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Plan allowing bikes to cruise through intersections is idling
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Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is considering pursuing state legislation that would change the California vehicle code to allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and interpret stoplights as stop signs. Those rules already are in place in Idaho, and Oregon legislators tried to pass the laws in 2003 to no avail.
During the first hearing on the topic Thursday, the MTC’s Regional Bicycle Working Group did not kill the idea, nor did it propose the agency’s governing board consider it for approval, which could lead to state legislation, said MTC spokesman Randy Rentschler.
The agency’s staff will further investigate the topic, Rentschler said.
Drivers and law enforcement had voiced strong opposition to the idea, citing a sense of bicyclist entitlement and the unfair advantages it would provide bike riders.
“What happens if a poor innocent driver or even someone who’s walking has the green light and the bicyclist flies on through?” San Franciscan Ann Dolyniuk said. “Somebody’s going to get hurt.”
Bicyclists, meanwhile, supported the idea, saying it is difficult to pedal from a dead stop and arguing that the law changes would improve traffic flow.
“I think it would improve the situation for bicyclists, and it would encourage more people to ride,” San Francisco bicyclist Kathleen McNamara said.
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12:15 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 21, 2008 re: "Plan allowing bikes to cruise through intersections is idling"
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Richmond Paul said:
This has got to be the stupidest rule I have ever heard discussed! Let's encourage more dangerous driving and cycling? Why? Because cyclists have to stop like the rest of us? Absurd.
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Examiner Reader said:
We need less laws, not more laws, so please repeal the law that says bicyclists must obey the rules of cars. But also add that we aren't liable if we hit some idiot who can't understand that a car isn't looking for him, is looking for other cars, and he shouldn't expect to be noticed at all. Please. Next cars.
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Jacob said:
Currently, there is such a big disconnect between the law and the reality of what happens on the road that bicyclists, who do not need license plates, have no incentive to follow the law. If the law were changed to be based in reality, conscientious bicyclists would obey, and law-flouting bicyclists -- of whom there would be many fewer than there are currently -- could be cited more effectively.
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Examiner Reader said:
Cyclists also approach intersections at a much slower speed. Where a car has to make a complete stop before safely being able to see whether there is any cross-traffic coming a bike only has to slow down a little and can still usually take a more more careful look than a car could.
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Peter said:
Under the proposed new laws, truly dangerous behavior such as blowing red lights or blowing stop signs without looking or slowing will still be illegal. Right now, cyclists can't be bothered to obey every stop sign and police certainly can't be bothered to cite every cyclist. Under the new law, cyclists rolling through stop signs safely would not be citable, and police could focus enforcement on the truly dangerous infractions.
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't be expected to stop that would take too much energy a lot less than a car that has to stop. Simple then don't ride a bike or extend the rolls to cars too - woulnd't that be fun.
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Examiner Reader said:
--- “What happens if a poor innocent driver or even someone who’s walking has the green light and the bicyclist flies on through?” San Franciscan Ann Dolyniuk said. “Somebody’s going to get hurt.” --- How is this different from what happens now? It would still be illegal under then proposed law. What the law does is take the intent of traffic laws and put them into a biking context. The cyclist behavior people like to get angry about will still be illegal.
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