Cyclists want to stop… having to stop Advocates point to U.S. experience, say carefully rolling through on bikes safer, less frustrating for drivers By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 6:06 PM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 Last Modified: 6:25 PM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 Updates

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Some cyclists are calling on the province to change a traffic law so bike riders can legally treat stop signs as yields and roll through any clear routes.

But while they expect removing the requirement for bikes to make a full stop would improve safety, others fear it could introduce new risks.

Proponents say amending the Highway Traffic Act to allow the “Idaho stop” would reduce driver-cyclist conflicts and collisions.

“As someone who rides a bike frequently, I actually have had (drivers) behind me express frustration and even verbally assault me for coming to a complete stop…. By using the Idaho stop, a cyclist actually spends less time in an intersection, which is where they’re most likely to come in contact with a vehicle,” said cycling advocate Hillary Rosentreter.

Rosentreter said the “Idaho stop” was legalized in the state of Idaho in the early 1980s and has since been linked to a decline in collisions between cyclists and vehicles. She said studies have found cyclist-vehicle collisions decrease by between 13 and 24 per cent after such laws are put in place.

Rosentreter said making the commonly used practice legal could also help avoid traffic delays.

“Forcing cyclists to come to a complete stop is actually bad for drivers, too, because it really halts traffic flow,” she said.

Rosentreter is helping organize a “compliance protest” to call attention to the issue. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Westminster Avenue area, every participating cyclist will come to a complete stop at each stop sign to display the impact on traffic delays.

While some states also let cyclists treat red lights as stop signs, Rosentreter said her group isn’t pursuing that change right now.

In 2024 so far, there have been 127 cyclist-involved collisions in Manitoba, including 125 that caused injuries and two that resulted in fatalities, according to Manitoba Public Insurance. That compares with 203 collisions, including 202 that caused injury and one fatal crash throughout 2023.

This year, most of the crashes took place in Winnipeg, which accounted for 115 cyclist-involved collisions, including 113 injury crashes and two fatalities.

Rob Jenner, a 61-year-old cyclist, was killed in a hit-and-run on Wellington Crescent in June. A a 67-year-old male cyclist died after crashing into a parked tractor-trailer on the side of Kenaston Boulevard earlier this month.

Some cyclists surveyed at The Forks supported the call to change the law.

“I am vulnerable in the middle of the intersection. That’s the most dangerous part of the road, because that’s where the interaction (between different modes of transportation) is happening,” said Karla Braun.

But some drivers fear the change would make it more difficult to predict a cyclist’s next move.

“If you’re going to be on the road as a cyclist, you should have to follow the same rules that everybody else does,” said Danielle Blaich.

Blaich said a bike rider recently pulled up alongside her vehicle instead of waiting for their turn to move forward. She fears those on bikes may be more likely to try to pass cars in that fashion if they are no longer required to stop at stop signs.

“I am vulnerable in the middle of the intersection. That’s the most dangerous part of the road.”–cyclist Karla Braun

“It would just be more hazard on the road, more ability for a car to hit them if (drivers) don’t see them,” said Blaich.

North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty said he believes it would be safest to stick with the current law.

“My concern is it might encourage more cyclists to just blow through stop signs and traffic lights without yielding or stopping.… Erring on the side of caution, requiring cyclists to stop, is more consistent with expected behaviours and, I believe, safer for all road users,” Browaty said in an email.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, could not be reached for comment.

A driving instructor who previously worked at MPI said he believes many driving teachers might dismiss the idea of using the Idaho stop to improve safety, though he believes Manitoba should explore the option.

“On the surface, the legislation seems like it would be contrary to road safety and logic,” said Lou Gervino, who owns his own driving school. “I think the biggest thing would be to try to educate people (about it) because they seem to be having success (with it) in the U.S.”

If Manitoba tries the change, it would be best to apply on a limited basis, such as on two-lane roads only, not major thoroughfares, Gervino said.

“It seems to be more logical and more likely to have road-safety benefits (on smaller streets) than letting (cyclists) do it on regional streets, like Corydon, Stafford, Pembina, Main. The numbers are showing (that) it’s definitely worth looking at in Manitoba,” he said.

A provincial government spokesperson did not directly answer whether the government would make the change.

“We will continue to work with organizations that advocate for the safety of everyone on our roads, and we encourage all road users to respect road and traffic laws in hopes that all Manitobans can safely get to wherever they are going,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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