The Real Johnson puts forward a strong argument that cyclists should not necessarily have to stop at all stop signs.
Because you see, cyclists aren’t actually the maniacal, fly-through-traffic, ignore-all-laws psychos that we are so often portrayed to be. In fact, you’ll probably find that the average person who has chosen to forgo a gas-guzzling car and opt for a vehicle that requires as much energy as a light bulb (coming from a person no less) is usually a pretty sensible person. Not only do we not seek to intentionally ignore the law simply for the sake being rebellious, we also understand that in a battle between a 175lb bag of meat and a 3000lb block of metal and chrome, there is only one likely winner. So, believe it or not, we actually take some caution when we roll through a stop sign– and with a head higher than your car’s roof, we’re also actually in a pretty good position to gauge traffic as we approach an intersection.
I completely agree. The difference between the cyclist and the driver is that the cyclist must be allowed some discretion. The rules of the road are in place for cars and trucks because there is very little room for error in a world of 5000+lb missiles. Cyclists have some aspect of the pedestrian in them. Pedestrians navigate traffic mostly according to their own judgement. It's because we're smaller, travel more slowely, and have only our own lives to lose in a collision with a car. When your life is on the line, you can be trusted to use good judgement.
As for me, I sometimes stop at stop signs, if it makes sense for my own self-preservation. That being said, I employ discretion at every encounter with cars. There is too much on the line. The rules may protect me in theory, but I don't always trust drivers to yield, or stop at interctions, or look before making a right hand turn into a cycle lane. So sometimes, yes, if there is no one around and it looks safe, i'll go through lights or stop signs. The way I see it, cyclists are kind of doing society a favour. Our choice of transportation is environmentally friendly, reduces congestion, and makes us healthier, all of which indirectly benefit other people. So let me have a little discretion on the road. Please. It's my ass on the line anyway.
