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Stop Sign v. Cyclist Effective Cycling Commuting Bike Blogger

4,696 views · Published 4 May 2016 · 14:28 · Indexed 17 October 2026

Channel: BikeBlogger · 2016 · People & Blogs

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What does a cyclist do at a stop sign? This is an often debated question between cyclists. Stop? Yield? Scofflaw!?

Vehicular cycling techniques described in the book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, acknowledges the effective way for a cyclist to treat a stop sign is as a yield sign (Chapter - Riding The Intersections). Slow down, and without losing balance, keep your feet on the pedals, look, and then go if there is a safe gap in traffic, otherwise stop to wait. Always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Cyclists are slower than cars, have more time to react as a result, faster braking, no blindspots around them, and have much less capacity to do harm than heavy motor vehicles that routinely break speed limits.

People who are not bike commuters do not understand it takes a great deal of strength and endurance to constantly stop and start, especially when hauling a load. Stopping often on a bike is impractical and extends the period in which the cyclist is in the intersection, the most dangerous place on the road.

This is not to say pedaling through a 4-way stop intersection with traffic or a roadway blind spot is valid. You cannot trust cars will stop at stop signs and always need to remain vigilant.

Know how traffic behaves on different roads and intersections in your city. Know where the conflict zones are. Be visible. Real life stops being real when you stop being.

Note: Vehicular cycling is most effective on arterial roads, not residential streets where things are constantly slowing you down. Vehicular cyclists use bigger roads because they are trying to get somewhere just like everybody else. Multiple lanes allow faster traffic to safely pass.

Video - Idaho Law Stop Law For Bicycle Commuters Bike Blogger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTFuExnvrwc

Video - 20 Stops Inefficient Traffic Stop And Go City Cycling Bike Blogger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoTN1U69yMo

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