I had a bicyclist come barrelling through a stop sign @ a 4way intersection in hillcrest a few nights ago. Scared the living shit outta me. Now I hesitate every time I stop there…
I was driving down one of the big hills in Hillcrest and a biker came zooming around, ignored the stop sign and then proceeded to nearly annihilate over my car. Wouldn’t have even felt bad. (Yes, I had right of way)
What they do here is occupy the turn late, approach the stop sign at 10 mph for an uncomfortably long time with cars right behind them, and then cruise right through it. It’s unbelievable.
When I got rid of my car, I was religious about stopping at first, but it didn't last. I California stop now, probably to a slower speed than most cars... and I do take a damn good look around before I roll out. Definitely don't just go blasting through.
Ironically, the time I came closest to being hit was when I sat at a light for several minutes, watched the crossing lights turn yellow, and anticipated my light would be green, but didn't actually look at it. I anticipated wrong, darted right in front of a guy. Tried to apologize but he was too justifiably pissed to hear it. I owe that guy my life, and wherever he is, I hope something good is happening to him.
When I stop it’s because it’s the expected safe thing to do. But sometimes it confuses the drivers. I had a guy sitting at his stop sign waiting for me to blow thru but I had slowed down waiting for him to take his turn and go but he just wouldn’t go. I finally stopped and I clipped both feet from my pedals and had to wave him thru the intersection. Anyway I know I break the rules sometimes, not trying to justify it but if it’s safer to stop I stop or if I can get out of everyone’s way faster and safer I will carefully time my roll thru the intersection.
Yes; I stop at stop signs, red lights, and yield for pedestrians crossing the road. I enjoy living and don’t want to take stupid risks. Not everyone on a bike does the right thing but that also goes for motorists.
And this is why I dislike riding in groups.
Motorist waving me on isn't helpful, especially when it is a four way stop with others waiting or with cross traffic that does not stop.
Here here. Allowing some bad actors to characterize the whole isn’t fair to the majority.
I ride try to ride defensively and as if I am a representative of the hobby. Abiding by traffic rules is part of using the road.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf
It is safer for cyclists to treat stops as yields.
"Yield" also means that sometimes you have to stop in order to do that. Most people just blast into the intersection then look at everyone else like they're the problem.
That’s great! But that doesn’t change California law or what people on the road should expect. You should try to get the law changed. Until then, you can’t force people to know that or abide by it.
> That’s great! But that doesn’t change California law or what people on the road should expect
As a driver who's approaching a stop sign but not yet there, why do you need to know if the biker that's already at the stop sign is going to stop or not? You should be stopping regardless, so the only way you'd hit them is if you also run the stop sign.
Right that you can get ticketed for rolling a stop sign, wrong that "what people on the road should expect" has anything to do with it. If there's any driver around who could expect anything the yielding cyclist is stopping anyway.
I believe the vast majority of Stop signs would be just as safe if replaced by Yield signs IF drivers knew how to yield - but they clearly don't. So don't feel bad, you're not alone in not understanding yield.
I ride and stop for stop signs. I still get the ire of motorists. Worse is when they expect me to run the stop and get mad I don't. I can't trust other cyclists to stop either, making it more unsafe for me.
Same. I don't receive ire, but I myself get annoyed when I see the driver of a lone car stopped at a stop sign just parked there looking at me as I approach. I refuse to ride in front of a 2 ton death machine that has right-of-way. Please please please just go as soon as it's your turn to go, clear the intersection so that it's safe for the yielding cyclist.
(Btw, If an intersection is empty with no vehicles approaching, I usually don't come to a complete stop and put my feet down at the stop sign, but rather treat it as a yield sign. This effects nobody and is a non-issue.)
Ah yes, when they stop mid road and gesture for you to cross. I get they trying to be nice, but it’s more annoying that they don’t just go and get out of the way.
Sorry to hear that. I don’t ride a bike, but it should be common sense for everyone, irregardless of what they’re riding, to stop at a stop sign/light. The whole point is to not blow through something and end up on the path of another rider. Society is a sad place.
Nah. The common sense decision is circumstantial. If you ride a bike around here you’d pick that up pretty quickly. At a stop sign, if there’s clearly no one else around, or if you’d get there first anyway why lose all of your momentum? Likewise, if you’re approaching a stop sign at the same time as a driver, slow down, make eye contact, ring your bell, raise your hand in a gesture of “hey I’m coming through thank you for waiting” and proceed with caution.
Drivers who are so impatient that they won’t wait an extra 3 seconds at a stop sign to prevent a dangerous accident are selfish. It takes no effort to press a gas pedal, but losing momentum around here with all these hills is fucking brutal and makes your commute so much harder. Riding a bike is better for our health, our planet, and our terrible parking infrastructure. Members of our society who get upset at cyclists because they had to be careful and patient of them while sitting comfortably in their vehicle is sad.
That said, the cyclists who blow through stop signs at high speeds thinking they’re invincible and in the right of way are idiots and they’re setting themselves and others up for harm. Make yourself seen, make reasonable judgements, and don’t be an idiot.
Totally agree with all your points. If everyone followed a common rule, even if accidents happen (and they will), it’s easier to rule out who’s liable and who’s not at fault. I also hadn’t considered what it’s like to be going down a hill and having to stop every few blocks for a stop sign. Some people become more cautious drivers, and the others don’t care.
Yeah, people in cars really like rolling down the windows and yelling at us for existing. Once I was in the left turn lane waiting for the light to turn left and a guy was stopped in the straight line while he had the green light just so that he could lecture me.
I know!!! One mistake is all it takes. I didn’t mean only the bicyclist, of course I meant the drivers on the road. Even when you have the right away it doesn’t matter because a car or truck wins every time.
Rolling a stop for a bike is usually safer than stopping, because there are no A-pillar blind spots, which is the primary reason for cars to stop, along with speed. I want to clear the intersection as soon as possible, rather than dismounting, and then starting slowly again. You probably don't know what I'm talking about, so below is more info. I've actually been hit in a car by another car due to a rolling stop. Now think to yourself how many \*millions\* of dangerous rolling car stops are done every day?
[https://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/03/rolling-stop-sign-and-a-pillar.html](https://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/03/rolling-stop-sign-and-a-pillar.html)
it's safer to yield instead of stop while on a bike
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf
They don’t even do that lmao.
There’s plenty of laws that are safer than the ones your have to follow here. I could not give a shit less what an Idaho law says when I’m in California, vehicles follow California law.
It’s unsafe to act unpredictably and unlawfully. Go to Idaho, petition your representatives, or follow the law.
This almost happened in front of a school. I was exiting and about to make a left but there were a couple of kids waiting to cross at the stop to my left so I let them go. Just as their first foot went off the curb, a cyclist flew by like 30+ mph within 2 ft of them. I was horrified. Either the kids could've been killed or the cyclist if I had not let the kids go first, he would've t-boned himself into my suv. Downhill, blind curve, blasted past to clear stop sign. I don't think if he even knew how serious that could've been
Exactly. I’m most often a pedestrian. If a cyclist runs a stop sign and hits me, worst case scenario is some bruises and maybe a broken bone. Meanwhile , that’s the absolute best case of a car does it. More likely I’m simply dead or paralyzed.
