San Francisco votes to allow bicyclists to make rolling stops

  • 2015-12-25
San Francisco's bicyclists are currently required to stop at stop Signs the same way cars do, but that could be changing soon.

The City’s Board of Supervisors voted on December 15 to let bicycle riders make rolling stops, rather than stopping completely at stop Signs, provided it is safe for them to do so.

The issue of bicyclists not making complete stops became an issue earlier this year, when police handed out a substantial number of tickets to bikers who did not make complete stops. SF Bicycle Coalition's Chris Cassidy said the group believes bikers who are riding dangerously should be ticketed, but it also believes the police would be better off focusing resources on more dangerous traffic violators.

Apparently agreeing with this thinking, the board approved the ordinance instructing police to make ticketing bicyclists who go safely through stop Signs at a slow speed a very low priority.

Opinion is divided on the issue. Larry Jensen, a construction worker, says bicyclists should obey the law and not receive special treatment, while Tom Gilberti, who uses a wheelchair, reminds bicyclists to be extremely careful, no matter what the law says.

The bicyclists' coalition might want to create Brochures to explain its viewpoint, and mail them to residents, since the law is controversial and could be overturned.



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