Comment by lfuller | Hacker News Reader

Comment by lfuller | Hacker News Reader

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> I appreciate your point, I just think it's rather like saying a speed limit isn't a target. While it's true and the spirit in which the rules are intended, the reality is that most drivers will assume driving the limit is reasonable unless and until it very obviously is not.

I disagree with this counterpoint. In "Idaho Stops" the law is extremely clear - a red light is treated as a full stop, and a stop sign is treated as a yield. As yield and stop are both well understood on American roads this law would be clear to cyclist and driver alike.

Following your line of reasoning, yield signs should be replaced with stop signs as the harm caused by drivers blowing through them outweighs the benefits. Do you agree with this?

I get the feeling (but don't know) that the practical effects of yield/give way lines, stop signs and red lights might be different on the roads here from on the roads there, so perhaps we're drawing different inferences about how road users are likely to treat them.

For example, here in Cambridge, UK, I'm not aware of any general problems with anyone's behaviour at give way lines, but cyclists going through red lights or past other blocks such as no entry signs frequently seem to exhibit poor judgement and create potentially dangerous situations. In this case, the law is also clear -- passing that red light or no entry sign is illegal -- and I'm sure the cyclists all know that. So it's not whether they understand the law that I'm calling into question, it's their judgement about how to cycle safely regardless of the legality.

If cyclists tend to exhibit different patterns of behaviour where you are, then what we're talking about might make a lot of sense in your environment. It seems most of us agree that looking at the real evidence is the only way to be sure. But over here, at least, I would worry that changing the law in this way would be seen by a large number of cyclists as condoning their current riding style, dangerous as it often is.

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