Quote:
Originally Posted by sswitenki
(Post 1903290)
Now add the bike riders who I rarely ever see stop at ANY stop sign. Seems they think the road rules don’t apply to them at all. Everyone needs to be on their toes at all time knowing that is the norm.
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There are circumstances that I won't stop at a stop sign. But I will still look in all directions for traffic, and let the traffic pattern decide whether I stop, slow down, go through at my current pace, or try to speed up (and yes I know it's illegal, I'm just telling you WHY I do it, because I'm guessing most bike riders have similar reasons):
If I'm going uphill, and that stop sign is on the hill, it means I might need to walk my bike from that stop until I get to the crest of the hill. If it's a steep hill, that's pretty much guaranteed. Moving forward from a complete stop to go UPhill is not easy to do on a bicycle. I'm willing to do that, and I will absolutely do that if there is traffic at that intersection.
But if I approach the intersection and see clearly there's no traffic, and it's a 4-way stop, or if I see someone JUUUUST coming up toward the stop sign when I am too, I will plow through that stop sign and try to maintain my speed so I don't have to end up walking the thing.
And remember - if I do end up walking it, I have the right of way no matter who's there first.
My goal is to try and prevent a traffic jam. If I can slip through that intersection without ANYONE having to stop for me, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'll stop, and wait for EVERYONE else to go first. I'll wave them on. Because it takes me too long to move forward from that complete stop, and I don't want to hold THEM up.
I know it's against the law. But it also is a logical, practical thing to do, under those particular circumstances.
Going downhill, or on flat ground, of course I'll come to a complete stop on my bicycle. There's no reason not to. I can speed up almost as fast as the average golf cart to cross the intersection so I won't be inconveniencing anyone else.