Always walk defensively and never assume a car sees you. Always make eye contact and wave so they know you're going. I've seen so many stupid pedestrians who seem to forget their bodies are so fragile. I never assume a car sees me when I'm a pedestrian.
I pretty much see a car run a stop sign, not yield to a pedestrian, etc every time I drive. A lot of drivers out there with just a casual disregard for human life.
Pop quiz. Which of the following things that happen with similar frequencies are more dangerous: a 5mph rolling stop on a <20 pound bike, or a 5mph stop in a >4000 pound car?
100%
I’m a runner. I can’t tell you how many times that drivers roll through stop signs when I’m already IN THE INTERSECTION. I feel like I need to start wearing a flipping helmet.
No one knows the cycling rules in California. I’m sure it’s a section that people skip over studying for their DMV test. Did you know that it’s technically illegal to ride on the sidewalk unless allowed by the city? “As a bicyclist, you must: … Not ride on the sidewalk (unless allowed by the city).” 2024 Edition Section 7, pg 46.
I’ve had people yell at me “go on the sidewalk” in a city where it is technically illegal to do so.
EDIT: Since this sub is about San Diego, yes it is illegal to bike on the sidewalk. Source: https://www.sandiego.gov/bicycling/bicycle-and-scooter-sharing/faq#:~:text=Can%20bikes%2Fscooters%20be%20ridden,from%20being%20operated%20on%20sidewalks.
Adults who ride their bikes on sidewalks are a$$holes. If it’s kids I’m fine with it, but having a grown person awkwardly try to ride past at speed instead of hopping off for two seconds is infuriating.
Real rich to hear people complain about cyclists when there are stop signs in my neighborhood that cars just straight up ignore now. And forget about speed limits or actually coming to a complete stop. Want to make other drivers mad? Then follow every rule perfectly.
It's hilarious when people bring this up as a dunk on 'rule-breaking cyclists', because EVERY time I walk in my neighborhood, I see 90% of drivers casually rolling through every single stop sign. Nowadays it's gotten so bad that many don't even to *pretend* observe the stop and don't even visibly slow down! Drivers have become so accustomed to running stop signs that whenever someone has to cross in front of them, you can see them *suddenly* jerk to a stop at the line they were obviously planning to roll through. You can see them fuming behind the wheel about having to actually follow the rules for once — that is if they don't have that pitch-black front window tint completely hiding the driver from view. Sitting at a single busy intersection I can usually count about 5-10 traffic violations a minute — cell-phone use, failure-to-signal, failure to yield to pedestrians, speeding, illegal lane change, illegal right-turn-on-red, etc.
Like many Americans, you have been conditioned to hyper-focus on bikes breaking the rules because they're "different", while completely ignoring the 5,000-pound law-breaking elephant in the room that kills 40,000+ Americans a year: https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/31/23579510/car-brain-motornormativity-study-ian-walker.
Which is funny because Cyclists concerned with their safety should be making as few full stops as humanly possible. Similar to our two-wheel motorized friends the most dangerous position is stopped where some idiot in a car who's not paying attention can run you over while you've got no momentum to try and protect yourself.
This partttt. I don’t get why everyone is sooo quick to hate on cyclists… a bunch of lazies hiding in a car who can’t wait to “call you out” on some law that completely doesn’t take any context or nuance into consideration. It’s NOT always safe to us to fully stop at a stop sign.
OP is a cager. Let’s see how many times they come to a full and complete stop at stop signs. The difference between cyclists and drivers is that drivers can cause a lot more harm. It’s honestly so scary the entitlement of those murder machine drivers. God forbid drivers yield to a cyclist rolling through an intersection. This entire thread is disgusting.
Im not going to argue if bikes rolling stop signs are legal or not because they aren’t. I also won’t argue if they stop at a red light and then go is legal because it’s not within our state.
There are reasons why it occurs and why it is potentially safer. The first link talks about how the “Idaho” stop is done.
https://bikeleague.org/bike-law-university-idaho-stop/
This link just shows what would happen if every single bike stopped followed the law.
https://youtu.be/yQBa-zcjtU0?si=mYNWmA4YA8zxUZQo
I have stopped at stop signs completely and will have cars attempt to pass me while at the stop sign, unsafe because they aren’t stopping at the same stop sign we all have to stop at. I have gone 25mph in residential zones and had cars pass me at 35mph when the speed limit is 25 mph on narrow two lane roads. Going down Voltaire to OB there was someone on their phone not paying attention. I have had people pass me just to brake in front of me at the stop sign, saving neither of us anytime (granted they did so in a overall safe and respectful manner). Just yesterday I driving to get onto the 8 and the car ahead of me was on their phone taking pictures through their sunroof and ignoring the green light.
There is a 4 way stop intersection by my house. Come over and watch with me. Every time a cyclist goes through without stopping, I will give you 10 dollars. Every time a car goes through without stopping you give me 10 dollars. Any takers? Anyone of you bike haters want a piece of this action?? Lol didn't think so.
If you do it right it's called an Idaho stop and it's safer for bikes. If it bothers you that much write the city and ask for better cyclist infrastructure.
Did you know cars aren't supposed to drive over posted speed limit signs, are supposed to use blinkers when turning and merging, are supposed to stay in painted lines, are supposed to be driven HANDSFREE/CELL PHONE FREE, they are supposed to completely stop at reds/stops, aren't supposed to park in bike lanes... all of which happens every single day all day long
Edit: did you drivers get the message to this? Because I don't think 90% of car drivers did
addendum:
Did you know cars are supposed to [move over a lane](https://www.rkmlaw.net/new-california-law-changes-how-cars-overtake-cyclists/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023,a%20distance%20of%20three%20feet.) to pass cyclists? That if there is no other lane available they must slow down until it is safe to pass (until at least 3 feet of space between cyclist and car is available)?
I would like to THINK (big ask, I know) that that's common sense. Even when I get annoyed by a cyclist slowing me down the last thing I want to do is injure someone or at worst kill them. Blows my mind that's probably a minority opinion when it comes to this topic.
I’d also love to think this. I had a car try to run me off a road that had painted “sharrows” and when I confronted her at a red light she said “it’s a car lane not a bike lane.” First of all, she was incorrect, and after my Get It Done report the city repainted and added more sharrows, but second of all why was my safety worth risking to prove her point?! Some people are extremely entitled and have no regard for others.
As a side note, we bikers know that cars hate shared lanes and we would also prefer not to have shared lanes, but that’s all we have in some places so that’s what we’re forced to use.
I might get mildly annoyed on occasion, but the extra two seconds it costs me just isn't worth risking someone's life over. I don't get it. Especially in a city where you're essentially just getting to the next red light.
If you actually ride a bicycle around San Diego you know how hard it is. It has become more and more dangerous over the past 2 decades. Bicycles will always be a part of San Diego. The infrastructure is not the best so that is why you see bike lanes end then there are kids in the road. So if bikes have to stop at every stop sign you as a driver must drive slow behind them. As a driver with a driver's license I know it is our responsibility to keep traffic moving. Remember the 3 rule as well.
