Idaho, Where ‘Stop’ Means ‘Slow Down’

Since 1982, Idaho law has permitted cyclists to slowly roll past stop signs without coming to a complete stop, if conditions warrant. Officials say the accident record in Idaho, the only state to have such a law, reflects the fact that it’s a safe practice. It’s definitely a more convenient one for town and urban riders--and if you don’t think of Idaho has having urban areas, keep in mind that the population of Boise is more than 200,000.

Now you’re hearing cycling interests elsewhere referring to the “Idaho stop law,” and advocating for a similar ruling in their states. In Oregon, for instance, a long-debated Idaho Stop Law bill failed to make it to a vote in the state legislature just a few days ago, despite the fact that it was proposed by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, a 5,000-member nonprofit based in Portland that believes it would be a good idea. (This animated video gives a good presentation of what it’s all about.)

Similar movements recently fizzled out in Montana and Arizona, while the topic is still being discussed in California, Minnesota, and other places. What about your state? And do you think this is a good idea or a bad one? (BTW, this writer is an Idaho resident who wasn’t even aware of the Idaho stop law until fairly recently, so I was pleased to learn that I’ve been compliant with the law all these years of not coming to a complete halt at stop signs.)


--

Biking Without Borders is written by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling’s field editor. It appears weekly, highlighting a little bit of this or a little bit of that--just about anything, as long as it’s related to traveling by bicycle.