I do not live in an Idaho stop state, but I do it regularly.
Why do so many drivers get pissy when cyclists do an Idaho stop? Is it just the lizard-brained “I have to stop so you should too” mentality?
I live in a state where it’s legal, and I have only ever done it when it’s completely safe and logical to do, and yet I’ve had two incidents where drivers (one in a car and one on a motorcycle) screamed at me and literally tried to run me off the road with their vehicles.
I’ve also had a couple incidents where I’ve been fully stopped at a light where I could have done an Idaho stop, and drivers have said something along the lines of “Thanks for stopping. You’re one of the few cyclists who actually stop,” which draws a fake smile and an eye-roll from me.
Edit: Downvoted for sharing my experience and following the law. Cool cool cool.
Undoubtedly it is in fact that lizard brain response. We like to think we’re above that but we’re barely better than the rest of the animals sometimes.
we’re all just monkeys, man.
We like to think that having technology and access to all this information makes us superior, but we’re all just lizard brain monkeys no further divorced from our violent and chaotic past than that of our simian ancestors. Put a group of people in a room, then single someone out, and watch the mob work.
We’re all just fuckin’ monkeys, man.
It is because of the number of cyclists who pull in front of traffic when they should have stopped, leading to short braking and getting flipped off by the cyclist for some reason. It is as annoying as pedestrians walking out into traffic (not at cross walks or in residential neighborhoods) when there are structured places for them to cross. It is as annoying as a csr pulling through a crosswalk when they shouldn’t.
Even if the overall system is terribly designed, having people create a hazardous situation is annoying.
Anyone who cares that a bicyclist that runs a stop sign or people jaywalk when there is no traffic around is getting their feathers ruffled over nothing. But there are just enough people who walk or ride into traffic when they should be yielding to make it an annoyance.
Why do so many drivers get pissy when cyclists do an Idaho stop?
Because it’s against the law and also creates a road hazard for everyone sharing the road. Idk about you, but I highly prefer safety over convenience.
OOOOK… I clearly stated that it’s legal where I live, and I only do it when it’s completely safe, and yet I’ve nearly been murdered by entitled drivers for doing so.
Also, the article linked in this very thread says that Idaho stops increase safety when all parties are aware of the law.
Wrong on both counts amigo. Please read more before chiming in next time.
It’s already been pointed out that it’s legal in many areas, but the article links to a number of research papers that disprove the idea that it’s more dangerous.
Possibly wrong on one account amigo. What if it’s illegal in his area and that is what he is resounding based on?
Someone asked why do drivers get pissy? Then this side responds with why he gets pissy and you assume he is wrong about everything. So for someone that toutes research papers and evidence, maybe ask if it’s legal in their area instead of talking down to them.
I can only speak from my own experience, but I’ve been cut off by cyclists (when I had the green light and they had a red) multiple times. A small handful of those I almost had to floor my brakes. Once there was a child on the back of the bicycle
I hold a significant amount of hatred for that parent. I could have killed that child due ONLY to the parents negligence