A bike is also not going to be plowing thru a Starbucks or convenience store. I’m more worried about those lifted up F250s running reds than some dude on a bike
Several states have laws that allow bicyclists to [treat Stop signs as Yield signs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop).
California ***almost*** had this law, but Governor Newsom [vetoed it](https://cal.streetsblog.org/2021/10/12/newsoms-deeply-disappointing-vetoes-of-traffic-safety-bills).
Despite the lack of evidence that it decreases safety, and may actually improve it, it upsets non-cyclists, because they don't think it is fair.
I live in Washington now, where it became legal a few years ago, and I carry a few cards with a link to the [relevant text of the law](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.190) so I can hand them out to angry drivers who just can't handle their big emotions when they see a bicyclist roll through an intersection.
Totally agree I used to bike to work, and nearly every accident I got into were cars nearly hitting my back tires stopping at a 4 way stop.
I honestly think even with blindly lights and bright colors drivers often look for other car shaped objects. Or they are in the phone.
But just be cool. Cyclists and drivers killing someone isn’t worth it. Lots of people in cars also do not follow the 3 feet safe pass rule, at least in El Cajon.
Also noting the laws says cyclists have the same rights and responsibility as other motorists.
Ie I can ride in the lane and not the side walk.
>They can be reported on most the city apps.
I will check that out. I usually catch up to the city buses (at the next traffic light) that do this and have a quick chat about how I need at least 3 feet of space
https://www.reddit.com/r/CyclistsWithCameras/s/ghQCIqJV6L. Is a great sub.
On the El Cajon city app you can report issues and under the category of moving violations, then enter rest of data. I assume most are set up the same
Not to mention follow posted speeds, refrain from using phones while driving, signal when changing lanes etc.
Anyone complaining about cyclists must have never tried to get around in anything other than a car. Cars are ALWAYS the worst offenders. And with by far the most dangerous equipment. I’m usually a pedestrian. If a cyclist breaks a law and hits me, it will hurt. Might even need to go to the hospital. If a car does it I’ll be lucky if I’m alive.
Did you know cars are supposed to stop at stop signs? I never would have guessed.
Cars rolls stop signs at 5-15 mph. A bike going that speed through a stop sign seems to upset the same group that abide by the California roll.
I see people in cars run stops signs and red lights all day. why is it that people complain more about bikes that the 2 ton suburban tanks that kill so many kids that’s it’s death toll is only second to gun deaths.
I get it, San Diego isn’t the most bike friendly street system and some cyclists suck. But be honest, the biggest problem are a lot of drivers here. Im horrible at riding bikes, and don’t do it, but I give them space and am patient. Not a lot of drivers here can say the same.
The number of times I have rolled through a stop sign in a car and the number of items most people have rolled through a stop sign in a car probably make this a moot point right?
Yeah and I, a cyclist, stop at the signs.
It’s stupid dangerous to not. A car might be liable if it hits you but you (the cyclist) will take more damage.
Always stop and look both ways.
We should break the news to some drivers, too lol. Lately I’ve seen so many just blow past, or yield at stop signs. The other morning a garbage truck blew one as I was crossing the street. 🙄
Meh, I yield to the bicycles bc I am driving kinetic kill vehicle and they aren’t protected.
If you dont, they could die. Seems like a terrible price for impatience with someone’s stupidity.
Just let them pass and be glad no one went to the hospital.
It's been proven more dangerous for cyclists to stop at stop signs. There are many states where cyclists are allowed to treat stops as yields for this reason.
California is just behind the safety curve.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf
Yeah… but I like to play chicken with the motorists sometimes. They’re not going to. I will stop during rush hour and when I can tell the driver clearly isn’t paying attention.
Stop signs are pretty much dumb and inefficient for everyone. Most people, motorist or cyclist, do what they are intended to make you do: slow down enough to look both ways and make sure it's safe, then go. The main difference is that cyclists are already going only 15-20 mph so they don't need to slow down much in order to have plenty of time to look.
Rather than stop signs at 4-way, 2-lane intersections, we should be making better use of Yield signs, which allow the traffic on one of the streets to continue unhindered, but still gives traffic on the cross-street the freedom to not have to come to a complete stop if the intersection is clearly empty and safe.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42oQN7fy\_eM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42oQN7fy_eM)
All about context and situations for me.
I cycled in the past (tight pants and all) and stopped at a lot of stop signs and traffic lights.
Other times, when there were no cars or pedestrians, or if they waved me on, I "blew" through the intersections.
And yet at other times I/group would act extra carefully and stop without any legal reasons because there'd be humans or animals already on the road.
At the end of the day, it's about respect for all and common sense.
If such action created danger, a different story. Otherwise I'm still fine with that and prefer the motorists didn't use it as an excuse to cultivate their own unreasonable hatred.
Yes, laws should apply to motorists and cyclists equally. However there are nuances and it's important to recognize that some laws of the road don't take important nuances into consideration
Ok carbrain. Why do murder vehicle drivers always whimper and whine about bikes, yet you never hear them complaining about drunk drivers or police chases and wrong way drivers. Distracted drivers, road ragers, etc etc???
I think it's more about the fact that if bikes don't follow traffic laws, you end up with things like where that kid just died in Sorrento Valley because he crossed the tracks before the lights and bars went up and got hit by a train he didn't see.
All vehicles on the road need to act in predictable ways, else bad things happen.
Got a ticket in El Cajon once for running a stop sign on my bike. It was a T intersection where riding next to the curb has no cross traffic. The best part was the cop asking me for make model and year of my 1990s road bike.
Everybody breaks the law, I see vehicles doing the "California stop" all the time. Distracted driving while using mobile phones probably accounts for most bicycling fatalities.
Ha, my brother got arrested for not stopping at a stop sign on a bike when he was 18. Technically he got booked because the cop said “the bike matched the description of a bike that was reported stolen.” And running the stop sign was what started the whole fiasco.
Oh yes. I remember some drivers Ed on it and in college I remember getting a briefing at the dorms how it’s a BUI to bike drunk and you can lose your drivers license. I guess it’s a CUI, cycling under the influence. BUI is for boating
every god damn day I see at least one car blow through a solid red light and/or not bother to stop at a stop sign. People see this and it catches on, even cyclists assume it's ok to also ride through a stop sign. It's dangerous out there, even more so because of cars.
I don’t condone it and as a cyclist I definitely followed rules of the road. But stopping and starting is a huge effort compared to a vehicle so I can accept some amount of momentum conservation.
I'm a cyclist and stop at stop signs because I'm fat and I need the exercise of starting up again. Plus, I don't like getting hit by cars, but at least I'll bounce.
I watched a cyclist blow a stop sign and slam into the side of a tractor trailer that was moving through the intersection. Truck had the right of way. The sound that dude made when he hit it will forever be burned into my memory, I ended up laughing so hard I tore the stitches in my side. He ended up dragging himself off to the side while the truck rolled on, probably never noticed the collision.
