Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2165710)

Here's my personal experience as a bike-rider:

If I'm trying to go uphill, and there's no traffic on the cross street, I'll go as fast as I possibly can right through that intersection.

If I'm going downhill, I'll either stop completely, or roll through. It's around 50-50 - depends on how much I'm enjoying the ability to coast down hill that moment.

If I'm on even pavement I'll usually come to a complete stop - I'd say around 80% of the time.

If there's traffic on the cross road, OR someone coming from the other side with their turn signal on to take a left, I come to a complete stop - 100% of the time. If someone tries to give me the right of way I will get off my bicycle, and not get back on until they've passed.
This is especially true if there are people behind the guy trying to give away his right of way, or someone on the other side of the intersection wanting to take a left, while other people are moving in from my left or right.

Lastly - if I'm currently going downhill, but immediately after the stop sign is an uphill segment of road, I will come to a stop ONLY if there are cars approaching from my right or left. Otherwise I will speed through as fast as I can to make sure I have enough momentum to make it up that hill without having to get off the bike and walk.

I violate the law. I admit it. I'm also not a hypocrite who thinks badly of people who follow the same protocol in their cars or golf carts. If there's no traffic in any direction then it shouldn't matter if you, the only person at that intersection, or even near that intersection, chooses to cross that intersection.

I personally think all right turns should be yields, not stops. But - it isn't, I acknowledge that it isn't, I'm willing to take my chances.

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2165734)

That's one whale of a checklist. I got a C- on my last memory test. Barely passed the hearing test. I have my name on the front of my golf cart for two reasons:
1. So I can find it after I parked it
2. Make sure it is mine - those universal keys will get you every time
I think I might be too old to handle the to do list at a stop sign on a bike. I could just come to a complete stop. Much less to remember. The added benefit of coming to a full stop is I can stand up and pull the spandex out of my caboose.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2165710)

I violate the law. I admit it. I'm also not a hypocrite who thinks badly of people who follow the same protocol in their cars or golf carts. If there's no traffic in any direction then it shouldn't matter if you, the only person at that intersection, or even near that intersection, chooses to cross that intersection.

Originally Posted by Love2Swim (Post 2165801)

Common sense tells you to go through the red light instead of waiting another couple minutes for it to change.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2164878)

"Brake pedal"??? On a bike?

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2164760)

What is the law regarding cyclists and stop signs ? Today at Watertower circle two very large groups entered the circle from Lester Drive which has a stop sign at full speed - no stop. I mean no stop. Both lead bikers did not hesitate and went into the circle full bore and the groups followed. It was like they were entering a roundabout except there is a stop sign. There was a car coming around the circle and both car and cyclists met at the intersection. It appeared the leader made the decision not to stop by staying to the extreme right. The road in the circle is about two lanes wide but not marked (striped) as such.

Originally Posted by Wilharm (Post 2165596)

The city of Clear Lake, Iowa will ticket bikers that ignore stop signs and stop lights.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 2165627)

The states of Delaware, Idaho, and Colorado would not issue tickets as they have passed laws to allow bicyclists to roll through stop signs. The reason these states cite is that most accidents between bicyclists and vehicles occur at intersections. The reason many cyclists roll through is that they instinctively know that the quicker they can get through an intersection the safer they will be. Stopping and then restarting is slow and dangerous as cars can come upon a bicyclist very quickly and if a biker is going only going 5 mph he will be very vulnerable. It is very understandable for auto drivers to see rolling stops as a dangerous maneuver. It certainly looks that way when 10 bikers are seen shooting through an intersection all at once, but they are doing this for their own safety. The faster they can get through the better. Some reports have shown that rolling stops result in less bike accidents and that is why some states allow it. As a bicyclist and motorcyclist, I am acutely aware that intersections are the most dangerous part of my rides and I make sure to move through them as quickly and safely as I can. (I always come to a complete stop on my motorcycle, but I can accelerate rapidly to move through the dangerous intersections.) Still I can see how that looks to the auto driver. I agree that there are instances where bicyclists make poor decisions and do not yield to an approaching car, but that is something we all try to avoid as it endangers our lives. You are being concerned drivers posting here as you know you don’t want to hit anyone. We bicyclists appreciate that and we are trying to do our best to safely move through the streets and intersections. Maybe if you could understand a little about our situation we could also be more considerate of auto drivers as well. We are after all living in this wonderful place called The Villages.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2164919)

Well, they were responding to a post about a former LEO citing "bicycle riders" for not stopping at stop signs, so...

Originally Posted by Dotneko (Post 2166842)

I understood they were comparing the difficulty all operators of vehicles - cars, carts, bicycles have in starting and stopping. Sorry you didnt understand it.

Originally Posted by Garywt (Post 2166908)

If riding they have the same laws/rules as cars, if walking the bike they are pedestrians.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2166890)

Operators of cars and golf carts have difficulty in starting and stopping?

Originally Posted by brianherlihy (Post 2166968)

i drive my golf and stop if a bike dont i dont