On the Road……Bicycling is not a Crime
Show on mapFor the first time in my life, I was pulled over by the police while riding a bicycle (during my morning commute).
I’ll explain in a moment, but first a short digression:
- I usually go out of my way to ride conservatively because I see so many bicyclists riding recklessly, which only invites motorists’ anger. (Of course, it’s equally true that many, if not most, motorists drive irrationally, impatiently, and aggressively in terms of how they interact with bicyclists).
- I like to think I see the folly of both sides and so whether I’m piloting a car or a bike, I try to keep the other in mind and set a good example.
Nonetheless, on this day, I rolled through a stop sign fairly quickly after seeing no on-coming cars. Local law enforcement was hiding on a nearby side street. I didn’t see the squad car, but I heard the siren from behind a few blocks later and knew I was busted.
I gave my best Idaho Stop defense and after producing my driver’s license was mercifully only given a short lecture and let go with a warning.
If you’ve never heard of the Idaho Stop law here’s an elegant little video.
I’m glad you avoided a ticket. Like you, I generally ride conservatively but I do slow roll through stop signs, especially today when I was loaded down.
Myles/ rattrappress
16 Jun 10 at 3:46 pm
myles/ it takes great patience and restraint to break that forward momentum, especially on the flat route i’ve recently been riding, which over 3-4 miles is peppered with stop signs every 50-100 meters.
fridaycyclotouriste
16 Jun 10 at 10:39 pm
Stop signs are a curse. They are over used as a traffic control device, the placement of them is more a matter of politics that true traffic calming. Also with the more they put in the more people ignore them and roll them. I try to make it a point to do a full stop at all stop signs…but there are a couple that have to get rolled if I don’t want to get off and walk.
Glad to see you avoided the ticket…
Aaron
2whls3spds
27 Jun 10 at 8:29 am