Do you HAVE to stop??
#1
Love me a nice Jamis...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Meeeeechigan
Posts: 88
Bikes: 2009 Jamis Ventura Race, 2011 Jamis Xenith Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you HAVE to stop??
So this may be more of a question / poll....but the past couple times out when I am riding a couple people in cars passing me have gotten on my case about not fully stopping at a four way stop, my thought process goes something like this:
1. Approach all stop signs with caution
2. I stop if there is on coming traffic with the right of way, or if I arrive with multiple vehicles at a four way
3. If the coast is clear, I continue on thru the stop sign...even if I see traffic that is too far off to pose a threat
4. I always stop on red at lighted crossings
Today I went thru a 4 way, all be it at a slow speed as I was the first to arrive...guy in a car literally pulls up next to me and tells me I should stop at a stop sign, I politely explain that I am a pedestrian and have the right of way and thank him for his concern ( I was very nice about it), he replies with "Even bicycles have to stop" and zooms off.
His car was literally 300-400 feet on the approach from another direction when I went thru the four way...so what is the rule of the road? what do you do?
Again, I NEVER approach a stop sign and barrel thru without checking, but if I feel I have enough time and clearance I will just roll thru at a slower pace.
1. Approach all stop signs with caution
2. I stop if there is on coming traffic with the right of way, or if I arrive with multiple vehicles at a four way
3. If the coast is clear, I continue on thru the stop sign...even if I see traffic that is too far off to pose a threat
4. I always stop on red at lighted crossings
Today I went thru a 4 way, all be it at a slow speed as I was the first to arrive...guy in a car literally pulls up next to me and tells me I should stop at a stop sign, I politely explain that I am a pedestrian and have the right of way and thank him for his concern ( I was very nice about it), he replies with "Even bicycles have to stop" and zooms off.
His car was literally 300-400 feet on the approach from another direction when I went thru the four way...so what is the rule of the road? what do you do?
Again, I NEVER approach a stop sign and barrel thru without checking, but if I feel I have enough time and clearance I will just roll thru at a slower pace.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
This is going to be a fun thread.
I'll throw a little bait in the water: drivers of cars don't always obey the speed limits.
I'll throw a little bait in the water: drivers of cars don't always obey the speed limits.
#4
enthusiast
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Mississippi for the time being.
Posts: 509
Bikes: 2010 BMC SL 01 Roadracer, 2012 Davidson Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Seriously? Unless you are walking the bike, you are NOT a pedestrian.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Now a serious answer.
You aren't a pedestrian, you're a vehicle. Most laws apply to you whether you're on a bike or in a car, a different set than when you're on foot. Unless you're in Idaho, the law requires you to stop at stop signs and red lights. Whether you follow the law or not is a personal choice, it's a good idea to as a general rule.
You aren't a pedestrian, you're a vehicle. Most laws apply to you whether you're on a bike or in a car, a different set than when you're on foot. Unless you're in Idaho, the law requires you to stop at stop signs and red lights. Whether you follow the law or not is a personal choice, it's a good idea to as a general rule.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 234
Bikes: 2012 Cervelo R3 Team
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Legally, you generally have to stop (although there are some states with exceptions). As a matter of practicality, it usually doesn't make a ton of sense to unclip at 4-way stop signs, at least where I live. The driver you spoke to is legally correct, but if was interested in discussing the matter, I'd inform him that (1) you were going slow enough to observe other traffic, (2) you have better sight lines than someone in a car, and (3) maintaining momentum is more important for cyclists. Try to inform him that you're making a maneuver because you think it's safer.
If you're biking in the road (which I assume from posting on the 41), you are not a pedestrian, and the last thing in the world you should want is to be treated as one by the law.
I politely explain that I am a pedestrian and have the right of way and thank him for his concern
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 3,247
Bikes: Moots Vamoots, Colnago C60, Santa Cruz Stigmata CC, and too many other bikes I don't ride
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Different states have different rules for bicycles wrt Stop signs, I believe. Some say you MUST stop just as any other vehicle. Others say you can treat it as yield sign. But I don't think any state treat bicycle as pedestrians.
#8
Love me a nice Jamis...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Meeeeechigan
Posts: 88
Bikes: 2009 Jamis Ventura Race, 2011 Jamis Xenith Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm not saying he is wrong, just asking what others are doing....I just hate slowing up my cadence and stopping for a car that is still an 1/8 or a mile or more from the stop sign...but, maybe I should. But I also think there should be a little leeway from drivers too...if I was on the road driving I'd give the biker the right of way and understand why he went thru a stop sign slowly...but that's just my thinking.
#9
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
Plenty of people do the Cali-stop in cars at stop signs. Other drivers seem less bothered by this than when cyclists do it.
#10
Love me a nice Jamis...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Meeeeechigan
Posts: 88
Bikes: 2009 Jamis Ventura Race, 2011 Jamis Xenith Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I guess my thinking of a pedestrian is anyone walking, running, or biking by the side of the road....I would full give them right of way no matter what. I don't think of my bike as a vehicle (although it is) equal to a car in size, etc.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 234
Bikes: 2012 Cervelo R3 Team
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm not saying he is wrong, just asking what others are doing....I just hate slowing up my cadence and stopping for a car that is still an 1/8 or a mile or more from the stop sign...but, maybe I should. But I also think there should be a little leeway from drivers too...if I was on the road driving I'd give the biker the right of way and understand why he went thru a stop sign slowly...but that's just my thinking.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,435
Bikes: Colnago, Cervelo, Scott
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I'm not saying he is wrong, just asking what others are doing....I just hate slowing up my cadence and stopping for a car that is still an 1/8 or a mile or more from the stop sign...but, maybe I should. But I also think there should be a little leeway from drivers too...if I was on the road driving I'd give the biker the right of way and understand why he went thru a stop sign slowly...but that's just my thinking.
