City says give cyclists break on stop signs, but not red lights
The city of Montreal is asking the Quebec government to legally acknowledge a reality many have known for years — cyclists don’t stop at stop signs, so stop trying to make them do so.
In a brief submitted Monday to a provincial commission on improving road safety in Quebec, the city calls for cyclists to be permitted to execute an “Idaho stop” at stop signs, slowing and yielding to traffic if necessary, but not necessarily stopping. “By allowing this manoeuvre by cyclists coming to a stop sign,” notes the brief, “we would be legalizing conduct that is already widespread and generally tolerated by police when carried out in a prudent manner.”
But the city draws the line when it comes to cyclists and red lights at intersections, insisting it not be treated as a stop sign.
The brief also reiterates that right-hand turns on red lights for motorized traffic is a bad idea.
“This choice is based on the Montreal reality, particularly the high level of exposure of on public thoroughfares of vulnerable users. ... Maintaining this ban ensures the safety of users is placed before any other consideration of mobility.”
However when it comes to cyclists, right-hand turns on red could be permitted on an experimental basis.
“This measure poses an important challenge concerning the real and perceived safety of users more vulnerable than cyclists. To ensure that feeling of safety, a regulatory framework must be put in place ... (and) an ongoing evaluation must also be carried out to measure the impact of such a measure.”
The city also called upon the province to rethink Highway Code regulations to include “the use of telephones, personal listening devices or (smartphones) by pedestrians while (crossing) the road.”
We would be legalizing conduct that is already widespread and generally tolerated by police.