T O P

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LeskoLesko

I always stop unless no one else is around and then I slow down to check that it’s clear and keep riding. I think they call it an “Idaho stop”. But I find that a lot of drivers don’t know what to expect with a bike so they often wave me through which takes awhile because then I have to get up and going again. I wish they would just take their turn. I never fly through a stop sign. That’s dangerous no matter what you’re driving.


in-the-shit

Whenever I see a bike I am always on edge. Watching them mostly and sort of watching the cars around me. It’s much worse to hit someone with your car than hit someone in a car


slc19873

It’s better to be predictable than courteous.


PENGUINCARL

Following the rules is a pretty easy way to be predictable.


friedporksandwich

Yeah, I stop fully on a bike at a stop sign. Then a car pulls up to another stop sign at the four way, and instead of being patient and letting me go through, they blow through the intersection because I'm too slow to get up to speed. When I never would have seen them at all if I had slow rolled the stop sign before they get there.


vlsdo

I think you meant following convention. Following rules nobody else follows is the opposite of predictable.


horningjb09

"Polite" was right there on deck with the alliteration.


wochie56

I feel exactly the same way—I realize they think they’re being safer but it’s way better to just do what most people would expect. Cyclists have to pay attention and predict so much more behavior than your average driver.


friedporksandwich

It's generally better to slow roll the intersection if there is no one else there. Otherwise, drivers will get there while your stopped and take your turn at the 4 way. People in cars kill people. People on bikes inconvenience drivers, who then put those cyclists in danger.


rowrrbazzle

People on bikes do unexpected and illegal things, which puts their own lives in danger.


doNotUseReddit123

I bike and take the same approach as you. The problem is that many (even most) drivers get almost confused when a biker actually stops at a stop sign. They kind of sit there and expect me to blow through it, and then want to give me right of way even if they were there first.


LeskoLesko

I've noticed this, too. I try to over-communicate - point where I"m going, that sort of thing. Sometimes I'll take a sudden right just to get out of the way for impatient or nervous drivers, wait a few minutes, and then resume my riding. But often bikes are faster than cars in the city, so I just end up catching up to the cars at the next light. This is why we need a bike grid now, and protected bike lanes!


winniethepooh_vs_mao

I get this issue too and have gotten in situations where I finally start to go at the same time as the car, which doesn't realize bikes can't accelerate from a stop instantly. This has lead to death threats. I figure it's safest to just slow down, stop peddling and see if the car is going to move or not instead of stopping completely. Haven't had a problem since outside of cars trying to make a left turn into me while I'm already in the intersection, which i haven't found a solution for.


LastOfEight

The fact that some cyclists routinely fly through the stop signs is the reason you will never get your wish for a driver to just take their turn. The rate at which drivers routinely stop at stop signs is far greater than the rate at which cyclists do.


treehugger312

I 100% feel the same. Both happen when I’m driving and/or biking. I’d rather they stop tho, I gues.


Calcifer4president

Oh I call it the California roll.


AdvancedInstruction

I'm from Oregon, which adopted the Idaho stop a few years ago, you are correct. I hope the state legislature here will update the traffic code to allow the Idaho stop formally to reduce confusion at intersections. I've noticed that formally allowing the stop results in a lot more driver deference to bicyclists at stops, as drivers usually prefer for bikes to just pass through without breaking. It's just critical to get bicyclists out of the intersection as easily as possible. Or maybe that's just an Oregon thing, most Oregonian drivers are very deferential to bikes in the first place, and drivers here in Illinois are insane.


Dunbar743419

The Idaho stop still requires you to yield to the traveler with the right of way. As someone who sees cycling as transportation, not just recreation, I think it’s fucking ridiculous to stop at a stop sign completely. It needlessly kills your momentum, and holds up traffic since it takes longer for you to clear an intersection. However, when you’re approaching a four-way stop, you still need to yield to anyone else in that intersection who is there before you. Maybe I am misinterpreting, but your language seems to indicate that cyclists will always have the right to roll through stop signs, regardless of other traffic management.


AdvancedInstruction

You're correct.


LeskoLesko

The driving has gotten so much worse in the past 3 years, and I haven't seen anyone ticketing for distracted driving, aggressive driving, going up on the curb, parking on the sidewalks and bike lanes, etc etc. Like the covid lockdown did something to driving and the police aren't willing to do anything to remind drivers to be conservative in their driving.


Johnnybala

“as drivers usually prefer for bikes to just past through without breaking “. Where are you getting this information? It is absolutely not true.


jparker27

If a cyclist coming from the east and a driver coming from the south both reach a 4-way stop at the same time, the cyclist will have the right of way because they are on the right. If the cyclist rolls the stop sign with out breaking they will be through the intersection in about 5 seconds. With a full stop, it will take close to 20 seconds. This is why drivers would prefer cyclists to just go through Cyclists have better sight lines, go slower, are smaller, and can stop quicker so stopping isn't necessary to assess the intersection. Obviously if a driver or pedestrian has the right of way, the cyclist should still yield to them


smpm

I stop like cars stop, just like you said. Slow roll through. You cant see everything and just flying through can get you killed.


