PORTLAND, Ore. — The "Idaho Stop," or just blowing a stop sign? Here's a video that raises that question.
Not to be confused with the "California Stop" which we all know half of you do in your cars everyday: that slow roll through the stop sign. "No cop... no stop," right?
Here a cyclist seems to blow right through a flashing red, 4-way stop intersection in North Portland a few months ago. The anchors weigh in with their thoughts. And a lot of you are chiming in on Facebook.
So this instance seems a bit in the gray area, as are a few cycling rules. But know that the "Idaho Stop" will be legal, in Oregon, in January.
The “Idaho Stop” was named after the state that first allowed cyclists to roll through stop signs back in 1982. Delaware passed its own version in 2017. Arkansas followed suit this past April.
An oft-cited UC Berkeley study found traffic is safer by relaxing stopping rules for bicyclists and legalize already existing behavior. The Idaho Stop reportedly reduced biking accidents by 14 percent in the first year after its enactment.
Here is a legislative staff summary of the bill:
- Provides that bicyclist approaching intersection with stop sign or flashing red light may proceed through the intersection or make a turn without stopping.
- Creates new traffic violation of improper entry into an intersection controlled by a stop sign.
- Creates new traffic violation of improper entry into an intersection controlled by a flashing red light.
- Specifies that violation occurs when bicyclist fails to yield to traffic within the intersection, fails to yield to traffic so close as to constitute an immediate hazard, disobeys a police officer or flagger, fails to exercise care to avoid accident, or fails to yield the right of way to a pedestrian.
- Makes violations Class D traffic violation.
And the bill here: Senate Bill 998 here
I do the Driving Me Crazy series as a generally lighthearted, but not always, look at things that drive people nuts on area roadways. From bad designs, to bad park jobs and bad driver behavior. What drives you crazy? Let me know. Post your videos, photos, and comments on my Facebook page. Email me or tweet me. Thanks for watching.