Washington Law Turns Stop Signs Into Yield Signs...For Cyclists.
In just two weeks, Washington state is making the move to a new traffic law that could lead to big changes. Those stop signs at most intersections in cities? Across the state, they’re now yield signs for cyclists.
To be fair, it isn’t exactly a new law. The state of Idaho has had a similarly worded law on the books since 1982 which, in practice, is the same as the traffic law that will go into effect in Washington on October 1. It took three decades for another state to follow suite, with Delaware passing a law they called “the Delaware Yield”. Again, the law allows cyclists to go through stop signs without actually stopping.
At first, it may seem crazy. Drivers immediately point out that cyclists don’t want to follow the rules of the road, while cyclists may not trust drivers to know and follow the law. But there’s a good reason to trust this new idea. Researchers have invested a lot of time to learn how safe the law is. In Idaho, they found that traffic injuries went down a full 14% in a single year when the law was first introduced.
But it isn’t just Idaho. Short-term studies in cities also gave researchers a chance to compare two similar cities. Bakersfield, California, has similar weather, roadways, traffic patterns, and topography as Boise, Idaho. The difference? Boise is approximately 150-250 times safer to ride a bicycle in than Bakersfield!
Data from Washington state may allow other cities to learn more and possibly explore the “Idaho Stop” or “Delaware Yield” as options for their roadways. One of the important points to make is that cyclists don’t get carte blanche at intersections. They still need to slow down, watch for cars, and yield to vehicles that may already be passing through the intersection. Here’s are the changes to the previous regulation:
“ ... a person operating a bicycle and approaching a stop sign shall either: (A) Follow the requirements for approaching a stop sign ... or (B) Follow the requirements for approaching a yield sign ....”
It doesn’t mean bikes can blow stop signs. It also doesn’t include traffic lights, which are much more common on busier streets and heavier-trafficked intersections. It’s simply a matter of self-preservation that cyclists will continue to put safety first, even with this new regulation in effect.
What do you think of the new law? Do you want to see similar legislation where you ride?