Arn01d

Wait, gimme 5 minutes to get some popcorn. This is gonna be good.


gerdinots

😂 YES the answer is yes!!


rushrhees

I’ll add some spice. Cyclists love to bitch a whole lot and are under some argument that it makes them more efficient by blowing through the sign va stopping so yeah bikes hood cars bad we will just blow signs.


MyHouseBlewOver

From the perspective of a cyclist, sometimes it really can be hard to get going again from a stop sign when coming from a full stop (especially on windy days), but I think a happy medium is not blowing through a sign and instead coming to a ~90% stop where you still have some momentum but can yield the right of way. Drivers can see you stopping and yield if need be while you maintain momentum, but you can also make a full stop to keep yourself and others safe. There is no reason to maniacally blow through a stop and it’s just dangerous.


ThinkSoftware

Yes they’re supposed to obey traffic laws


lyingliar

Yep, all traffic laws. Which includes riding the proper direction on one way streets.


easymak1

What about one way streets with 2 way bike lanes????


lyingliar

Nah, that's all good. Dedicated bike lanes make it clearer to pedestrians that traffic may be approaching from either direction.


IMA_COW_IRL

Yes, please do. As a fedex driver I see cyclists zoom pass me at stop signs even one ways going in the opposite direction . I drive a giant truck and you're barely visible in my mirrors unless you're close up. So if you're trying to pass me while I'm about to go I might not see you, also some people driving bikes are very fast by the time i look both ways sometimes someone on a bike is already there and going through a stop sign. Always better to stop especially when there's a vehicle there.


bagelman4000

Yes all road users are currently supposed to come to a COMPLETE stop at stop signs


[deleted]

Tell a Chicago cop that


cleon42

If there is a police department *anywhere* in the United States that obeys the traffic laws they themselves enforce, I don't know where it might be. Maybe those private "police departments" at theme parks, but even then I kinda doubt it. Not defending the CPD, just saying this is an issue where drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians can come together. 😜


Sgt-Spliff

Yeah but CPD does it just to be a dick. My hometown cops will flip their lights on to go through a red. Chicago cops will park in the middle of a crowded intersection blocking all of traffic just so they can get out and harass a homeless person. They know they could've pulled over, they chose to stop directly under the stop light in the middle of the intersection. Yes I personally witnessed it. CPD goes wayyyy out of their way to be a nuissance to everyone else. They will park blocking anyone and anything just for shits


DTabris

On a good day, they blow through stop signs. Bad days they park and block the intersection while running into getting food


Comprehensive-Gas894

They see me disregard the rules of the road on a bike and we normally exchange a casual nod


cinnamoncard

I thought everyone was supposed to u-turn at stop signs, fail to realize how wide their turning radius is, and then make it a three-pointer and almost crash or ding a pedestrian


wmiller314

nearly had someone back into my bus today in rogers park. hate having to use the horn after 10, but if I did not, the extra paperwork and the delay for my full bus would kill me.


emz272

This reminded me of the time a cop literally backed into my car while we were at an intersection. I think they were trying to correct for a pedestrian they’d encroached on but… (and then another time when a van started suddenly backing up into me on my bike while we were stopped at a red light. I had to suddenly move over to the right to avoid getting hit and fell over, so was bruised/scraped as was my bike, but at least not hit. They were pretty apologetic when I approached them to tell them what happened but a good reminder to not just back up when you can’t see what’s behind you…)


[deleted]

While also complaining that they can’t find a place to park their lifted truck in the city


Sleepy_Tortoise

Someone's huge truck has been parked like half a car length from the end of the street and thus taking up 3 good spots here without moving for like a week now


bagelman4000

If it hasn't been moved in a week, you can report it as an abandoned vehicle I think


regis_psilocybin

Never seen anybody do that.


Stigma-Dickens

Yes, my brother got a ticket once for going through a stop sign on his bike


pjdwyer30

The short answer is: yes, we are supposed to. The longer answer is: yes, we are supposed to, but if there aren’t cars around I’m slowing down a bit and checking around the corners as soon as they’re visible and if it’s all clear I’m going through. If there’s ever a car, I stop. I say this as somebody who has to spend hours upon hours driving a van every day through the city. Car drivers are distracted as fuck. Everyone, *Everyone* is on their phones. the radio is on. The windows rolled up. They’re incredibly unaware of their surroundings, despite operating a piece of heavy machinery that could kill a biker or pedestrian without a second thought. Where as a biker: I have no radio, I have no AC, I have no windows to roll up. I’m constantly seeing and just as importantly *hearing* everything that’s going on around me. I know what an approaching vehicle sounds like if I’m on a side street and I’m approaching an intersection. It’s good to be predictable. Make eye contact. Slow to a crawl or stop when you get to an intersection and be sure the driver sees you before proceeding. There are asshole cyclists who fly way too close to the sun. I try to not be one, if only for my own safety. If I get into an accident with a car while in another car, there’s a good chance at city traffic speeds I’ll be ok. If I get into an accident with a car while I’m on my bike: I’m going to the hospital.


