Vancouver cycling and road safety advocates think the practice should be adopted in Metro Vancouver

Practice allows cyclists to go through stop-sign controlled intersections if road is clear

Oregon to allow cyclists to use the Idaho Stop at stop-sign controlled intersections starting Jan. 1

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With Oregon becoming the latest U.S. state to green light cyclists cruising through certain empty intersections, local traffic safety and cyclist groups think it’s about time Metro Vancouver considers adopting the practice.

The law, referred to as the Idaho Stop for its place of origin, allows cyclists to go through stop-sign controlled intersections if riders slow down and check to make sure the way is clear. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Ian Tootill with Sense BC thinks the Idaho Stop would have support in the Lower Mainland, where many people use their bikes to commute and are already using the practice.

“When you’ve got lots and lots of people disobeying a law, something’s got to be looked at. I could say in this case, the law needs addressing,” he said. “I’m on a bike myself sometimes and I don’t expect to come to a complete stop when there’s nobody there. It doesn’t make sense.”

He doesn’t think the Idaho Stop would cause significant traffic problems because it can only be used when an intersection is clear and because bikes are more maneuverable than a motor vehicle, can stop faster and are not capable of the same speeds.

His sentiments are echoed by Navdeep China with the cycling advocacy group with HUB Cycling, who says 50 per cent of people in Vancouver want to cycle more and cities should not force them to follow the exact same rules that were designed with motor vehicles in mind.

“There will always be people who won’t obey the laws and that’s why they should increase fines for dangerous driving and dangerous interactions, but at the same time, the bigger solution is safe infrastructure. We must design infrastructure that reduces the conflict between all modes (of transportation),” China said.

He supports reforming the Motor Vehicle Act to remove barriers so more people can cycle more often, and it is more efficient for them to cycle more often.

With files from Alison Bailey, Tim James and Peter Wagner