Not just a good ride. Some bikers are clipped to their pedals. So a quick getaway is not as quick and can go wrong.

When you're on a bike you're trying not to get hit by a car. If you see no one in front or on the sides and someone coming up from behind, that's the guy you avoid by going through the stop sign. It's better to take you chances with an understanding LEO who may also ride bikes or even pay the ticket if he doesn't.

Last night driving I saw a woman around my age on a bike, no helmet, no lights, dark clothes in the center of the street waiting to make a left on Pinellas. If there's a sidewalk, and there is one on Pinellas and Hardy, use it. Go slow and stop for walkers or walk the bike.

Idaho. Stop signs are treated as yield signs and stop lights are treated as stop signs by cyclists. There may be some other states.

Ooh. The safety angle. I like it. All this time, I thought it was for convenience.

Have you ever skied on a crowded mountain? I have a ski helmet too and until now I never thought of putting a bike mirror on it. You can't predict if the people behind you are going to stop with any certainty.
For me, that what it feels like on a bike when someone is coming up from behind. At our age who hasn't been rear ended in a car? Can you imagine your chances on a bike?

Oh, so stop signs are just decoration. I got it. Being a former COP, I wrote more tickets for violations of Stop signs and Traffic signals than speeding. Not that I did much traffic duty, but those two violations are probably in the top ten most dangerous traffic violations. Speeding is no where near as dangerous as running stop signs or traffic lights. Not too long ago, I almost hit a golf cart coming out of tunnel ramp, where the driver did not stop for the stop sign. He ended up running across the trail to avoid hitting me and into the grass. I see golf carts blatantly speeding through stop signs, across intersections on a daily basis. I have never lived in a state where a stop sign was treated as a "run faster" signal. And that is what folks in the Villages seem to believe. As bad as some of the folks here drive, they should be more aware of traffic signals/signs than ever before. I don't care if you speed past my slower golf cart, and I might even wave cheerfully as you pass. But, if you injure someone in my family by running a stop sign....well...shame on you, and I won't go into the possible consequences. The sign says STOP, not caution, not yield, and not slow. It translates to ALTO for those that don't speak English.

But I digress. My neighborhood also has a speed limit of 10mph. And yes, golf carts are able to speed through neighborhoods when the limit is set that low. And yes, they could get a speeding ticket, if enforced.

"Idaho" stops (rolling through stop signs when it is clear and safe to do so in the state of Idaho by cyclists) reflects the fact that in many instances it makes no sense for a cyclist to come to a complete stop. Notice that the requirement is that it is clear and safe to do so. The stop signs are not decoration. The law says that they are to be interpreted as a yield sign by cyclists when it is clear and safe to do so.

316.2065 Bicycle regulations.—
(1) Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter...

Bikers must stop at stop signs and traffic signals in Florida. I read where one young lady received a $173 fine for running through a stop sign in Florida. Perhaps someone from one of the bike clubs in The Villages can share some of their experience on the subject.

Yes, that is the law in Florida. In my Village, nearly everybody (cars, golf carts, and bikes) rolls through stop signs. I am pretty sure that is the case in all Villages.

The stop signs that consist of a post with the word "STOP" written on them are not approved by the State of Florida. The only legal stop sign is a red octagon with "STOP" in white upon it.

I am not sure what your point is. There are legitimate stop signs in the Villages.

When I'm on my motorcycle or bicycle, I put stop signs right up there with national borders. They are just suggestions.

I do not know if that is true, but I do know that when ever you cross a public street from a golf cart path or a side street, you must come to a complete stop before proceeding. Whether or not that stop sign is valid, the traffic regulation can be enforced and you can get a citation.

:agree:

:thumbup: Good one. Although, I value my Harley, so I do stop.

That's a good enough reason.