Actually, Cyclists Should Be Able to Go at Red Lights (Here’s Why)
Every single time I advocate for building protected bike lanes, several people comment something like, “The problem is that cyclists run red lights.”
It’s true that cyclists run red lights. It’s wrong that it’s a problem on par with the direct and indirect destruction cars cause.
That’s because a bicycle is not a car.
Cyclists running red lights is a fake problem. In fact, it’s so not-a-problem that it’s legal in many states, including “radical left” places like Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Idaho.
Known as the “Idaho Stop,” this law says that cyclists can…
- Treat red lights as stop signs.
- Treat stop signs as yield signs.
This is how it should be everywhere.
4 Reasons Cyclists Should Be Able to Go Through Red Lights
Obviously, that still means yielding to other traffic.
1) Bikes Are Very Light and Rarely Hurt People
Cars weigh thousands of pounds. Bikes weigh a few dozen. The risk they pose to others is not comparable. They also accelerate much more slowly, reducing the risk they pose to pedestrians compared to cars.
This is just physics.
2) Braking Distance Is Much Shorter
A bike can stop almost instantly compared to a car. That makes easing through intersections safer than it looks. More like a pedestrian than a car, a cyclist can stop within a few feet.
3) Bikes Have No Blind Spots
Cyclists can see in all directions. This makes yielding and moving through red lights far safer.
4) Cycling Is Human-Powered
Stopping and starting takes more energy on a bike. Allowing cyclists to yield rather than fully stop supports efficiency without reducing safety.
It means easier and faster commutes for cyclists, which encourages more people to bike to work.
More Cyclists = Fewer Cars = Safer Streets
When cities make biking easier, more people ride, which reduces car traffic and crashes.
What About Delivery Drivers on Ebikes??
Many delivery riders on ebikes blow through red lights when they should yield.
And that’s a problem. But this comes from the incentives of companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats that push riders to deliver faster to earn enough money, not because of some moral failing on the part of the deliveristas.
The solution is to regulate the companies, not punish the workers.
What About Riding on Sidewalks??
A cyclist going 4mph on a sidewalk (walking speeds) is not an issue, but at 14mph it is. So how do you deal with this?
As I wrote about in my article on the benefits of protected bike lanes, when cities build protected bike lanes, sidewalk riding goes down.
The reason for this is obvious. Cyclists often don’t feel safe in car traffic, so they go on the sidewalk. When you separate them from the cars, they’re much less likely
Move Citi Bike Docks To The Street
Many community boards in New York City, when Citi Bike (or the bike share in your city) wants to add more docks, insist that they go on the sidewalk, not the street.
That’s because they don’t want to give up their free parking (at the expense of the public.)
Well, if you put bikes on the sidewalks, then people will ride on sidewalks.
So don’t do this.
More Bike Riders is a Good Thing For Society
When more people choose to ride bikes, we all benefit.
Fewer cars on the road means cleaner air, quieter streets, and less traffic.
Injuries decline because a higher share of trips is made on vehicles that rarely cause serious harm.
Shifting space away from car storage also frees up valuable land for parks, housing, wider sidewalks, and plazas that serve everyone, not just drivers. The sprawl caused by car-dependent infrastructure is also a disaster for the environment.
On top of that, cycling builds daily exercise into routines, improving public health and lowering healthcare costs. Encouraging more people to ride bikes creates safer, healthier, and more livable cities. Everybody wins.
(Everyone except, I suppose, the automobile and fossil fuel industries.)
So let’s stop punishing cyclists for safely going through red lights. It’s the same logic that punishes jaywalking. The real danger on the road is the cars.
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