Toronto Mike

The Idaho Stop

In 1982, the state of Idaho made it legal for cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. Essentially, if it's safe, you can slow down a little and blow right through the stop sign.

I consider myself a safe cyclist. I signal, I respect vehicles on the road and, for the most part, I follow the rules of the road.  When I encounter a stop sign and the coast is clear, however, I treat it like a yield sign. I risk the ticket and practice the Idaho stop.

It would be nice to see the Idaho stop adopted here, so that becomes legal. I'd also like to explore the option of treating a red light like a stop sign.  In essence, if you're on a bicycle, stop signs become yield signs and red lights become stop signs.

It just makes sense, doesn't it?

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