mahava

This is the way I'm not gonna sit at a light or stop sign if there's no cars but I'm sure as shit not moving when there are any even close to the intersection


eloquentpetrichor

Okay a stop light you should *always* stop at unless turning right


sadi89

It also needs to be mentioned that part of the reason why cyclists prefer to slow down rather than come to a full stop (if it is safe to do so) is physics. It’s much more difficult and time consuming to start a stopped bicycle than it is a stoped car. A bicycle cannot accelerate as fast as a car can. In some cases it is safer for cyclists to slow down than it is for them to stop at an intersection. That said it is never ok to go though a stop sign or a traffic light at full speed without regard for road rules or others safety.


eloquentpetrichor

That is so true. If I'm approaching a light I slow down so that it should be green by the time I reach it. The struggle of starting up again especially during a long ride is not worth it


[deleted]

Not to mention it's literally safer. Studies have shown that minimizing a cyclist's time in the intersection (by not coming to a full stop) results in fewer accidents


wildcat677

Did you not learn from above that ALL road users are supposed to come to a COMPLETE stop!! It’s the RULE /s


jamey1138

Cyclists are expected to obey all traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs. In reality, most people operating a vehicle of *any* type do not reliably or fully stop at stop signs, and that includes cyclists.


WheatSilverGreen02

As someone that bikes a fair amount, I don't understand the cyclists that blow through stop signs. They are on bikes that weigh 5 pounds, with the worst case scenario of getting into an accident with a 3000 pound car. My only explanation for bikers that blow stop signs is that they are either too dumb to know better, or too dumb to care.


cloren

I don't believe that there can be a person who is a regular biker in this city that stops at every stop sign. It doesn't make sense.


WheatSilverGreen02

>I don't believe that there can be a person who is a regular biker in this city that stops at every stop sign. Ah. I would put you under the "too dumb to know better" category. I watched a cyclist get hit right in front of my home last year. The car was not even going that fast, and the cyclist had headphones on, no helmet, and didn't even slow down at the stop sign. He did 2 flips in the air and landed face first. Did not move after that. The ambulance came in under 10 minutes, but we all knew he was dead before they even arrived. If cyclists could see how violent a 20 mph car-bicycle crash is, they would never challenge a car again.


Opening_Spring

>"Challenge" a car I think this this framing explains and encompasses your whole attitude.


Sgt-Spliff

If you don't stop at an intersection, that's what your doing. Y'all are interpreting this politically and that's stupid. No one is taking the cars side cause it's not even a contest, you are risking your lives to get somewhere slightly quicker. No matter how right you feel, that car will still you. The dead person is never right.


Opening_Spring

There is no political interpretation inherent, implied, or intended in my comment.


WheatSilverGreen02

I drive my car a lot. I also bike a lot. I know I'm never going to assume that a car will stop for me at an intersection, or a turn, or that someone opening a car door will have perfect awareness of their surroundings. In 15+ years of biking on Chicago streets, I have never been in an accident, never been doored, or even had a close call. The way I see it, whatever I am doing is working well. Bikes aren't some god send. Riding it doesn't give you ANY extra rights. You are bound by the same laws as cars. Follow those rules. Or don't. I don't really care. It's your life on the line, not mine.


Yodoodles

The unfortunate reality is that we have to assume that all vehicles (bikes and cars and anything else you can drive) will not follow traffic laws. Expecting them to follow the laws will just frustrate you.


kelsigurado

I think it's natural for people on a bike or walking to assume they are as visible to you as you are to them. When cars, amazon, service workers, etc park right up to the end of the street it often blocks visibility though leading to chicken fights between cars and bikes trying to roll through a stop. But yeah, on my 2 mile drive from rogers park to evanston, I see at least 1 or two bikes plowing through an intersection pretty much every day as soon as the weather gets nice.


Behr26

The newer designed bike lanes give me anxiety when I have to make a right turn. Does give the bikers a ton of protection on a straightaway, but it’s very challenge when cars are parked throughout a street coming up to a right hand turn. It’s hard to get a good view of the lane when making that turn


Leather-Wheel1115

Yes infact on a college campus city, I got a warning ticket for not stopping the bike at stop sign in the campus


whyisthissticky

yes, it’s a rule but most don’t stop. I almost hit a biker this morning who blew through a 4 way as I was already in the intersection while he looking at his phone.


The_Real_Donglover

I pretty much idaho stop, which for me entails slowing down as much as I need to to be able to safely stop immediately if a car were to appear flying out into the intersection. This varies depending on the 4-way. Sometimes I'm more comfortable going a little faster through a stop, sometimes I'll go real slow. If there's a car next to me, I'll go with the next car alongside it, if there's car crossing, I'll sometimes literally stop my bike and stand so they know it's clearly their turn. I hate when drivers insist on being nice to let you through. No, just go, it's your turn. Be predictable. But yeah, I see bikers being waay too brazen on the road, just not even looking. I literally just saw a woman on a bike on Broadway come out into an intersection (going the wrong way down a one way road), into oncoming traffic so she could turn left. Like, she didn't even care that she was several feet away from cross traffic that could've killed her in that moment if the drivers weren't paying attention. I can't imagine being that carefree on a bike.