#13
___________
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 216
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In Michigan law, you're only subject to pedestrian rather than vehicular laws when you're actually on the sidewalk or crosswalk, and even then you're supposed to stop.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 234
Bikes: 2012 Cervelo R3 Team
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
While not uniformly true, my experience is that the bit of eye contact and a hand motion indicating what I'm about to do alleviates a lot of that. Some drivers are just plain belligerent, but a lot of people are a lot more tolerant when they're sort of forced to understand that they're interacting with another human.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 3,247
Bikes: Moots Vamoots, Colnago C60, Santa Cruz Stigmata CC, and too many other bikes I don't ride
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Personally, I treat Stop signs as caution/yield signs and have done so in front of cops, they never gave me a ticket. I blew through a Stop sign one time without even slowing down, I got a warning from a cop. I always stop at red traffic lights.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
So this may be more of a question / poll....but the past couple times out when I am riding a couple people in cars passing me have gotten on my case about not fully stopping at a four way stop, my thought process goes something like this:
1. Approach all stop signs with caution
2. I stop if there is on coming traffic with the right of way, or if I arrive with multiple vehicles at a four way
3. If the coast is clear, I continue on thru the stop sign...even if I see traffic that is too far off to pose a threat
4. I always stop on red at lighted crossings
Today I went thru a 4 way, all be it at a slow speed as I was the first to arrive...guy in a car literally pulls up next to me and tells me I should stop at a stop sign, I politely explain that I am a pedestrian and have the right of way and thank him for his concern ( I was very nice about it), he replies with "Even bicycles have to stop" and zooms off.
His car was literally 300-400 feet on the approach from another direction when I went thru the four way...so what is the rule of the road? what do you do?
Again, I NEVER approach a stop sign and barrel thru without checking, but if I feel I have enough time and clearance I will just roll thru at a slower pace.
1. Approach all stop signs with caution
2. I stop if there is on coming traffic with the right of way, or if I arrive with multiple vehicles at a four way
3. If the coast is clear, I continue on thru the stop sign...even if I see traffic that is too far off to pose a threat
4. I always stop on red at lighted crossings
Today I went thru a 4 way, all be it at a slow speed as I was the first to arrive...guy in a car literally pulls up next to me and tells me I should stop at a stop sign, I politely explain that I am a pedestrian and have the right of way and thank him for his concern ( I was very nice about it), he replies with "Even bicycles have to stop" and zooms off.
His car was literally 300-400 feet on the approach from another direction when I went thru the four way...so what is the rule of the road? what do you do?
Again, I NEVER approach a stop sign and barrel thru without checking, but if I feel I have enough time and clearance I will just roll thru at a slower pace.
Plus, you have to be extra careful, you are probably the only one in your area with a Jamis and thus, easily recognizable
Last edited by tagaproject6; 06-11-13 at 02:53 PM.
#18
You Know!? For Kids!
Bikes obey the same rules as cars when on the road. You should stop. I would say something to you as well. If you are on the sidewalk, get off and walk your bike across the crosswalk if you want to be treated like a pedestrian.
Here are the laws for your state.
https://www.m-bike.org/blog/laws/
Here are the laws for your state.
https://www.m-bike.org/blog/laws/
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
Last edited by jsharr; 06-11-13 at 02:52 PM.
#19
VFL For Life
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 51,230
Bikes: Velo Volmobile
Mentioned: 780 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28622 Post(s)
Liked 1,858 Times
in
1,320 Posts
#20
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,304
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
No cars around to PO, Stop sign = yield sign.
Cars around, I stop at stop signs.
Cars around, I stop at stop signs.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 234
Bikes: 2012 Cervelo R3 Team
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
You Know!? For Kids!
He stated he was a pedestrian, he wants to be a pedestrian, get off the bike. He wants to ride his bike on the road, follow the laws. Stop sign blowers, even well intentioned, ill informed ones, give cyclists a bad name.
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FFLD CTY, CT
Posts: 1,971
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check your local law. It is going to tell you that you have to stop.
What you do beyond that is up to you. Personally I find that cars get really confused when I act like them. When there is traffic at an intersection with a stop sign I give the right of way to the appropriate vehicle and go on my merry way when it's my turn. More often than not, they waive me through before them.
When there is no traffic, I hope a copy isn't feeling his oats nearby and roll through. ...and yes, I have been pulled over by a cop, he said "You know I can give you a ticket for running that sign, right?" My reply, "Yes." His response, "Hmmph. You need to stop. (under his breath... This summer is going to be different.) Stop next time."
What you do beyond that is up to you. Personally I find that cars get really confused when I act like them. When there is traffic at an intersection with a stop sign I give the right of way to the appropriate vehicle and go on my merry way when it's my turn. More often than not, they waive me through before them.
When there is no traffic, I hope a copy isn't feeling his oats nearby and roll through. ...and yes, I have been pulled over by a cop, he said "You know I can give you a ticket for running that sign, right?" My reply, "Yes." His response, "Hmmph. You need to stop. (under his breath... This summer is going to be different.) Stop next time."