Should bikers follow traffic laws?

Motorist, pedestrians, and some cyclists enjoy comlaining about bikers who don't respect the rules of the road. They complain cyclists don't stop at stopsigns or run red ligths.
Personally, I think I should be able to do whatever I want on my bike. If I don't want to stop at intersection thats my perogative and my responsibility to get through it safley. If I don't surely I will be smooshed.
A bike can do things a car can't. For instance go the wrong way down lake. It is an exciting and dangerous ride, but a car would never make it. So I think aslong as the cyclist doesn't screw up they can do what ever they want. If they do screw up its their responsibility.
Some states do have laws that make a red light and stopsign a yeild for cyclists. I think its a good idea.
Your Thoughts?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Davo on November 3, 2009 at 3:27pm
I agree as long as us cyclists take responcibility when we are the cause of an accident.
Permalink Reply by Jackie on November 3, 2009 at 3:54pm
I definitely thing that all states should make red-lights and stop-signs a yield for cyclists. Though the joy of riding is a personal reward, I think we should get some perk for being kind to the environment, and riding our bikes instead of driving, I think that is a good perk (on top of not having to find parking - however, bike racks are still not as conveniently located as the could be...)
Permalink Reply by Anne on November 3, 2009 at 5:11pm
The problem with your 'perogative', is that you have no empathy for the driver that hits you, if you are "surely smooshed". As a driver, it is absolutely my responsibility to obey traffic laws not because it's my whim, but because I truly and deeply believe that I have a duty of care to all road users.

Please don't put me in a situation of being sad for the rest of my life.
Permalink Reply by Sebastian Baptiste on November 3, 2009 at 6:38pm
Stop signs and lights are to slow down motorized traffic, and do not take bikes into consideration. If Chicago is serious about getting people on bikes, this is one of the many issues where the law needs adjustment. As for Anne's reply: If you cannot avoid a bicyclist who runs through a red light, chances are you are driving well over the speed limit (like most motorists here in town). Furthermore, you may be technically right (should this result in a crash) but in my opinion you're morally wrong. If you don't want to be sad, curse the cyclist, honk, show him/her the finger, flash your lights, but hit the brakes nonetheless. Better yet, try not to be in a car in the first place.
Permalink Reply by S. Campbell on November 3, 2009 at 7:04pm
well said!

ironically i had a conversation with a fellow cyclist today precisely about why we don't stop at stop signs. we were sitting outside and watching a rather busy intersection with a stop sign and a center round planting. i didn't see one car make a "full stop".

he pointed out that cyclists have a further line of sight into the intersection, we can hear approaching traffic, are more aware of traffic patterns and driving habits, faster brakes, more manueverability, and a heightened desire to not get into an accident (lives at risk people). damn i know some seriously logical people.

what amazes me is the competitive desire for some cars to race with me. omg, you pushed your foot down a bit??? you beat me across the intersection? and to the red light? wtf, do you want a medal, or maybe a cookie? when i pass or am passed by other cyclists i don't feel a need to race them, why do people in cars feel the desire to roar past me? another topic i'm sure...

Sebastian Baptiste said:
Stop signs and lights are to slow down motorized traffic, and do not take bikes into consideration. If Chicago is serious about getting people on bikes, this is one of the many issues where the law needs adjustment. As for Anne's reply: If you cannot avoid a bicyclist who runs through a red light, chances are you are driving well over the speed limit (like most motorists here in town). Furthermore, you may be technically right (should this result in a crash) but in my opinion you're morally wrong. If you don't want to be sad, curse the cyclist, honk, show him/her the finger, flash your lights, but hit the brakes nonetheless. Better yet, try not to be in a car in the first place.
Permalink Reply by Alan Matejka on November 3, 2009 at 7:23pm
Stop signs are for motor vehicles. Bicycles are not motor vehicles. My view is that Bicyclists are pedestrians with a more efficient means of propulsion. what do you think?
Permalink Reply by S. Campbell on November 3, 2009 at 7:36pm
wikipedia has an interesting article on "traffic calming devices". ironically, stop signs are not considered "traffic calmers".
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 3, 2009 at 7:48pm
This must be a joke. An aside - I enjoy complaining about people who don't take the time to proofread their writing. *now taking bets on how many posts it will take for someone to accuse me of hating Jews and irrationally tying grammar to it*