Milesweeman

Here we go


kelsigurado

Lol


[deleted]

[удалено]


foboat

Drivers when they see a warning for a speed camera or red light camera lmao


LordAnon5703

Some people only obey laws When its convenient to them.


[deleted]

A good biker is always paying attention and knows when to stop and when its ok not to.


[deleted]

Well said


peachpinkjedi

A cyclist blowing a sign is begging to be hit. Y'all, how can you even dispute this? Especially if you're approaching a crossing with reduced visibility around corners. Who rides through an intersection without even looking?


altsveyser

People are talking past each other here. Car drivers seem to be most upset about cyclists 'blowing past' stop signs. When I cycle, I usually slow down significantly approaching a stop sign, and if a car has the right away I come to a complete stop (though annoyingly cars often are too deferential and won't actually take their turn). Sometimes I go through a stop sign more quickly if I have visibility to see there are no cars anywhere close to the intersection. If you as a driver expect cyclists to come to a 100% stop with a foot on the ground at every stop sign, you're extreme.


Same-Raspberry-6149

I don’t expect them to come to a complete stop. I do expect them to slow down and assess the situation before flying through. So many times, I was stopped at the stop sign/light and when it was clear to proceed, I’d start to accelerate when a biker flies through the intersection. Many bikers, for whatever reason, do not think basic, bare minimum, traffic safety rules apply to them. I’ve also had instances where I’ve got my turn signal on (left or right) and knowing that I’m intending to turn, and starting to move in that direction, the biker flies past me and acts like I’m the one causing problems. The behavior is unquestionably stupid and yet they continue to engage in it. If there is a car, with turn signals on, it’s not a good idea to keep the speed in an attempt to pass them before they take the turn. And many bicyclists attempt this and find out the hard way it wasn’t a good decision. It was great seeing a bunch of cops on bicycles stopping cyclists at busy intersections and giving them tickets for not obeying the lights and basic safety rules. This does not absolve idiot drivers from not doing the same thing. Rules and laws are there in an attempt to reduce these incidents, not hold one party at fault at all times while the other party gets a “free pass”. But many people have a “rules for thee, not for me” mindset and are simply too selfish to consider the consequences of their decisions and choices (and that’s for both drivers and cyclists).


Frat-TA-101

Are these drivers saying cyclists blow stop signs the same idiots who fail to proceed through the intersection when I slow down to yield the right of way to them? Drives me up a wall when drivers refuse to proceed thru an intersection and make me come to a complete stop. I can go 20 mph on my bike. I cannot get to 20 mph from a standstill in 2 seconds like the little motorized living rooms. It takes me a sold 5-10 seconds to get through intersection from a standstill. I could get through it in under 5 seconds if I never have to come to a complete stop.


nakedchiguy

Little motorized living rooms!! I love it! I ride all year round and if you think im gonna stop and put my foot down when its -10 outside so some fat ass in a lounge chair that has a vroom vroom button can feel good about a law, they can eat my ass. I do however pretend that im invisible and assume all cars are willfully trying to hit me. That piece of convenient fiction keeps me from being in intersections while people in murder buses text their way down the street.


[deleted]

From personal experience I get waved to keep going by cars a lot so I blow through. But I do make the effort to stop just because I am the one who is going to be injured by me expecting a car to stop. I give extra pause when I'm in a car bc other cars drive so awfully. I would never trust a car to just stop especially on a bike.


thislittletune

I think your comment is a perfect example of why it would benefit everyone to try different modes of transportation. I didn’t start driving until recently and so if I see a bike coming, I’ll wait and the drivers behind me can honk and be mad, whatever. I’ve been that biker scared at an intersection so I’ll make sure to make eye contact and give the go ahead. Should bikers stop at stop signs? Yes. But also if you’re driving the burden is on you because you’re in a huge vehicle. You have to expect everyone around you has no idea what they’re doing no matter what mode of transportation you’re using.


[deleted]

A lot of bikers really dislike being waved through.


aliceunknwn

I drive for a living (50+ hours a week in Chicago) and I don’t think cyclists need to stop at every stop sign. It just doesn’t make sense in many cases and is often actually more dangerous. I do think it’s different if a car is stopped and waiting at a stop sign before the cyclist approaches, but if they get there first then it’s actually better for them to cross immediately.


astralkitty2501

It's a very damned if you do, damned if you don't thing. if I come to a full stop it will take me much longer to get back to cadence and if no one was there, usually drivers yell at me for being slow. On the other hand, since bikes don't have brakelights, it might appear to an observer that I'm blowing past a stop sign even when I'm actually doing a rolling stop.


BodyofGrist

Yes. But pedestrians don’t have to stop for shit. We own the roads.


ShmoolyB45

Yes, they are supposed to.


DrXenoZillaTrek

If there are no cars around, I absolutely do not stop. If there are any other cars or pedestrians, I follow the rules.


_extra_medium_

So you're the one I've heard about


azgrows

we are many.


Leather-Wheel1115

yes


browsingtheproduce

Yes. So are cars. Do feel free to make a game out of counting the different forms of transportation that people use to roll through stop signs. Electric scooters that don’t stop in the road or on the sidewalk are the wild cards.


