Could This Be The Start Of Something Bad

[Brian Carlson]

I got a ticket for not stopping at a stop sign today on my bicycle. I've been running stop signs for the whole 10 years that I've lived here. It's $180.00.

Could this be the start of something bad?

[XLFD]

You're fouled up for life now Brian.

Did you rob anyone of their right of way?

[Brian Carlson]

No, it was a safe right turn through the stop sign. I think the cop was just having a bad day.

[XLFD]

I believe a cop's attitude is different with a bicyclist than with a motorist.  I don't know whether that has ever been the subject of any study, but it's something I have noticed myself.  I think it's something to do with the fact that a motorist could actually use his 'vehicle' as a weapon or as an escape method, whereas a bicyclist poses no threat in their spandex outfits. 

 

But here's something that annoys me on this topic.  The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices is a national scholarly tome on everything you want to know about traffic control devices. Here is the section on stop signs.  The decision on where to put a stop sign is primarily determined by factors pertaining to motor vehicles, bicycles move much slower, and can actually see and hear everything around them, if they are paying attention.  It says "STOP signs should be installed in a manner that minimizes the numbers of vehicles having to stop. At intersections where a full stop is not necessary at all times, consideration should be given to using less restrictive measures such as YIELD signs" 

This commonsense bit of guidance is a perfect reason for bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.  Stopping when you are a small, insignificant item on the side of the roadway, and then taking a while to get back up to speed when crossing an intersection is a whole lot more dangerous than going through a clear intersection without stopping.   How many times have I stopped at signs and lights, just to be nearly sideswiped and boxed in by a car cheating over for a right turn?  How many times has my bicycle not got through an intersection quick as I wanted after a stop?  Quite a bit in my 100,000 miles of riding.

[Brian Carlson]

There are a lot of things to take into consideration. A bicyclist has for the most part unrestricted views, unlike a motor vehicle which has blind spots. A bicyclist also is higher up than most vehicles. I agree that the person on the bicycle has just as much responsibility to avoid a collision. For obvious reasons the bike will get the worst of it. We have bicycle lanes here in Sedona, and Sedona is rated as one of the nations bicycle friendly cities. Still we have trucks and buses using the bicycle lane. I just paid over a thousand bucks for my new mountain bike and I am careful not to put my self in harms way.

[Willy]

Wow. $180 ticket. That's amazing. Where did this take place?

[XLFD]

Brian is from Arizona, where an intelligent legislator named Dan Patterson has twice tried to push a bill through that would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs , the latest try this year.  This is the law up in Idaho for bicyclists http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/index.php/article/2012/02/legislatio...

 

In Michigan bicycles are defined as a non-vehicle, so infractions of that type only cost a straight $60 in fines.  Patterson's bill must have died, for Brian to have got hit with this.

[Brian Carlson]

I did a little research after following your link. It appears that the bill was stopped by another legislator who is a bicycle rider. She feels that it is a privilege to have the same rules for bikes as motor vehicles. She thinks it would be a step down to give a bike a different law than a motor vehicle.

[XLFD]

There is a whole host of laws/legal issues that bicycles have that are exclusive here in Michigan that do not apply to cars (MCL 257.656 to 257.662).  Even more that have no applicability to bicycles but do for cars (such as licensing, registration, mandatory equipment, etc.).  I'm sure Arizona has it similar.  Any  bicyclist who thinks it's safer to stop at a stop sign when you are sure you don't need to yield, is an idiot.

[Brian Carlson]

Sedona, Arizona.

[AQUAMAN]

A bicycle is not a motorized vehicle, and as such, cannot be judged nor ticketed as such. However, not using proper caution and braking if necessary, causing an accident, or being in an accident, is also not safe. I have seen many many bicyclists in both Michigan and Fl. that do not stop at stop signs. They do however use caution and brake if necessary, otherwise they breeze through the intersection. WOW, $180 for a small infraction on a bike, Az. must be crazy for money to have that kind of fine. I would fight it, bring in laws and legal examples in your state and others to show to the judge, you might have a dismissal. Brian, just fyi, this may cause points on your drivers license, like 3 or 4, making insurance rates go up too, that's why I say you should fight it, otherwise if not, then make the choice you deem appropriate. Let us know how this turns out, and if it applies to the Az. DL in this case. Thanks.

[XLFD]

And not to be misunderstood, I believe a bicyclist who violates somebody else's right-of-way (doesn't yield properly at intersections), even if he winds up debilitated in a crash, should get ticketed.  Fair is fair.  But I also believe any motorist who doesn't yield at an intersection to a bicyclist when appropriate or hits a bicyclist (or motorcyclist) riding lawfully, from behind should also be ticketed in a manner similar to how we treat motorists who hit road workers. 

[Brian Carlson]

I think you are right about Arizona being crazy for money. They have been ticketing a lot of motor vehicles also.