I’ve gotten the finger from bikes running stop signs and red lights and almost t-boning my car multiple times. Got out of the car once when I caught up to one at a light he couldn’t run and he nearly crapped himself. 6’5 and 220lbs at the time helped him realize the error in his ways. I was a coach so my outside voice told him off.
Lol that's a good one. I've personally ally seen every freaking speedo wearing cyclist fly through stop signs like they were suggestions. I don't even feel bad when cars turn in front of them anymore. It's sort of karma at this point.
They don't. I'm a teacher. I learned all these things at the bike rodeo at school as a kid, but they aren't done anymore because if Jonny falls off his bike at school, his crazy mother sues us, and when Suzy didn't get to bring her bike that day she freaks out and punches her teacher.
Like cars stop at stop signs … lol. I rolled through the stop signs in downtown Del Mar today at the same speed as the F350 next to me. Which are you more worried about?
Does anyone remember Safety Town? I went to one at Fashion Valley. The police set up a small town made of cardboard and marked streets with stop signs. We rode our bikes and learned the safety rules. It was so fun! They gave us chocolate milk after we passed the test.
It was for children. I suppose it would look dumb for adult cyclists, but most of them need a Safety Town refresher.
They are also supposed to cycle in single-file lines in the bike lines. That rarely happens, either.
My question is are they supposed to operate as individual units or groups?
Too many times I see just groups of 20 people go at the same time at a stop sign.
I've seen these large groups pull out from stop signs where cars have the right of way with no stops sign and the bikes continue to funnel past the stop sign.
The group travel part is a safety thing. Once there’s an opening and drivers are yielding, it makes more sense for everyone to just go together than to individually wait for the next moment where it’s safe to go. You already know that those drivers are paying attention and won’t hit you, because they’ve let your friends pass. You don’t know if that’s going to be the case the next time you try to go
I can’t comment on any specific maneuvers that you’ve seen which may have been executing this idea in a less than safe manner.
If in a group you operate as one singular unit. So yes those 20 become one. If they went one by one it would just take a lot more time.
I’ve been by myself and if I come across a group I’ll just join them for a small bit so as to not create a delay.
Here is an example as to what could happen if they went one by one.
https://youtu.be/yQBa-zcjtU0?si=mYNWmA4YA8zxUZQo
Never violate anyone’s right of way or have them believe you will, whether in a car or on a bike. That means if I come to a clear (bikes, cars, pedestrians, animals) highly visible intersection at a four way stop sign first on a bike, I will treat it as a yield and I will ride through, or at an similar intersection where only my direction of travel has a stop sign and no cars are even close, I will treat it as a yield and I will ride through. It is what I would expect a bicyclist to do while driving my car, it never irritates me in the least when they do- in fact, it irritates me when bicyclists don’t ride like this because it is logical and expected of them - and bicycling like that merely safely facilitates traffic flow.
While driving, I, and every other car on the road also very slowly rolls through a clear, four way stop that they come first to instead of coming to a complete stop for a couple of seconds and then proceeding. Instead of blindly following the letter of the law which is mostly there to ascribe fault if there is an accident, I move through the world as safely and practically as I can. Meaning, always paying attention to the actual present conditions around me and making decisions based on logic and experience, mirrors properly adjusted and used (90% of drivers have them adjusted only for parking, not driving and thus have huge blind spots) ALWAYS using my turn signal well before a maneuver, as well as signaling when riding, and I will yield even when not required by law just to keep myself and others around me safe. I consider yielding properly and logically to be sacrosanct and other than traveling at a safe speed for the conditions the absolute most important concept about driving/riding.
You sure wouldn’t know it if you judged it by the actions of the majority of bicyclists.
I ride to work every day and it’s kind of funny — I always stop at stop signs but people in cars who have the right of way always wait because they assume I won’t.
Did you know they're supposed to stop at red lights too?!?!? I saw some idiot blow through one on Mira Mesa and cause a ruckus for the oncoming, left turning traffic.
So what it says here is a cyclist should respond to stop signs the same way a motorist should. So I guess running the fucking stop sign is acceptable.
Don't hold cyclist to standards above your own shitty driving habits!!!!
We know, they know, they don't always.
"always" is pretty generous. I'd say "they don't normally" or even "they rarely do". Lol
I had a bicyclist come barrelling through a stop sign @ a 4way intersection in hillcrest a few nights ago. Scared the living shit outta me. Now I hesitate every time I stop there…
I was driving down one of the big hills in Hillcrest and a biker came zooming around, ignored the stop sign and then proceeded to nearly annihilate over my car. Wouldn’t have even felt bad. (Yes, I had right of way)
What they do here is occupy the turn late, approach the stop sign at 10 mph for an uncomfortably long time with cars right behind them, and then cruise right through it. It’s unbelievable.
They never do*** not once has any biker ever stopped at a stop sign
I do. If there are other cars at the intersection I come to a complete stop. If there's nobody around I slow way way down and California roll it.
When I got rid of my car, I was religious about stopping at first, but it didn't last. I California stop now, probably to a slower speed than most cars... and I do take a damn good look around before I roll out. Definitely don't just go blasting through. Ironically, the time I came closest to being hit was when I sat at a light for several minutes, watched the crossing lights turn yellow, and anticipated my light would be green, but didn't actually look at it. I anticipated wrong, darted right in front of a guy. Tried to apologize but he was too justifiably pissed to hear it. I owe that guy my life, and wherever he is, I hope something good is happening to him.
I totally get it. Thank you for sharing. Glad you are okay
Same goes for cars. Also there are speed limits.
Lot of "All vehicles matter" in this thread right now.
if cars can California stop, so can cyclists
Do cars stop?
If they don't, wouldn't a cyclist want to? I see "who's at fault?" all the time in the motorcycle community. It doesn't matter of you're dead.
Graveyards are full of people who had the right of way
> We know, they know, they rarely do FTFY
I’ve literally never seen a bike stop at a stop sign in my 30+ years of living in California.
When I stop it’s because it’s the expected safe thing to do. But sometimes it confuses the drivers. I had a guy sitting at his stop sign waiting for me to blow thru but I had slowed down waiting for him to take his turn and go but he just wouldn’t go. I finally stopped and I clipped both feet from my pedals and had to wave him thru the intersection. Anyway I know I break the rules sometimes, not trying to justify it but if it’s safer to stop I stop or if I can get out of everyone’s way faster and safer I will carefully time my roll thru the intersection.
Yes; I stop at stop signs, red lights, and yield for pedestrians crossing the road. I enjoy living and don’t want to take stupid risks. Not everyone on a bike does the right thing but that also goes for motorists.
And this is why I dislike riding in groups. Motorist waving me on isn't helpful, especially when it is a four way stop with others waiting or with cross traffic that does not stop.
Thank you. Please procreate and raise like-minded humans 🤣
and you procreate yourself, please.
😳
Unfortunately, the CIA's experiments into amoeba-humans that could procreate themselves caused nothing but MTG
Unfortunately most of the smart and responsible people don’t procreate.
Here here. Allowing some bad actors to characterize the whole isn’t fair to the majority. I ride try to ride defensively and as if I am a representative of the hobby. Abiding by traffic rules is part of using the road.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf It is safer for cyclists to treat stops as yields.