"For instance go the wrong way down lake. It is an exciting and dangerous ride, but a car would never make it. So I think aslong as the cyclist doesn't screw up they can do what ever they want."

-That's an interesting point seeing as how going the wrong way down Lake St is a possible definition for screwing up in this context.


So, pretty much what I'm seeing here Patrick, is you saying "If I get into an accident, I'll be the one worse off, so fuck traffic laws."

Is that true for all cases? What if you hit another cyclist, or a pedestrian (yes, as much as many love to jaywalk and walk blindly across the crosswalk, who's going to be likely more injured - you, or the person who was just unexpectedly plowed into by you)?

As for the traffic laws that you want to disregard so much, what about the motto "WE ARE TRAFFIC"? We want to be respected by cars and yet you seem to not want to act like traffic, even though you are on a road. If it was a choice left up to the motorist to stop at lights and stop signs, well, I'm sure you can come to the conclusion I have in mind.

We complain about pissy motorists adding a couple minutes to their commute to slow down for us for our safety, but we should be allowed to do whatever we please? Can't have your cake and eat it too.
Permalink Reply by Ryan L on November 3, 2009 at 8:27pm
What I would like to know is what are we to do about salmon-joggers? You know, the ones who pretend the bike lane has a symbol of a jogger painted on it? The same folks who think jogging against cars and bicycles is a good idea?

They scare me something awful and haunt my dreams always. Damn you Salmon-Jogger! Oh and drunken foul mouthed pregnant ladies. They scare me too.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on November 4, 2009 at 4:10am
Our existing traffic laws were written for motor vehicles. I think much of the code needs to be rewritten to reflect the reality of how self-propelled traffic operates. Permitting cyclists to yield rather than stop at stop signs and lights is one obvious example. That point noted, in my opinion there are two reasons bicyclists should care about the law: (1) As Anne noted above, it is important to have empathy for the driver who may kill or injure you because you did something stupid on your bike. That will be something that stays with the driver for the rest of his or her life. (2) Your conduct has an impact on other cyclists. The cumulative effect of a few bicyclists behaving very badly increases the number of road rage incidents. I do not want to get buzzed, doored or cursed at because you and your buddies just scared the hell out of a driver salmoning or causing a near miss in a busy intersection.

I'm no saint. I blow stop signs, but I slow, look and listen before I do it. I salmon, but only on secondary streets I know well, and never in a bike lane. The existing laws don't make complete sense for bicyclists and that's annoying. But, respectfully, that is no excuse for acting like a complete fool.
Permalink Reply by joe stein on November 4, 2009 at 4:23am
I read the OP before riding off to work. On my ride, I contemplated an response. CBA said it for me: well put.

Chicago Bicycle Advocate said:
Our existing traffic laws were written for motor vehicles. I think much of the code needs to be rewritten to reflect the reality of how self-propelled traffic operates.
Permalink Reply by Jackie on November 4, 2009 at 4:35am
You would think. But a cop saw me run a stop sign before, and she flashed her lights, yelled at me, told me to turn around stop at the stop sign - I gave a similar argument, and she then said that she could write me a ticket, and that next time I might run into a cop that actually will...

I see cops watch other cyclists "run" stop signs all of the time though... so, I guess it's luck of the draw.

Alan Matejka said:
Stop signs are for motor vehicles. Bicycles are not motor vehicles. My view is that Bicyclists are pedestrians with a more efficient means of propulsion. what do you think?

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