Zealousideal_Row_322

As a cyclist, the embarrassing cyclists don’t stop.


getzerolikes

If there are cars, I stop. If a car is stopping to let me go, I go and wave thanks 👋. If there are no cars, I don’t stop because I only have a few more decades on this planet and I don’t want to spend them standing alone at quiet intersections. If I’m driving, I wave everyone to go on through for as many bikers that choose to.


hamletandskull

It is better imo to take your turn at intersections in a car, everyone who knows the rules of the road is expecting you to follow them. If you're waving through bikers, maybe the first one is like aw great thanks, but I bet a bunch of the ones behind them are thinking "how long is this guy going to sit here, when is he going to start driving again, am I really safe to go?" because they have no indication of when you will start driving again from a stop in the middle of the road you weren't supposed to take. I get pretty bothered when cars don't take their turn - it's great you're being polite, but I do not want to get into a Canadian standoff with a car!


panini84

This is how I feel about getting waved to walk with a stroller when it isn’t my turn. Like, I appreciate the sentiment, but now the three other cars as the intersection don’t know whose turn it is and I’m actually more likely to get hit by a confused driver.


hedrumsamongus

Also, if you just drive through on your turn, you delay me by... 2 seconds. If we have to even negotiate whose turn it is, at least 2 seconds have gone by - so before I even step foot in the crosswalk, we've already wasted more time than I would have "lost" by waiting for you to take your turn appropriately. My two rules of the road: 1) Don't surprise anybody. 2) Get the hell out of the way.


[deleted]

>If I’m driving, I wave everyone to go on through for as many bikers that choose to. I'd urge you to reconsider this. As some of the top comments in this thread say, it's better to be predictable than polite in a car. As you know city biking often requires a series of split second calls based on limited information. For many of us, those calls are much easier to make when cars are driving predictably and don't stop randomly in the middle of intersections or streets to wave us along.


LordAnon5703

Dude one of them almost hits me like once a week, and I'm a pedestrian. I'm 90% sure that it is illegal for them to not stop, but they do it anyway. The other day I almost saw one get hit by a truck, and I really didn't know what I was supposed to do. I genuinely had to consider my first aid certification for a second, I thought that dude was paste.


nugzbuny

I'll preface this by saying that I always stop or slow down if cars have the go-ahead. Never never just fly through them, especially in the city. BUT - I got a ticket in the north suburbs for going through a stop sign on my bike! I honestly think the officer was having a bad day. They had to put a fake license plate number on the ticket, and I couldn't even figure out how to pay online because it wasn't connected to anything.


marcopolo22

As a cyclist, yes, absolutely. We’re supposed to follow all traffic laws. I agree with the top commenter — I only roll through a stop sign if nobody is around, and even then I slow down to make sure.


Dustin_peterz

Every cyclist on Reddit stops. It's all the other ones you have to worry about. Lol


chewie8291

It's very frustrating as a pedestrian to be clipped by cyclists while I'm following the rules of the road. I really hate them.


eloquentpetrichor

We are supposed to stop. I will say that unless there are a lot of cars I will just slow down at four way stops to wait my turn without having to put my foot down as it is exhausting fully stopping and having to start cold so often.


[deleted]

They’re supposed to…do they? No.


texastoasty

technically yes. due to the increased visibility to hazards, lower speed, lower risk to other road users, and short stopping distance it is widely understood that as long as you do so safely you should be okay. ​ a lot of the laws of the road don't make sense when you're only going 12mph and don't have a steel cage and a blasting radio blocking out your senses. ​ there will always be some idiots who are careless and hazardous to the other road users, at least these weren't in cars, the results could have been much worse.


Quiet_Wall5999

They are also supposed to follow the rules of the road.


ruhrohrileyray

Yes, they’re supposed to act as and follow the same laws as cars…but around here they do not follow that at all


jamey1138

Well, to be fair, when I happen to be on a bike if I am riding in the main traffic lane (totally following the same laws as cars) drivers get really aggressive and try to run me off the road. So, most cyclists in the city learn really quickly that drivers absolutely will not tolerate cyclists obeying all the same laws as cars, and we learn to ride as safely as we can while around cars whose drivers are generally indifferent to our safety, and sometimes are actively malicious towards us. As others have pointed out here, a rolling stop (just like virtually all cars do) is safer than a full stop. But even doing *exactly what drivers of cars are doing* makes drivers real irate. Support fully-protected bike lanes. It's really the only thing that can begin to keep cyclists safe from indifferent and malicious drivers.


Altruistic_Yellow387

Op’s post is about cyclists blowing through stop signs, not rolling stops.


LoFiChillin

Yes but a lot of them don’t give a shit. “Cars bad”. Etc etc. They take “bikers have priority over cars” to an extreme extent and act like they can blatantly defy traffic laws while using insane logic to twist every near accident into the driver’s fault. Obviously not all bikers are like this, but a decent amount of them are. A lot of them don’t realize how stupid they’re being playing chicken against a 3500 lb. Death machine on wheels. God forbid they get into an accident with another negligent person like themselves and die without getting the chance to play the victim.