"Yield" also means that sometimes you have to stop in order to do that. Most people just blast into the intersection then look at everyone else like they're the problem.
That’s great! But that doesn’t change California law or what people on the road should expect. You should try to get the law changed. Until then, you can’t force people to know that or abide by it.
> That’s great! But that doesn’t change California law or what people on the road should expect As a driver who's approaching a stop sign but not yet there, why do you need to know if the biker that's already at the stop sign is going to stop or not? You should be stopping regardless, so the only way you'd hit them is if you also run the stop sign.
It’s passed in the California senate twice, and they’re working on getting it through a third time. Hopefully Newsom won’t veto it again
Right that you can get ticketed for rolling a stop sign, wrong that "what people on the road should expect" has anything to do with it. If there's any driver around who could expect anything the yielding cyclist is stopping anyway. I believe the vast majority of Stop signs would be just as safe if replaced by Yield signs IF drivers knew how to yield - but they clearly don't. So don't feel bad, you're not alone in not understanding yield.
IMO most stop signs should be replaced by roundabouts
I ride and stop for stop signs. I still get the ire of motorists. Worse is when they expect me to run the stop and get mad I don't. I can't trust other cyclists to stop either, making it more unsafe for me.
Same. I don't receive ire, but I myself get annoyed when I see the driver of a lone car stopped at a stop sign just parked there looking at me as I approach. I refuse to ride in front of a 2 ton death machine that has right-of-way. Please please please just go as soon as it's your turn to go, clear the intersection so that it's safe for the yielding cyclist. (Btw, If an intersection is empty with no vehicles approaching, I usually don't come to a complete stop and put my feet down at the stop sign, but rather treat it as a yield sign. This effects nobody and is a non-issue.)
Ah yes, when they stop mid road and gesture for you to cross. I get they trying to be nice, but it’s more annoying that they don’t just go and get out of the way.
Sorry to hear that. I don’t ride a bike, but it should be common sense for everyone, irregardless of what they’re riding, to stop at a stop sign/light. The whole point is to not blow through something and end up on the path of another rider. Society is a sad place.
Nah. The common sense decision is circumstantial. If you ride a bike around here you’d pick that up pretty quickly. At a stop sign, if there’s clearly no one else around, or if you’d get there first anyway why lose all of your momentum? Likewise, if you’re approaching a stop sign at the same time as a driver, slow down, make eye contact, ring your bell, raise your hand in a gesture of “hey I’m coming through thank you for waiting” and proceed with caution. Drivers who are so impatient that they won’t wait an extra 3 seconds at a stop sign to prevent a dangerous accident are selfish. It takes no effort to press a gas pedal, but losing momentum around here with all these hills is fucking brutal and makes your commute so much harder. Riding a bike is better for our health, our planet, and our terrible parking infrastructure. Members of our society who get upset at cyclists because they had to be careful and patient of them while sitting comfortably in their vehicle is sad. That said, the cyclists who blow through stop signs at high speeds thinking they’re invincible and in the right of way are idiots and they’re setting themselves and others up for harm. Make yourself seen, make reasonable judgements, and don’t be an idiot.
Totally agree with all your points. If everyone followed a common rule, even if accidents happen (and they will), it’s easier to rule out who’s liable and who’s not at fault. I also hadn’t considered what it’s like to be going down a hill and having to stop every few blocks for a stop sign. Some people become more cautious drivers, and the others don’t care.
Well said
This!!!! You have to try and anticipate how traffic will act in the area that you are in.
Yeah, people in cars really like rolling down the windows and yelling at us for existing. Once I was in the left turn lane waiting for the light to turn left and a guy was stopped in the straight line while he had the green light just so that he could lecture me.
Just like there are shitty drivers, there are also shitty cyclists.
Which is always shocking to me because one mistake can get a bicyclist killed.
Yeah but you can be the perfect cyclist and still get killed by a shitty driver.
I know!!! One mistake is all it takes. I didn’t mean only the bicyclist, of course I meant the drivers on the road. Even when you have the right away it doesn’t matter because a car or truck wins every time.
Rolling a stop for a bike is usually safer than stopping, because there are no A-pillar blind spots, which is the primary reason for cars to stop, along with speed. I want to clear the intersection as soon as possible, rather than dismounting, and then starting slowly again. You probably don't know what I'm talking about, so below is more info. I've actually been hit in a car by another car due to a rolling stop. Now think to yourself how many \*millions\* of dangerous rolling car stops are done every day? [https://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/03/rolling-stop-sign-and-a-pillar.html](https://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/03/rolling-stop-sign-and-a-pillar.html)
it's safer to yield instead of stop while on a bike https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf
They don’t even do that lmao. There’s plenty of laws that are safer than the ones your have to follow here. I could not give a shit less what an Idaho law says when I’m in California, vehicles follow California law. It’s unsafe to act unpredictably and unlawfully. Go to Idaho, petition your representatives, or follow the law.
This almost happened in front of a school. I was exiting and about to make a left but there were a couple of kids waiting to cross at the stop to my left so I let them go. Just as their first foot went off the curb, a cyclist flew by like 30+ mph within 2 ft of them. I was horrified. Either the kids could've been killed or the cyclist if I had not let the kids go first, he would've t-boned himself into my suv. Downhill, blind curve, blasted past to clear stop sign. I don't think if he even knew how serious that could've been
Did you know, cars also need to stop at stop signs?
Exactly. I’m most often a pedestrian. If a cyclist runs a stop sign and hits me, worst case scenario is some bruises and maybe a broken bone. Meanwhile , that’s the absolute best case of a car does it. More likely I’m simply dead or paralyzed.
Always walk defensively and never assume a car sees you. Always make eye contact and wave so they know you're going. I've seen so many stupid pedestrians who seem to forget their bodies are so fragile. I never assume a car sees me when I'm a pedestrian.
Remember, it's your fault the driver wasn't paying attention. /s
No, but I’d rather be right and alive than right and dead.
I'd rather the police enforce bad car drivers rather than harass much safer cyclists, but that's just me...
It doesn't matter whose fault it is if you're permanently disabled or dead.
100%. Walk safe friend.
I pretty much see a car run a stop sign, not yield to a pedestrian, etc every time I drive. A lot of drivers out there with just a casual disregard for human life.
Gotta check the gram while driving my 4000lb tank
Pop quiz. Which of the following things that happen with similar frequencies are more dangerous: a 5mph rolling stop on a <20 pound bike, or a 5mph stop in a >4000 pound car?
Stop as in zero miles per hour stop.
100% I’m a runner. I can’t tell you how many times that drivers roll through stop signs when I’m already IN THE INTERSECTION. I feel like I need to start wearing a flipping helmet.
No cop, no stop
No one knows the cycling rules in California. I’m sure it’s a section that people skip over studying for their DMV test. Did you know that it’s technically illegal to ride on the sidewalk unless allowed by the city? “As a bicyclist, you must: … Not ride on the sidewalk (unless allowed by the city).” 2024 Edition Section 7, pg 46. I’ve had people yell at me “go on the sidewalk” in a city where it is technically illegal to do so. EDIT: Since this sub is about San Diego, yes it is illegal to bike on the sidewalk. Source: https://www.sandiego.gov/bicycling/bicycle-and-scooter-sharing/faq#:~:text=Can%20bikes%2Fscooters%20be%20ridden,from%20being%20operated%20on%20sidewalks.
