Softening up red lights and stop signs for bikes - the 'Idaho stop' law

Hello everybody,

As I’m fairly unfamiliar with the legal system of NZ, I’m not sure if lower cost fixes would be the right place for this suggestion or not, so let me know. I’ve just had the pleasure of bike commuting and riding recreationally in the USA for the past month and a bit, and in this time I’ve been making full use of a law here called the “Idaho stop” law. Essentially this law sets the precedent that, when on a bike, stop signs are to be considered yield (give way) signs and stop lights are to be considered stop signs. The first part of this law is big in the US because there are many more stop signs than in NZ, but the second part of the law I can see being very useful in many areas of NZ given the lower overall traffic volume. When utilizing this law, bikes are required to come to a full stop at a red light, check the surroundings, and then proceed if safe to do so. This law could also help eliminate, or elevate the urgent need for, some of the other request, such as new or calibrated sensors.

This is a really good idea - if we could get the NZ government to agree to passing it into law! And then socialise it.

At present, we certainly seem to upset some drivers when we do this. And it is a right pain getting phasing / lights implementations to work for everyone well.

I wonder if it could be made a bylaw in Dunedin. Anyone know how bylaws might work with such a thing?

Seriously doubt it could be done at a local level. I was told the cycling*across the Barnes dances at Albany st SH 1 with Pedestrians required a change by central govt at legislation level

I do think education is better aimed at getting people to understand why we do legal and recommended in the road code things rather than asking them to tolerate us breaking the law.

*As opposed to pedestrianising ourselves by dismounting and walking on foot

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