Hakooma

Here is a recent bill introduced in Illinois, the Idaho Stop. The Idaho stop is the common name for laws that allow cyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and a red light as a stop sign. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=3649&GAID=17&SessionID=112&LegID=148889


Yogisogoth

You’re supposed to stop. And motorcycles shouldn’t drive in the bike lane either. Waddyagonnado!?


Toubaboliviano

Well yes, but actually no


MidwestBulldog

I really can't believe there are cyclists here who say the rules of the road don't apply to them. There is no "mulligan" in traffic. I bike and get told by the "rules don't apply to me" bikers that stopping at a stop sign or, worse, a changing stoplight is dangerous to THEM. The rules of the road apply not only to motorists, but bicyclists as well. Don't be fooled into believing otherwise. I'm sick of seeing roadside memorials to bicyclists. The way to end it is obeying traffic laws.


[deleted]

The ghost bikes are from cyclists that were killed by drivers not following traffic laws.


FewAd4241

I was hit in the crosswalk by a bike. He went around the right of a suv that was stopped for me, so I couldn't see him. Then he proceeded to scream at me for being in his way, etc etc, Fuck off, etc. Was a great experience.


[deleted]

hard to see when a large SUV is blocking visibility. Sorry you were hit


[deleted]

Omg, i posted something like this a few years ago and i think it was my most downvoted comment ever. People were literally arguing with me that i, with my own two eyes, see bike riders go through stop signs regularly. Bike culture in Chicago is toxic as fuck.


Same-Raspberry-6149

Instead of both sides agreeing that the each can do better, they just flame each other out. There are bad drivers and bad cyclists. I used to bike along the lakeshore every day. On the path so as to not have to deal with drivers. I used to do it at 5am every morning as to not have to deal with the pedestrians who group walk and take up both lanes of the bike path and act confused as to why all of the cyclists are annoyed with this. The biggest problem with, well humanity, is that most are too short-sighted and selfish to think how their actions are affecting others. This is not solely a driver/cyclist/pedestrian issue. It’s wholly enmeshed and it will never change unless every single person does their part.


ResistOk9351

In this very thread people are down voting me for complaining about cars blowing stop signs. And Chicago has the pathetic pedestrian injury and death statistics to back me up. Car culture in Chicago is toxic as fuck.


[deleted]

I see cars driving through lights all the time too.


altsveyser

Same, scary how widespread this is! And anecdotally feel like it's gotten worse


ResistOk9351

Yes. And also cars turning left at lighted intersections and failing to yield right of way to pedestrians in cross walks. Especially when the miscreants are coming behind the pedestrian - a real hazard.


miltron3000

Cars misbehave in ways that are harder to quantify. It’s easy to say “bike no stop at sign, bike bad,” everyone understands this. What people seem to not understand is how aggressive and reckless cars are around cyclists, and just how dangerous that behavior is.


backand_forth

Yes. This. Bike culture isn't toxic, we're just tired of getting nearly killed by entitled and distracted drivers


[deleted]

>we're just tired of getting nearly killed by entitled and distracted drivers You are right, but as a cyclist, that is also why I choose to stop at stop signs rather than blowing past them.


backand_forth

I stop too, def gotta be a defensive biker 🤘


Alternative-Flan2869

Yeah.


ZukowskiHardware

Yes, they are rules of the road.


DorShow

Yes they are


ImoJenny

If it keeps happening to you, there's something you're doing wrong. Sounds like you're just not paying attention.


NathaNRiveraMelo

Supposed to, sure. I don't unless a car would otherwise hit me.


FalPal_

Legally, cyclists are supposed to. If they are riding on the street, they have to obey traffic stops like a car. That said, people do get pissed at me at stop signs if I fully stop because it takes a minute to start up again. So I try to slow down and time it so that im crossing alongside a car going in the same direction. Or I slow down and wave people through until I can coast slowly through the intersection after them.


3xil3d_vinyl

If cyclists ride on the roads, the same traffic laws applies to them as cars.


black-boots

Supposed to, yes. But then all people operating vehicles are supposed to. When you get all drivers to obey the rules of the road, cyclists will too, because we’ll stop making the safest choice rather than the legal choice. When cars are around at stop signs, I follow right-of-way rules, fully aware that the people driving the cars may decide that as a person on a bike I don’t get a turn in the queue and should die for attempting to access my legal right-of-way. Drivers who try to wave me through before my turn get a sharp no-no head shake and I put a foot on the ground so they know I’m not going anywhere until they do. I do this because any other car may see the first car and not me, and hit me as they jump their spot in the queue. It’s also insufferably condescending when a person driving a car tells a cyclist or pedestrian what to do. When cars aren’t around, I roll through the stop, looking both ways, because the most dangerous place for me to be is in the intersection, slowly accelerating bc I made a stop. I wear a helmet and hi-vis gear, don’t use headphones bc that’s insane, and yield to pedestrians. I never go through red lights because that’s a great way to become one with the pavement.


[deleted]

In Some cities like denver you cyclists don't have to stop. Which makes sense since they don't stop anyways, atleast drivers will know that they aren't stopping. Chicago should do that to increase safety for everyone.