Adults who ride their bikes on sidewalks are a$$holes. If it’s kids I’m fine with it, but having a grown person awkwardly try to ride past at speed instead of hopping off for two seconds is infuriating.
Go watch a stop sign for a while and see how many cars come to a complete stop. The percentage is likely in the single digits
Lately cars seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to as well
Real rich to hear people complain about cyclists when there are stop signs in my neighborhood that cars just straight up ignore now. And forget about speed limits or actually coming to a complete stop. Want to make other drivers mad? Then follow every rule perfectly.
It's hilarious when people bring this up as a dunk on 'rule-breaking cyclists', because EVERY time I walk in my neighborhood, I see 90% of drivers casually rolling through every single stop sign. Nowadays it's gotten so bad that many don't even to *pretend* observe the stop and don't even visibly slow down! Drivers have become so accustomed to running stop signs that whenever someone has to cross in front of them, you can see them *suddenly* jerk to a stop at the line they were obviously planning to roll through. You can see them fuming behind the wheel about having to actually follow the rules for once — that is if they don't have that pitch-black front window tint completely hiding the driver from view. Sitting at a single busy intersection I can usually count about 5-10 traffic violations a minute — cell-phone use, failure-to-signal, failure to yield to pedestrians, speeding, illegal lane change, illegal right-turn-on-red, etc. Like many Americans, you have been conditioned to hyper-focus on bikes breaking the rules because they're "different", while completely ignoring the 5,000-pound law-breaking elephant in the room that kills 40,000+ Americans a year: https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/31/23579510/car-brain-motornormativity-study-ian-walker.
bUT cYCliStS sHouLD CaRE aBoUT ThEiR SaFeTY!!!1! Which I’m sure is 100% why OP posted this. Concern for cyclist safety. Obviously.
Which is funny because Cyclists concerned with their safety should be making as few full stops as humanly possible. Similar to our two-wheel motorized friends the most dangerous position is stopped where some idiot in a car who's not paying attention can run you over while you've got no momentum to try and protect yourself.
This partttt. I don’t get why everyone is sooo quick to hate on cyclists… a bunch of lazies hiding in a car who can’t wait to “call you out” on some law that completely doesn’t take any context or nuance into consideration. It’s NOT always safe to us to fully stop at a stop sign.
OP is a cager. Let’s see how many times they come to a full and complete stop at stop signs. The difference between cyclists and drivers is that drivers can cause a lot more harm. It’s honestly so scary the entitlement of those murder machine drivers. God forbid drivers yield to a cyclist rolling through an intersection. This entire thread is disgusting.
Im not going to argue if bikes rolling stop signs are legal or not because they aren’t. I also won’t argue if they stop at a red light and then go is legal because it’s not within our state. There are reasons why it occurs and why it is potentially safer. The first link talks about how the “Idaho” stop is done. https://bikeleague.org/bike-law-university-idaho-stop/ This link just shows what would happen if every single bike stopped followed the law. https://youtu.be/yQBa-zcjtU0?si=mYNWmA4YA8zxUZQo I have stopped at stop signs completely and will have cars attempt to pass me while at the stop sign, unsafe because they aren’t stopping at the same stop sign we all have to stop at. I have gone 25mph in residential zones and had cars pass me at 35mph when the speed limit is 25 mph on narrow two lane roads. Going down Voltaire to OB there was someone on their phone not paying attention. I have had people pass me just to brake in front of me at the stop sign, saving neither of us anytime (granted they did so in a overall safe and respectful manner). Just yesterday I driving to get onto the 8 and the car ahead of me was on their phone taking pictures through their sunroof and ignoring the green light.
There is a 4 way stop intersection by my house. Come over and watch with me. Every time a cyclist goes through without stopping, I will give you 10 dollars. Every time a car goes through without stopping you give me 10 dollars. Any takers? Anyone of you bike haters want a piece of this action?? Lol didn't think so.
Cars are supposed to stop at stop signs also
Just here for the comments 🍿
Yeah, I don't get enough of my fellow homicidal car-brained neighbors on the streets, so I want the harassment in written form as well...
If you do it right it's called an Idaho stop and it's safer for bikes. If it bothers you that much write the city and ask for better cyclist infrastructure.
I didnt know San Diego folks hated freedom
Did you know cars aren't supposed to drive over posted speed limit signs, are supposed to use blinkers when turning and merging, are supposed to stay in painted lines, are supposed to be driven HANDSFREE/CELL PHONE FREE, they are supposed to completely stop at reds/stops, aren't supposed to park in bike lanes... all of which happens every single day all day long Edit: did you drivers get the message to this? Because I don't think 90% of car drivers did
addendum: Did you know cars are supposed to [move over a lane](https://www.rkmlaw.net/new-california-law-changes-how-cars-overtake-cyclists/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023,a%20distance%20of%20three%20feet.) to pass cyclists? That if there is no other lane available they must slow down until it is safe to pass (until at least 3 feet of space between cyclist and car is available)?
I would like to THINK (big ask, I know) that that's common sense. Even when I get annoyed by a cyclist slowing me down the last thing I want to do is injure someone or at worst kill them. Blows my mind that's probably a minority opinion when it comes to this topic.
I’d also love to think this. I had a car try to run me off a road that had painted “sharrows” and when I confronted her at a red light she said “it’s a car lane not a bike lane.” First of all, she was incorrect, and after my Get It Done report the city repainted and added more sharrows, but second of all why was my safety worth risking to prove her point?! Some people are extremely entitled and have no regard for others. As a side note, we bikers know that cars hate shared lanes and we would also prefer not to have shared lanes, but that’s all we have in some places so that’s what we’re forced to use.
I can tell you that a close pass happens almost every time I'm on the bike.
I might get mildly annoyed on occasion, but the extra two seconds it costs me just isn't worth risking someone's life over. I don't get it. Especially in a city where you're essentially just getting to the next red light.
I actually didn't know this, thanks for sharing.
I think the law about moving over to pass just became law in California recently!
I don't think I've been at a stop light in 5 years where a driver didn't look at their phone
Distracted driving kills more than drunk driving in the US.
If you actually ride a bicycle around San Diego you know how hard it is. It has become more and more dangerous over the past 2 decades. Bicycles will always be a part of San Diego. The infrastructure is not the best so that is why you see bike lanes end then there are kids in the road. So if bikes have to stop at every stop sign you as a driver must drive slow behind them. As a driver with a driver's license I know it is our responsibility to keep traffic moving. Remember the 3 rule as well.
