[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by alzjr

The biggest complaint, by far, made by the general public against bicycle drivers is that they never stop for stop signs. Most bicycle drivers also drive cars at some time. All drivers know that they must stop for stop signs. So why don't they stop? The law says stop!
Here are a few reasons to consider why the law is not followed. We all know it is wrong to break the law but it happens.
1. it IS possible to come to a complete stop for a few seconds and not put one’s feet on the ground, which makes it look like they never stopped.
2. keep momentum going because getting back to speed takes much longer than it takes a car to accelerate.
3. shoes may be clipped to pedals and it is inconvenient to move from the pedals to the ground.
4. going at very slow rate of speed gives time to look both ways several times.
5. can see in both directions better than from inside a closed environment like a car that has many distractions, phones, radios, people talking, blind spots.

Just imagine driving a car behind a line of 10 bicycles that each come to a complete stop individually at a 4 way stop intersection. The first bike starts slowly after a car goes through. The second bike has to start slowly and now you have one bike, then a car, then a bike past the intersection. The third bike now starts and you have one bike, one car, one bike, one car, etc. The car back in the line has a line of alternating bikes and cars when that car finally gets through the intersection and the whole line is going at a relatively slow pace. By having all the bikes go through together and getting out of the way allows the cars to get back to normal much quicker. Against the law, yes. Less frustration for the bicycles and cars, yes. Can a bicycle driver get a ticket, yes.

Cx
A great post. I doubt anyone has ever REALLY been inconvienced by a bicycle not stoping at a stop sign and I would be surprised if that ever caused an accident. The truth is those people just feel inconviencd by bicycles and don't want them on the road. It's just an excuse to use against cyclist. But you already knew that, didn't you.