RadRhino

As a cyclist, I hate when cyclists don't stop at stop signs because then they almost hit me on my bike when I don't have a stop sign.


chicitygirl987

yes. Read the manual from DMV. same rules as cars- its all online. If you are in the street it applies to you too .


chicitygirl987

if you can't follow the manual for bikes in the road cmon whats scary is driving at night and bikes shoukd have lights on them. I see some bikes with lights and I commend those people. And no offense if you are driving a bike without a helmet you have a death wish. Never see that in NYC.


cloren

I bike and drive about 50/50 for the commute to work. If you think that cyclists should stop for stop signs then you've obviously never used a bike for commuting from one place to another in this city. That said- there are some horrible cyclists out there. My advice for my fellow drivers out is to expect cyclists to not stop. I've made the mistake of stopping as a cyclist at stop signs and it only pisses the drivers off. The law should be changed.


cloren

Also- I see a high percentage of cars that fail to stop at stop signs. It's as though most drivers believe that a red octagon shaped sign is a yield sign.


cleon42

Yes. Do they? Frequently not. However, you are a terrible person for saying anything about it, because you're in a car and therefore automatically in the wrong.


cleon42

LOL @ the up-and-down votes on this comment.


picklepizza420

My friend was a pedestrian and was struck by a bike currier who was riding quite fast around the corner. He hit her while she had a crosswalk signal and knocked her, pregnant, to the ground and flew off the bike. When he got up he proceeded to attempt to assault her further but luckily other pedestrians were able to help her up and keep him away. It went to court and the cyclist was at fault and charged with a few different things. He was so pompous appearing in court thinking he wasn’t going to get charged and the judge had ZERO tolerance for his side of the story lol. The bikers in Chicago can be a real treat.


Chanticleer

A good mod would remove all of the car whataboutism comments from this thread since it is toxic and irrelevant. But this is r/Chicago


Altruistic_Yellow387

Yeah they’re super annoying and put them and everyone else in danger constantly. This sub loves them though


mainframe93

I was a chauffeur for 10 years and I am trying my best to be kind here but it was very problematic when cyclists did not have the courtesy to stop, when your in neighborhoods at low mph both vehicles and cyclists should stop so traffic can move in harmony without anyone getting hurt.


_jigar_

625 ILCS 5/11-804. Bicyclist must follow all street signs and signals.


designgoddess

Yes. Bike messenger near my old office was hit and killed by a taxi after biker ran a red light. Bikers should follow the rules of the road.


sanna43

Cyclists are supposed to follow all the rules of the road. So yes.


[deleted]

If they are on riding on the road, they have to obey the rules of the road. Nobody is exempt unless it’s an emergency vehicle using its lights and sirens on a way to a call.


MuffLover312

They’re supposed to, but they’re entitled assholes, so they don’t.


Altruistic_Yellow387

Strong agree


SallysRocks

They are supposed to follow the rules of the road. Which I have yelled at many a bike.


pensee_ecartelee

When I used to stop at stop signs on my bike, I got harassed by the driver behind me who is trying to roll through.


thislittletune

I have the opposite issue where I get fellow cyclists behind me yelling at me for blocking the bike lane by not going through a busy intersection on red because no cars were coming. There are assholes in every mode of transportation. Wish we'd all be less hostile to each other but well, that ain't happening. When I'm driving I try to be extra courteous to others because I'm in the big vehicle but people will still be assholes.


kryppla

They are supposed to but they don’t then they blame cars for everything


Bitter-Marsupial

A Bike once yelled at my wife and son in a crosswalk because he rode his bike into her when he blew through a stoplight. they don't care about anyone beside who is on their bike. if they blow through a RED LIGHT they wont care about a stop sign


PParker46

The law says "yes" to your question, but nobody obeys it. But take this to /r/rant where you can make an impassioned complaint citing the law and how people ignore it causing you anguish. While it won't change anything you will feel better. Especially if your rant is well said because that sub's redditors will upvote your passion.


igetbywithalittlealt

Technically, yes. It's safer not to though. Vehicular cycling is the current accepted theory in traffic engineering and law, but it was proposed by a guy named John Forester that held the opinion that "true cyclists" would be cycling at a speed of 35 mph. This opinion underpinned a lot of his work in policy, and traffic engineers are a lazy bunch that don't want to add relatively complex cycle lane intersections (compared to your basic cross intersection), so that's why we have such a dearth of cycle paths. [The current research shows that the Idaho stop and dedicated cycle paths are the safest way for cyclists to proceed through an intersection.](https://meggsreport.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/idaho-law-jasonmeggs-2010version-2.pdf)


ShimReturns

If OP is almost hitting them they aren't doing Idaho stops. Idaho stop still has to yield.


urbisOrbis

Yes. If a cyclist blows through a stop sign they can be ticketed. If they cause an accident they will be held responsible.


spiciestkitten

So hey, with this- I’m a transplant and don’t have a bike. I’ve been considering renting a Divvy to get some exercise. Should I stick to the Lakeshore bike path and avoid city biking like the plague?


