An Oregon Controversy: The Idaho Stop Law

There’s a controversial proposal in the Oregon Legislature to enact a law which would allow cyclists to use what’s called an Idaho-style stop.

This would allow cyclists to proceed slowly through a stop sign (or flashing red light, which is the same as a stop sign) without stopping if it is safe and if there is no oncoming auto or pedestrian traffic.  Basically, cyclists would be allowed to treat a stop sign the same as a yield sign.

If you want to know why this is a good idea, please see the resources at the end of this post.  I’m here to tell you what this law does NOT do, because I’ve seen and heard a lot of misconceptions out there.

This law does NOT allow cyclists to blow through stop signs at top speed.  Cyclists could, in fact, be cited by police for that behavior, and under the proposed law the fine for this would actually go up.

This law does NOT allow cyclists to run regular traffic lights.  It only covers stop signs.

This law is NOT crazy.  It’s been used effectively in Idaho for years.  We have a test case right next door to our state! And while Idaho is a less populated state, this law is used in Boise, and if Boise were in Oregon, it would be the second-largest city in the state.

So, if you were thinking that this idea was crazy and unsafe, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to think it through, and maybe look at these additional resources.  Don’t believe everything you hear.

Additional Reading:

pagent makes some excellent points on OurPDX.net. I especially liked “let’s just be honest here, you KNOW that if cars stalled and had to be restarted whenever they came to a complete stop, the law would make rolling stops MANDATORY.” Also, be sure to read the comments.

BikePortland.com has an FAQ about the proposed stop law