Reply to Are bikes allowed to go through red lights on major roads?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]The only reason cyclists can go faster than drivers is because drivers are stopping at stop signs and cyclists are not.[/b] How is that a good thing? It’s against the law (look at the specifics of how Idaho stops are supposed to work) and it’s really dangerous. I drive and can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to slam on the breaks to avoid some idiot on a bike flying through an intersection where they absolutely did not have the right of way. [/quote]

No, that's just not true.

When I'm driving, and I'm stuck behind four (or eight, or whatever) other cars at a stop sign or red light, I have to wait for each of those four (or eight, or whatever) cars to go through the intersection before I can go.

When I'm bicycling, and there are four (or eight, or whatever) other cars waiting at the stop sign or red light, I can ride next to the cars to get to the front of the line. I don't have to wait for those four (or eight, or whatever) other cars to go before I can go. I can go as soon as I've stopped at the stop sign or as soon as the light turns green.[/quote]

Yes exactly.  Cars are faster in an absolute sense but they are not more efficient in traffic so they lose some of the gains when there are other cars around.  It take longer and uses more space to start and stop four cars than it does to to start and stop four bikes.  Also there is nothing wrong with bikes filtering forward when they have the space- if you are driving and pass a cyclist then you are taking advantage of your speed in a car.  When a cyclist then passes you they are taking advantage of their size to move forward.  [/quote]

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