Minnesota Gets "Idaho Stop" | Starting Aug 1, 2023
 

I'm very excited to see this! Minnesota has had many misguided police issuing tickets for failing to make complete stops, some of the worst offenders are on bike trails in wealthy communities. For example, Minnetonka Beach has placed stop signs on the Dakota Trails at every single-family home's driveway and their tiny police department has spent time/energy ticketing trail users for failing to make complete stops. I'm interested to hear from those that live in states that have adopted the Idaho Stop, have the police stopped harassing people on bikes for rolling a stop sign at an empty interception?

https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cit...op-bicycle-law

As far as I know, my local police force has not made a practice of stopping cyclists. I guess they are addressing other problems.

Doesn't seem that cops around here care as long as you aren't violating someone's ROW.

that would not be respected here. Rebellion would happen.

We do need to adopt that Idaho stop. It only makes sense.

Here in WA state, we got the new law a couple years ago. It's great that there is no longer a legal requirement to stop for ghosts, but I never did anyway. I guess I feel better about the way other cyclists and auto drivers perceive my rolling a stop.

Cops also used to give folks a hard time when not wearing a helmet, but that's no longer an issue either. Many things have changed since 2020 (Covid, George Floyd), and the lack of a strong police force in Seattle is a key issue. It seems like the common sentiment is that unless a serious felony is involved, anything goes.

Cyclists themselves might have to get used to it. I was riding in Idaho in both 2017 and 2019. I like to obey traffic laws when on tour, especially in small towns. Twice I had to laugh at myself when I realized that I was waiting for green lights when there was no traffic around. I had also been stopping at stop signs while riding around town. 🤦‍♂️ You’re in Idaho, dummy!

Let me add that the mandatory helmet law was repealed mainly because it was found to have been disproportionally applied to POC. I believe they made the right call to repeal it. I also like the new Safety Stop law. Like you, I have been rolling stop signs. It feels good not to have to break a law to be safe.

:roflmao2:

You have LAWS there? People OBEY them??? That is SO adorable!

https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-illegal-motorcycles/40013137
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My friend and colleague was killed crossing the street by a hit-and-run driver in New Orleans on Mother's Day, it appears Mad Max rules have taken over in New Orleans.

We are seeing crime coming down in the Twin Cities, and traffic policing is getting better. but out my office window, I watch a MUP crossing at a three-way stop on a quiet residential street ... vehicles on the street rarely stop, local PD will park next to my house to ticket the worst offenders. But it's just a drop in the bucket with the amount of lawlessness on the roads these days.

To the point of the OP, there have been police in the Twin Cities that have issued tickets for trail-users going over the 'speed limit' and for rolling a stop sign without a car around. To you're point, the police don't seem to give a s**t about trails any more ... kinda good thing?

That's terrible! Very often this happens to ppl from out of town, law abiding places. They proceed on a green light or a Walk sign without looking for those 2 or 3 cars that will run just about every red light. Locals generally don't budge when a light turns green until all of the cross traffic stops completely. NOLA should def come with a warning label about this. Also, Canal and Rampart at 6am is a great spot to get mugged.

Sorry you lost a friend.

I have no idea what it would take to get a cop to issue a traffic ticket in NOLA.

jealous

Cyclists in Massachusetts are subject to the same traffic laws and regulations as other drivers and the state does not recognize the “Idaho Stop” modification, meaning that cyclists cannot ride through a stale red light.

but I've never been approached by a cop, while I was on a bike & I do the Idaho thing all the time

Here in WA, the Safe Stop law only allows people on bike to treat stop signs as yield signs. In other words, we're still legally required to stop and wait at red lights. I'm not sure what the practical differences are, though I'd imgine running a red light will raise more eyebrows than running a stop sign.

I also practice the Idaho Stop and have even done it in front of a cop. As long as you're not blowing thru and forcing others to hit the brakes, you have a very good chance of not being the subject of harassment. I would think this is true in every state.


EDIT: I stop at all red lights and don't proceed until it's green


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oh, hmmm, it seems I was considering the 2 things (stop sign / stop light) the same situation, but they are not

Thanks for the condolences. It's just so senseless.

on my way to work, what we call Metrowest (Boston suburbs outside route 128), I saw 2 uniformed cops standing roadside, miles apart, & 1 cruiser. none together. seemed like maybe the officers on foot were waiting for something. maybe distracted drivers? to pull over, on foot? I guess Springtime brings new traffic related injuries & deaths & they have some new tactics to try. also saw some new cyclist commuters. maybe there have been some complaints, from whoever?

oh man, so sorry to hear this. wishing you & other friends & family strength right now & nothing but the best memories

my next door neighbor passed away (in his home, we think from alcohol poisoning) & the lights are still on in his house. I can see in his windows, things like his kitchen dish cloth, where he left it hanging on his oven handle. we weren't close friends, just neighbors that had short occasional pleasantries, but the loss of life is surreal. can hardly believe he is gone & not just sick in a hospital. just so senseless

Thanks for the kind words. It's hard to process for sure. Take care!

Coincidentally to this thread, just today I was crossing a roadway where two 4-lane roads meet with bike lanes, sidewalks, and Walk/Don't walk signage. I always look at the traffic (not necessarily the signal), but generally I might glance up at the signal also, but today I "thought" I had a green light. My traffic check showed zero traffic behind me and to my left two vehicles dead stopped facing me from the other side of the intersection. All is well right? So i cross in the bike lane and immediately hear a loud engine gunning directly behind me close enough to startle me. I mean, the entire world was stopped except for me when I crossed. My first thought was "Did I mess up and run a stale red light?" It was a dark SUV that startled me but not so close as to be a collision concern, just LOUD and unexpected.

I looked back to see the SUV taking off down the road crossing my lane behind me. His/her light was coal red, the rest of the traffic where he/she started was still dead stopped. My light was green as grass. So I guess the SUV pulled an Idaho Stop. Pretty common here in NOLA.

Just to be clear, it wasn't a danger to me. Just wasn't expecting to hear a car roaring up behind me since the coast was clear two seconds earlier.

You've actually seen Minneapolis police on the street? I have not seen one in the past 3 years, they are all busy investigating murders on the north side, where you'd have to be on THC at the minimum to ride a bike. I don't doubt in the more "exclusive" (as the residents would like to think) areas cops have nothing to do except respond to citizens concerns, like bikes not stopping at stop signs.
When I was in Milwaukee a similar thing, cops where too busy investigating murders to do anything else, but in nearby Shorewood I saw them helping a motorist change a tire. The only crime there is wearing brown shoes with a black suit.
I'm pretty sure they will stop enforcing stop signs laws entirely, no doubt POC get ticketed for it at a higher rate, the real question is will they legalize murder, since it too is disproportionately .... you get the idea.

This is Minnesota wide, not just Minneapolis. We agree, the MPD has been MIA since June 2020.

I biked North Minneapolis yesterday (Plymouth Ave between Theo and the river), and ride North Minneapolis regularly, not single issue, none. But in St Paul on that same ride, I had a driver threaten me with their pickup while swearing at me.

Shorewood is one of the police departments that has issued moving violation tickets for people biking the Lake Minnetonka Trail for failing to make a complete stop. Also Minnetonka Beach on the Dakota Trail ... and years ago Hopkins was issuing tickets to trail users too. I hope we can see these bored suburban cops changing more tires and not issuing pointless tickets to folks on bikes.

Lucky. California's been trying to pass that law, but Newsome keeps vetoing it "for safety reasons"; he's been listening to the police unions. It's passed both houses, again; third time's the charm?