs and typically have turning lanes with the bike lane splitting the straight-ahead & right-turn lanes.
Last edited by gpburdell; 05-27-15 at 05:42 AM.
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Please describe this inconsistency of individual judgement and how you see it playing out to be a problem. If the law if the law allows cyclists to treat a stopsign as a yeild, it seems pretty clear how that's handled; cyclist yeilds right of way to any other vehicle at or entering the intersection. I'm not seeing where there would be confusion, so please explain.
If the confusion you're concerned with is due to drivers not being aware of the law that's a communications/education issue and nothing inherently wrong with the law itself.
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Please describe this inconsistency of individual judgement and how you see it playing out to be a problem. If the law if the law allows cyclists to treat a stopsign as a yeild, it seems pretty clear how that's handled; cyclist yeilds right of way to any other vehicle at or entering the intersection. I'm not seeing where there would be confusion, so please explain.
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I can see you are the argumentative type and like to stir the pot.
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There was also a before and after study within Idaho. I read that one many years ago, and maybe can find it again. It has been referenced here in BFs before, but finding old post here is often impossible (and was even likely before the data crashes).
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I can't believe anyone would care what the traffic laws are. Where in any English-speaking city.... are traffic laws actually enforced? Local cops everywhere [I've been] have their hands full with more serious crime. All traffic laws (as far as cyclists are concerned).... are merely suggestions. You have a much better chance of winning the lottery than getting ticketed while riding a bicycle.