Troul 

to add, what if its a recumbent... I think the one around by me uses a prop of some sort.

_ForceD_

I get your point. But, the same thing could happen crossing this same 4-lane road a few hundred yards in either direction…where at those crossings there’s only a STOP sign to observe before crossing the road. The only difference being is that those side streets are from adjacent “No Outlet” neighborhoods. So, I wouldn’t be able to make my way over to/from those streets. My neighborhood is somewhat larger, so our street/intersection has the traffic light.

Dan

AirPhantomPhoto

Agreed Kaplang11, back/semi rural roads here for me, with more & more developments springing up every day. Pisses me off to no end when I've run into bicycles running stop signs in front of me so I have to hard brake to avoid them. And they are by state law supposed to stop if there is oncoming traffic, ie me. I've almost come close to picking a couple of them off.

Then when I'm able to safely pass them & give them a quick toot they flip me off, ggrrr. so close to slamming my brakes so they eat the back of my pickup. I'm gonna guess they are out of staters that have moved here thinking they can do whatever they want & screw the rest of us, they act the same way when they drive their vehicles too.

Yah yah, I know this is a bike forum but that crap just gives all bicyclists here a bad name from what my LBS & others are saying, that & the lycra clad set thinking they can ride mutli abreast on the roads when law says not too.

mcours2006

Cyclists are likely not running two-way stop signs into traffic. That would be stupid and suicidal. They are likely rolling through all-way stop signs, as many have noted previously. In some states this is legal, and others it is not, as others have also noted. If you have to hard-brake to avoid them, it sounds like you are also trying to run a stop sign in your pick-up truck, which is illegal in ALL states.

It is legal to ride two abreast, and often times it is much safer to do so, especially when the group is large. It is not because they are smug and arrogant, thinking that they can take up the whole lane and that others will just have to wait to pass. Taking up a lane when there is no shoulder, or when the lane is narrow encourages motorists to change lanes to pass, and it avoids the close passes.

urbanknight

Good point, although I would say if those intersections are that risky, they should have lights installed.

Bald Paul

I will always stop at a red light, UNLESS it's one of the vehicle detection lights that will not turn if you're on a bicycle. At those, I will wait a minute or two (depending on cross traffic) and then, when there is no cross traffic, I'll cross against the light. Otherwise, you could starve to death waiting for the green signal.

HMJ

Where I live there are two opposite-facing side streets that intersect a major state road. The side streets provide access to some nice cycling areas. The intersection has four-way traffic lights that will stay green for the state road unless tripped by the side streets, which of course have red lights.

The problems are a) there is no pedestrian button to press or crosswalk to use and b) the light cannot be tripped by a bicycle - only a motor vehicle will trip it (confirmed by state DOT). The state has zero interest in changing the traffic light so that it recognizes a bike - ironically considered a "vehicle" in my state.

So, my options are to either wait for who knows how long for a motor vehicle to trip the light from the side streets - or - cross with a red light when there is a break in traffic.

Guess which option I choose.

bruce19

My town is a farming community. We have one blinking light at the Town Hall. When I'm riding nearby and there are red lights I will assess the situation and make a decision. For example, if I come to a red light and there is good line of sight I will just continue if there are no cars. As a 40 yr cyclist and former MSF Instructor I am acutely aware of where I am in space and time. Haven't had a problem.