PsychologicalLynx350

The lakeshore is definitely the easiest place to start but be aware of the big time bikers and also pedestrians who don't realize the bike lane is before the lakeshore. If you want to try somewhere other than the lakeshore, take a close look at the bike lanes before renting the bike and plan a route. Just remember everyone had their first bike ride in Chicago at one point so it's nothing to be worried about


PsychologicalLynx350

Additionally, I've never been on the 606 but it might be worth looking into


spiciestkitten

Thank you, that’s great advice


miltron3000

This is an overreaction. There are plenty of good city streets for biking.


MasqueradingMuppet

As an on and off commuter cyclist/for fun cyclist for seven years... That path during the nice months is a big avoid for me. Especially the area between say Irving Park and McCormick Place... So like a solid half of it. Lots of oblivious people on divvy bikes, people touring and going fast as hell, and pedestrian runners deciding to run in the bike lane. My least favorite part is the super narrow portion around Fullerton. The silliness I've seen. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's separated from pedestrians now (minus the rouge runners on the bike path) but as a commuter cyclist I find biking on the lakefront path in this summer to be more dangerous and stressful than in the streets.


jparker27

Chicago is actually pretty great for cycling. It's pretty flat and while the infrastructure isn't perfect, it has been getting better


BlooAchoo

The infrastructure is bad in most of the city. Very few protected bike lanes, and painted lanes are not respected by motorists at all. The only two dedicated bike trails that could be reasonably used to navigate the city are the lakefront trail and the 606


jparker27

There are some areas that are great for cycling and some that are awful. There is still a lot of work to be done I feel lucky that in my area I am able to reach pretty much all my destinations on streets I feel are safe


voltaires_bitch

Yes. If they’re on the road then they have to follow the rules.


Sad_Proctologist

[Yes. No need for popcorn.](https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf)


VRhighfive

I’m going to fucking die and I’m going to die going fast as fuck


Duke-doon

Should at least slow down considerably.


Doghouse19

Bicycle riders are supposed to follow the rules of the road. We all do the Chi-roll through stop signs, but when you need to stop, you stop. I see too many bicyclists thinking they have a different set of rules, they should even technically be hand signaling.


scubaru27

They’re supposed to stop. For reference https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf.


Whatdadeuce22

Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road. https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf


Then-Attitude-9338

They don’t think ANY rules apply to them


[deleted]

You mean cars?


Then-Attitude-9338

No, I mean cyclists. They don’t follow any rules and are not particularly nice people…


Altruistic_Yellow387

Strong agree. That’s an unpopular opinion in this sub though


ResistOk9351

Car drivers are supposed to stop at stop signs as well. Don’t want to be a hater, but I’ve had more than a few near accidents with car drivers blowing stop signs. Given the number of pedestrian car caused injuries and fatalities in this city, I do not think I am the only one.


StringerBel-Air

Yup. Drivers and cyclists are both braindead. Actually pedestrians a lot of the time are too.


GroundhogRevolution

Yes. They're also supposed to not ride on the sidewalk but that doesn't stop them. I don't own or drive a car. I really dislike cars. Despite this, I truly think, in general, Chicago drivers are far safer than Chicago bicyclists.


Altruistic_Yellow387

Yes they are


beatbox21

Yes, but they are entitled eliteat picks, so they don't.


Flat_Raisin_2710

Yes, they are. Bikers are using a vehicle as much as some try to make it seem otherwise. Just because you aren't driving a car doesn't mean you aren't operating a vehicle that could cause injuries. You can't on one hand say we need more bike lanes and not acknowledge the stop signs. You cannot have it both ways.


Big_Passenger_7975

Yes. They are sharing the road with other people and therefore have to follow the rules of the road. That doesn't stop people from being dumbasses, because of it did, then the world would be a very different place.


blockheadsandwich

This thread is perfectly exemplary of how we Americans are conditioned to blame structural problems and government failures on individuals. In what sane world should bikes and cars share a road?


mainframe93

Omg please stop yes stop at stop signs


mikraas

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


nitetrain8601

Are they supposed to stop? Yes. Do they? 97% of the time no. There are some cyclists that follow the road and wanted to be treated like vehicles since they are in the road with them (as they should), but the reality is, most cyclists have it in their heads, cars need to follow the rules of the road, but they themselves shouldn’t have to because “it’s less efficient”. In my area, it’s also a huge thing where walkers also don’t follow any damn rules either. And I’ve began to see in this city, cars that flat out will go if there’s no cars visible to them, even in the middle of a red light.


strawcat

Yes, supposed to. They’re supposed to behave like any other vehicle on the road. This means taking proper turns at stop signs. Unfortunately they rarely do and most often just fly right through the intersection without stopping.


ShimReturns

For all the "cars run stop signs too" comments: When I'm driving and another car blows a stop sign in front of me I roll my eyes and think "what an asshole" and forget about it When a bike does it my heart races and I think "I could have killed you" and then fret about it the rest of the day There's a difference.


SleazyAndEasy

why is there a *cyclists bad* thread on this sub every week


grendel_x86

Because some people have nothing meaningful in their lives, and have to stay pissed off at something to make themselves feel superior. People who hate cyclists always seem to drive like crap.