Clive Thompson

"Why Cyclists Love The 'Idaho Stop'"

It turns out that letting cyclists do a "rolling stop" at a stop sign -- and slowly roll through a red light if there's no cross-traffic coming -- counterintuitively reduces accidents

My essay on why this works, for Medium subscribers: https://clivethompson.medium.com/why-cyclists-love-the-idaho-stop-fbc2555b9e9e

And if you're not a Medium subscriber, here's a "friend" link: https://clivethompson.medium.com/why-cyclists-love-the-idaho-stop-fbc2555b9e9e?sk=6c610fd0e5701ab58283cc5e526e8e92

#cycling #safety #roads #psychology

Why Cyclists Love The “Idaho Stop” - Clive Thompson - Medium

When cyclists do a “rolling stop” at an intersection, it can — counterintuitively — make everyone safer. “Why Cyclists Love The “Idaho Stop”” is published by Clive Thompson.

Medium
Dec 21, 2022 at 5:09pmWeb
Show threadWndlBDec 21, 2022
@clive OK, I will read this before I write the scathing
Show threadWndlBDec 21, 2022
@clive OK, read every word. First, no more recent studies, no updates of the two (2) you cited? Second, what ends up happening, real world, is that the cyclists slow by maybe 5%, just so they can stop if they absolutely have to, but, if not, they swoop through, heedless of everything, but proud of the display of their cycling prowess. And, btw, NO ONE in Copenhagen does this.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@wndlb

Yep, the absence of this behavior in Copenhagen (and, I'm guessing, other cities with extensive cycling infrastructure) shows this isn't the only way to enhance the mobility of bikes in a city

That said, the proviso is "cities with extensive cycling infrastructure", which alas does not describe any US city lol

It may be this is a (partial and imperfect) US solution to a problem that US cities aren't willing to actually solve with the right infrastructure

Show threaddr2chaseDec 23, 2022

@wndlb @clive
Citation needed. I record video here in the US in a place with no Idaho stop, and that's not what I see, not what my camera sees. (Youtube channel in profile, though bikes stopped at lights are boring and rarely make the cut).

That's also not what actual studies of stopping at lights shows.
https://bikeportland.org/2013/06/25/94-of-bikes-wait-at-red-lights-study-finds-89025
or when there are crashes, video evidence
https://ggwash.org/view/31600/it-must-have-been-your-fault-cmon-you-are-a-biker

94% of bike riders wait at red lights, study finds

A new study suggests that speeding in a car on local streets is at least six times more common than running a red light on a bike.

BikePortland
Show threadWndlBDec 23, 2022
@dr2chase @clive Just anecdote, my own observations, the past few years as a driver only, before that as both, here in MSP.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@wndlb

Heh heh go for it

Show threadMeganDec 21, 2022

@clive I really like the idea of approaching traffic laws from a more nuanced perspective, instead of treating everything on the road like a car.

At some intersections in NYC, the pedestrian walk light turns on well before the traffic green light and bikes are allowed to move through the intersection on the pedestrian light.

How else can we change our car-focused approaches to make transportation more equitable?

Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@megantaylor

One thing I wish NYC and more cities would do is create smart stoplights that prioritize bus and trolley traffic ... i.e. when buses approach, they automatically get a green, so buses whizzzzzz through the city

I believe it's had very good effects in locations where it's been experimentally tried

Show threadMeganDec 21, 2022

@clive ooh, I'd love to see how that works!

One thing I'd really love to see based on my experiences of riding in NYC is better management of in-betweeners: scooters, e-bikes, etc. Car-drivers are pretty well trained and encouraged to stay in their lane, but nothing terrifies me more than having a silent e-bike whiz past me in the bike lane!

This is partly a culture problem and partly an enforcement problem and maybe things with motors shouldn't be so quiet...

Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@megantaylor

Yeah, it’s true, it can be a little chaotic with all of the new electrified vehicles jockeying for position in bike lanes! It may take a little while for protocols to solidify

Show threadjoshhuntDec 22, 2022
@clive @megantaylor the Sydney traffic light system does this, and has been exported to a bunch of citties around the world (including in New Jersey and Atlanta apparently) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Coordinated_Adaptive_Traffic_System#Priority_levels
Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System - Wikipedia

Show threadClive ThompsonDec 23, 2022

@joshhunt @megantaylor

That's cool to hear!

It makes total sense

Show threadBrian HawthorneDec 21, 2022
@clive Even better would be protected bike lanes marked with yield signs!
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@bhawthorne

100%

The only upside of the Idaho stop is it doesn’t cost any money to implement, so it’s a quick bit of action for state legislatures, that otherwise ignore bicycle infrastructure

Show threadNigel MillerDec 21, 2022
@clive
I've been riding like this for years, always felt safer to me, but never had the data to back it up.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@nmiller

Apparently the large majority of US cyclists already do this, yeah

Show threadHoward ShermanDec 21, 2022
@clive Fascinating! If NYC cyclists are following the Idaho Stop but it’s not law or commonly know by pedestrians or drivers, are we in dangerous territory for now? Also, I’d love to know if the wide adoption of citibike has had any positive environmental and health benefits. Don’t know if it’s too soon to study.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@hsherman