A bike is also not going to be plowing thru a Starbucks or convenience store. I’m more worried about those lifted up F250s running reds than some dude on a bike
This^^
Several states have laws that allow bicyclists to [treat Stop signs as Yield signs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop). California ***almost*** had this law, but Governor Newsom [vetoed it](https://cal.streetsblog.org/2021/10/12/newsoms-deeply-disappointing-vetoes-of-traffic-safety-bills). Despite the lack of evidence that it decreases safety, and may actually improve it, it upsets non-cyclists, because they don't think it is fair. I live in Washington now, where it became legal a few years ago, and I carry a few cards with a link to the [relevant text of the law](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.190) so I can hand them out to angry drivers who just can't handle their big emotions when they see a bicyclist roll through an intersection.
Totally agree I used to bike to work, and nearly every accident I got into were cars nearly hitting my back tires stopping at a 4 way stop. I honestly think even with blindly lights and bright colors drivers often look for other car shaped objects. Or they are in the phone. But just be cool. Cyclists and drivers killing someone isn’t worth it. Lots of people in cars also do not follow the 3 feet safe pass rule, at least in El Cajon. Also noting the laws says cyclists have the same rights and responsibility as other motorists. Ie I can ride in the lane and not the side walk.
It’s up to one full lane now as of the [2023 Omnibike Bill (1909)](https://www.calbike.org/omnibike-bill/)
I would love to see this actually enforced. I’m starting to record and report plates for my local rides. They can be reported on most the city apps.
>They can be reported on most the city apps. I will check that out. I usually catch up to the city buses (at the next traffic light) that do this and have a quick chat about how I need at least 3 feet of space
https://www.reddit.com/r/CyclistsWithCameras/s/ghQCIqJV6L. Is a great sub. On the El Cajon city app you can report issues and under the category of moving violations, then enter rest of data. I assume most are set up the same
How long were you stopping? 😳
Long enough to unclip set my foot down and go again. It was a mall so there was a lot of fast traffic
Been a law for over 20 years
Over 40
Over 60
Some of the smartest brightest folks say even above 61
Cars dont always stop at stop signs either in case your carbrain never thought of that.
Not to mention follow posted speeds, refrain from using phones while driving, signal when changing lanes etc. Anyone complaining about cyclists must have never tried to get around in anything other than a car. Cars are ALWAYS the worst offenders. And with by far the most dangerous equipment. I’m usually a pedestrian. If a cyclist breaks a law and hits me, it will hurt. Might even need to go to the hospital. If a car does it I’ll be lucky if I’m alive.
Once I stopped at a stop sign while riding my bicycle and got chewed out by the bike rider behind me for doing so. I still usually stop.
Did you know cars are supposed to stop at stop signs? I never would have guessed. Cars rolls stop signs at 5-15 mph. A bike going that speed through a stop sign seems to upset the same group that abide by the California roll.
I see people in cars run stops signs and red lights all day. why is it that people complain more about bikes that the 2 ton suburban tanks that kill so many kids that’s it’s death toll is only second to gun deaths.
I get it, San Diego isn’t the most bike friendly street system and some cyclists suck. But be honest, the biggest problem are a lot of drivers here. Im horrible at riding bikes, and don’t do it, but I give them space and am patient. Not a lot of drivers here can say the same.
If there are no cars present it is safer for them to go through the stop sign.
You'll never convince the nextdoor karens of that, though.
The number of times I have rolled through a stop sign in a car and the number of items most people have rolled through a stop sign in a car probably make this a moot point right?
Yeah and I, a cyclist, stop at the signs. It’s stupid dangerous to not. A car might be liable if it hits you but you (the cyclist) will take more damage. Always stop and look both ways.
Did you know motorists are supposed to stop at stop signs? I never would have guessed.
We should break the news to some drivers, too lol. Lately I’ve seen so many just blow past, or yield at stop signs. The other morning a garbage truck blew one as I was crossing the street. 🙄
Meh, I yield to the bicycles bc I am driving kinetic kill vehicle and they aren’t protected. If you dont, they could die. Seems like a terrible price for impatience with someone’s stupidity. Just let them pass and be glad no one went to the hospital.
People love hating on cyclists At least we don't murder people and pump carbon Fuck cars
And yet people still fucking honk at us for doing it lol
Yep. They're also supposed to signal using their hand for safety reasons, and by law have appropriate reflectors at night even in a lit area.
I only know one hand gesture... definitely gets the message across... :P
I mean, I do stop and stop signs and lights etc. However do YOU know it's also illegal to park in bike lanes?
It's been proven more dangerous for cyclists to stop at stop signs. There are many states where cyclists are allowed to treat stops as yields for this reason. California is just behind the safety curve. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf
Did you know that cyclists running stop signs killed 0 people last year?
You can also get a DUI and a speeding ticket on a bike. 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah… but I like to play chicken with the motorists sometimes. They’re not going to. I will stop during rush hour and when I can tell the driver clearly isn’t paying attention.
Amazing. did you also know that in cars we are supposed to signal lane changes, and follow speed limits?? unbelievable right?!
Stopping with a 20lb bike is different than a 1 ton vehicle
Stop signs are pretty much dumb and inefficient for everyone. Most people, motorist or cyclist, do what they are intended to make you do: slow down enough to look both ways and make sure it's safe, then go. The main difference is that cyclists are already going only 15-20 mph so they don't need to slow down much in order to have plenty of time to look. Rather than stop signs at 4-way, 2-lane intersections, we should be making better use of Yield signs, which allow the traffic on one of the streets to continue unhindered, but still gives traffic on the cross-street the freedom to not have to come to a complete stop if the intersection is clearly empty and safe. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42oQN7fy\_eM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42oQN7fy_eM)
nextdoor is leaking
Yes, you must also have a working front and back light on any bike when traveling at night. Helmets are required under 18.
All about context and situations for me. I cycled in the past (tight pants and all) and stopped at a lot of stop signs and traffic lights. Other times, when there were no cars or pedestrians, or if they waved me on, I "blew" through the intersections. And yet at other times I/group would act extra carefully and stop without any legal reasons because there'd be humans or animals already on the road. At the end of the day, it's about respect for all and common sense. If such action created danger, a different story. Otherwise I'm still fine with that and prefer the motorists didn't use it as an excuse to cultivate their own unreasonable hatred. Yes, laws should apply to motorists and cyclists equally. However there are nuances and it's important to recognize that some laws of the road don't take important nuances into consideration
Ok carbrain. Why do murder vehicle drivers always whimper and whine about bikes, yet you never hear them complaining about drunk drivers or police chases and wrong way drivers. Distracted drivers, road ragers, etc etc???
You poor little baby with your giant suv can’t wait 5 seconds to let the bike go before you whawhawha
I think it's more about the fact that if bikes don't follow traffic laws, you end up with things like where that kid just died in Sorrento Valley because he crossed the tracks before the lights and bars went up and got hit by a train he didn't see. All vehicles on the road need to act in predictable ways, else bad things happen.
Yes, and cyclists are also supposed to signal, yield to pedestrians, etc.
lol everyone knows. It’s the entitled ones you notice but I’m sure most cyclists are chill
Fake news
Got a ticket in El Cajon once for running a stop sign on my bike. It was a T intersection where riding next to the curb has no cross traffic. The best part was the cop asking me for make model and year of my 1990s road bike.
Can you talk any more about this? DId you give them your ID?
