I had lunch with Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison (6th District) as part of my previous appointment to the Hennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee a few years ago, and this question was part of our discussion.
Road users, especially motorists, want bicyclists to drive just like any other vehicle.
So, if you are not yet a good stopper, get your act together: Why? People are watching. You are a bike ambassador to our motorist friends. Like many of you, I bike to and from work and use my bike for doing errands and getting in shape. I hope you’d agree with me that we ALL contribute to either a good or bad image each time we ride. In case you might like some motivation, here are three Top Reasons to Stop beyond the obvious safety reasons:
1)It’s the law. Minnesota statute 169.222 OPERATION OF BICYCLE, Subdivision 1, begins with “Traffic laws apply.” Yes, that means you. Yes, that means you need to stop at stops signs and red lights!
2)It burns more calories. You’ll get a better workout going from 0 to your normal speed in 20 seconds flat.
3) You are an ambassador for the biking community. People are watching, and they are writing and talking about you. Make them say something nice!
Don’t forget signals. If you are going straight after the stop, you can have your hand downward to signal you are stopped (like a car with its brake lights on). Or if you are turning, the statute indicates: “An arm signal to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, unless the arm is needed to control the bicycle, and shall be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn.”
When encountering your next stop sign or red light, the objective is to safely demonstrate your ability to co-exist effectively with other road users… and make a good impression. You’ll be stronger, safer, and create a better image for the bicycling community. I hope those reasons are good enough for you!