Well, yeah, it's probably inherently dangerous to do it when it's officially prohibited by law ... though it's so *commonly* done that, in my experience, cyclists and pedestrians and cars all know to expect it

New York State considering a bill to legalize it, which might be wise; when a law is widely disobeyed with little (not zero, but little) downside, it's usually time to bring the law in line with the everyday behavior

Show threadHoward ShermanDec 22, 2022
@clive Thanks! Makes sense. In the scheme of things, probably not at the top of the cops enforcement list but I guess that’s what the traffic cameras are supposed to be for. 😀
Show threadRussDec 21, 2022

@clive We were SO CLOSE in California.

https://www.calbike.org/calbike-statement-withdrawal-of-bicycle-safety-stop-bill-ab-1713/

CalBike Statement on the Withdrawal of the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill, AB 1713 - CalBike

CalBike statement on the withdrawal of the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill, AB 1713, a commonsense measure that Governor Newsom refuses to support.

CalBike
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@theruss

Aha, interesting! I didn't realize it was withdrawn ...

Show threadRussDec 21, 2022

@clive Nether did I! I was originally looking for a link to go with an "And California too!" response.

Got myself a sad instead.

Show threadAnne OminousDec 21, 2022
@clive i rely on one thing as a cyclist - total awareness of my surroundings. having been hit several times in a car by other drivers running red lights, i don't pay a ton of attention to traffic signals
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 21, 2022

@rustoleumlove

Yep, I was hit by a car in my early 20s -- the fault was mostly mine (I was crossing a street with terrible visibility for cars coming on my left-hand side, and I looked for traffic, but not *quite* closely enough) ...

... and I've been pretty careful since

Show threadEason CDec 21, 2022
@clive TL;DR: you get to go before the cars waiting behind you get to run you over upon the green light.
Show threadBrian DearDec 22, 2022
@clive Reason 35264 why I’ve no plans to ever step foot in Idaho
Show threadAdam FieldsDec 22, 2022
@clive this overlooks the most salient reason - many accidents happen when there are speed and acceleration differentials between different vehicles. There is a huge differential between a bike starting from a full stop and a car starting from a full stop.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 23, 2022

@fields

Yep ... and that's why the best thing is to have physically separate lanes for cycling

Alas, since many parts of the US aren't willing to invest in that, this is a (small) thing they can do to (marginally) improve safety

Show threadFrank VehafricDec 22, 2022
@clive Legal in Oregon as well, now. Law passed just recently but only for stop signs, not traffic lights. Still it's nice to not have to put a foot down every other block.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 23, 2022

@fvehafric

That's cool! And yep, it seems like some states are doing it for stop signs but not for stop lights ... I get it

Show threadInfinite SharkDec 23, 2022
@clive this is fascinating. I’ve always cycled like this but never knew it was a law (it’s not where I live anyway so I guess it doesn’t really matter). I just find that not stopping (when safe) lets me put more space between me and cars, which makes the road nicer for everyone.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 23, 2022

@infiniteshark

Yep yep

That “putting space” effect is real

Show threadmschiefelbeinDec 23, 2022

@clive Great article. Makes perfect sense and is how it generally works in Amsterdam, a great city for cycling.

There seems to be a similar argument about bike helmets. Data from Australia suggests that mandatory helmets result in fewer people riding bikes and rather unintuitively more head injuries.

Show threadClive ThompsonDec 24, 2022

@mschiefelbein

Years ago I interviewed a scientist who'd gathered some fascinating data on how cars respond to cyclists who wear helmets vs ones who don't

The main difference: Cars drive marginally closer to cyclists with helmets ... possibly because they're less worried, consciously or subconsciously, about hitting them

He tracked it with a laser distance checker, riding many hours helmeted and unhelmeted

Really fascinating

Show threadmschiefelbeinDec 24, 2022
@clive
Love that someone actually measured that.
It’s really fascinating to read about traffic regulations and their often unexpected effects.
I’ve read about Brussels introducing a 30km/h speed limit, which helps a lot to reduce fatalities, but also seems to have decreased the average travel time of cars.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 24, 2022

@mschiefelbein

Yeah — mobility is a wildly complex system!

Show threaddr2chaseDec 23, 2022

@clive Here's a couple of videos that might help you make your case: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvjrgpHn1sql_vF2xLF8pzWkmvZhMqd0_

I've got some more not yet added to that playlist, but those two are the best.

Running reds

YouTube
Show threadTom J. BrennerDec 24, 2022
@clive
I live in a community where what you describe as cyclists doing a rolling stop, motorists are also doing the same. I've even seen motorist will run red lights when nothing is coming, it's a rolling stop.
I'm a cyclist myself. I've been doing the same for years.
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 24, 2022

@TJB

Yeah, I've been doing versions of it for years too ...

Show threadSparkle TeaJan 2, 2023

@clive

I got a ticket for doing this while riding to high school one morning. I had to go to court with my (very angry) parent and everything.

Show threadClive ThompsonJan 2, 2023

@SparkleTea

Oh damn!!