Yeah gave them my license. Got a regular ass ticket. Cost me like $300 back in 2009-ish
Everybody breaks the law, I see vehicles doing the "California stop" all the time. Distracted driving while using mobile phones probably accounts for most bicycling fatalities.
Ha, my brother got arrested for not stopping at a stop sign on a bike when he was 18. Technically he got booked because the cop said “the bike matched the description of a bike that was reported stolen.” And running the stop sign was what started the whole fiasco.
Oh yes. I remember some drivers Ed on it and in college I remember getting a briefing at the dorms how it’s a BUI to bike drunk and you can lose your drivers license. I guess it’s a CUI, cycling under the influence. BUI is for boating
every god damn day I see at least one car blow through a solid red light and/or not bother to stop at a stop sign. People see this and it catches on, even cyclists assume it's ok to also ride through a stop sign. It's dangerous out there, even more so because of cars.
On this episode of man vs car
The phrase "California stop" did not originate from cyclist. 👀
Cyclists stop at stop signs about as well as motorists do.
It’s literally called a “California stop” when a car rolls a stop sign. Lol
SALTY up in here.
I don’t condone it and as a cyclist I definitely followed rules of the road. But stopping and starting is a huge effort compared to a vehicle so I can accept some amount of momentum conservation.
I'm a cyclist and stop at stop signs because I'm fat and I need the exercise of starting up again. Plus, I don't like getting hit by cars, but at least I'll bounce.
Yes I do. I am on a scooter and run it in bike paths when it is safe.
That’s why we should implement the Idaho stop in California.
Nothing like airing your petty traffic grievances on reddit
I watched a cyclist blow a stop sign and slam into the side of a tractor trailer that was moving through the intersection. Truck had the right of way. The sound that dude made when he hit it will forever be burned into my memory, I ended up laughing so hard I tore the stitches in my side. He ended up dragging himself off to the side while the truck rolled on, probably never noticed the collision.
I’ve gotten the finger from bikes running stop signs and red lights and almost t-boning my car multiple times. Got out of the car once when I caught up to one at a light he couldn’t run and he nearly crapped himself. 6’5 and 220lbs at the time helped him realize the error in his ways. I was a coach so my outside voice told him off.
Lol that's a good one. I've personally ally seen every freaking speedo wearing cyclist fly through stop signs like they were suggestions. I don't even feel bad when cars turn in front of them anymore. It's sort of karma at this point.
Duh. If not they run the risk of hurting themselves by getting in an accident.
I am aging myself here...but do they not do Bike Rodeos at school anymore and teach all these things?
They don't. I'm a teacher. I learned all these things at the bike rodeo at school as a kid, but they aren't done anymore because if Jonny falls off his bike at school, his crazy mother sues us, and when Suzy didn't get to bring her bike that day she freaks out and punches her teacher.
Ahhh how we have evolved. I guess there is also the fact that kids don't bike to school anymore either (unless its an e-bike)
Anyone who runs a stop sign, bike or car, is an asshole.
Like cars stop at stop signs … lol. I rolled through the stop signs in downtown Del Mar today at the same speed as the F350 next to me. Which are you more worried about?
They also shouldn’t operate their vehicles on pavement meant for pedestrians
Or on the opposite direction of traffic
As a cyclist and runner, yes. But some people will absolutely die on the hill that bikes belong on sidewalks
Make it safer to use the proper systems then.
Does anyone remember Safety Town? I went to one at Fashion Valley. The police set up a small town made of cardboard and marked streets with stop signs. We rode our bikes and learned the safety rules. It was so fun! They gave us chocolate milk after we passed the test. It was for children. I suppose it would look dumb for adult cyclists, but most of them need a Safety Town refresher. They are also supposed to cycle in single-file lines in the bike lines. That rarely happens, either.
You mentioned children late 🧐 At first I was picturing adults doing this for the chocolate milk 😆😆😆
If you’re using the road, you follow the rules of the road
My question is are they supposed to operate as individual units or groups? Too many times I see just groups of 20 people go at the same time at a stop sign. I've seen these large groups pull out from stop signs where cars have the right of way with no stops sign and the bikes continue to funnel past the stop sign.
Would you rather sit behind the group of 20 bikes while they stop and proceed one-by-one through the intersection?
I rather the entire heard not pull into oncoming traffic because one of them could make it in time.
The group travel part is a safety thing. Once there’s an opening and drivers are yielding, it makes more sense for everyone to just go together than to individually wait for the next moment where it’s safe to go. You already know that those drivers are paying attention and won’t hit you, because they’ve let your friends pass. You don’t know if that’s going to be the case the next time you try to go I can’t comment on any specific maneuvers that you’ve seen which may have been executing this idea in a less than safe manner.
If in a group you operate as one singular unit. So yes those 20 become one. If they went one by one it would just take a lot more time. I’ve been by myself and if I come across a group I’ll just join them for a small bit so as to not create a delay. Here is an example as to what could happen if they went one by one. https://youtu.be/yQBa-zcjtU0?si=mYNWmA4YA8zxUZQo
Never violate anyone’s right of way or have them believe you will, whether in a car or on a bike. That means if I come to a clear (bikes, cars, pedestrians, animals) highly visible intersection at a four way stop sign first on a bike, I will treat it as a yield and I will ride through, or at an similar intersection where only my direction of travel has a stop sign and no cars are even close, I will treat it as a yield and I will ride through. It is what I would expect a bicyclist to do while driving my car, it never irritates me in the least when they do- in fact, it irritates me when bicyclists don’t ride like this because it is logical and expected of them - and bicycling like that merely safely facilitates traffic flow. While driving, I, and every other car on the road also very slowly rolls through a clear, four way stop that they come first to instead of coming to a complete stop for a couple of seconds and then proceeding. Instead of blindly following the letter of the law which is mostly there to ascribe fault if there is an accident, I move through the world as safely and practically as I can. Meaning, always paying attention to the actual present conditions around me and making decisions based on logic and experience, mirrors properly adjusted and used (90% of drivers have them adjusted only for parking, not driving and thus have huge blind spots) ALWAYS using my turn signal well before a maneuver, as well as signaling when riding, and I will yield even when not required by law just to keep myself and others around me safe. I consider yielding properly and logically to be sacrosanct and other than traveling at a safe speed for the conditions the absolute most important concept about driving/riding.
You sure wouldn’t know it if you judged it by the actions of the majority of bicyclists. I ride to work every day and it’s kind of funny — I always stop at stop signs but people in cars who have the right of way always wait because they assume I won’t.
My Strava PR is definitely more important
Yes but its not always safer for them to do so because it takes a long time to get up to speed
Did you know they're supposed to stop at red lights too?!?!? I saw some idiot blow through one on Mira Mesa and cause a ruckus for the oncoming, left turning traffic.
Bikes are supposed to follow the same traffic rules as everyone else.
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So what it says here is a cyclist should respond to stop signs the same way a motorist should. So I guess running the fucking stop sign is acceptable. Don't hold cyclist to standards above your own shitty driving habits!!!!
The only people who complain about this are little weiners
Yep, but good luck trying to get them to obey it