Thursday Morning Commute - Wyoming Stop

Good morning

• New, complete bike lanes coming to Columbia Road between Euclid St. and Adams Mill Road by Thanksgiving.
• The Fenwick Station project in Silver Spring (above) "includes a proposed extension to the Silver Spring Green Trail, a pathway along the future Capital Crescent Trail, and space reservation for a future bike share station." 
• 37% of people going to the Tyson's area Metro stations plan to get there by bike. [But they probably won't count as bike commuters according to the ACS].
• RTC honors 25 Trail Champions on its 25th birthday. This includes locals David Burwell and Barbara Burwell of Bethesda, MD, Peter Harnik of Arlington, VA and The Honorable Tom Murphy of Washington, D.C.
• Some Lyttonsville residents are unhappy with the Purple Line/CCT designs in their area.  
• In 2009, the police in Jackson Hole, WY basically made the Idaho stop the law.

"After one summer of police stings on bikes running stop signs, and a lot of talk, we have reached a reasonable peace treaty on this issue.

Local law enforcement here in Jackson Hole will ticket a bike that blatantly rolls a stop at speed with no care. Quick $100 fine, and no sympathy from bike advocates like me.

Legally, bikes are required to stop at Stop signs in Wyoming. However - Jackson Police and Teton County Sheriff have publicly said they will not ticket a bicyclist that:

- slows cautiously as approaching a stop sign,
- rider carefully looks left and right, fully in control and able to stop,
- rider signals properly if making a turn,
- rider does not fully stop but continues after determining it is safe to do so.

Our Sheriff and police have determined this is equal to a STOP and they will not harass cyclists. We agree."

After one summer of police stings on bikes running stop signs, and a lot of talk, we have reached a reasonable peace treaty on this issue.

Local law enforcement here in Jackson Hole will ticket a bike that blatantly rolls a stop at speed with no care. Quick $100 fine, and no sympathy from bike advocates like me.

Legally, bikes are required to stop at Stop signs in Wyoming. However - Jackson Police and Teton County Sheriff have publicly said they will not ticket a bicyclist that:

- slows cautiously as approaching a stop sign,
- rider carefully looks left and right, fully in control and able to stop,
- rider signals properly if making a turn,
- rider does not fully stop but continues after determining it is safe to do so.

Our Sheriff and police have determined this is equal to a STOP and they will not harass cyclists. We agree.

Comments

[Jim T]

I think that the main difference between Jackson Hole and Idaho is that in Idaho, you can blow right through a stop sign as long as doing so is consistent with your duty to yield. In Jackson Hole, you have to slow to a speed that would allow you to stop suddenly. Possibly 5 mph or so? Possibly the median speed at which cars roll through stop sigs?

I think this Jackson Hole approach is politically feasible in MD, while Idaho stop would not even get a sponsor. I've been meaning to sample opinions on this but since you've brought it up: If you like the Idaho stop sign rule, what portion of the value of that rule would be accomplished with a Jackson Hole type rule?

[GMB]

Personally, the Jackson Hole stop is what I do at most intersections around here -- I just don't trust cars. But can we get a better name? The JH stop? The Hole stop?

[Eric_W.]

$100? I wonder whether that is the same as for drivers in cars.

[jj]

There are already bike lanes on Columbia Rd NW btwn Adams Mill & Euclid, as well as for a few blocks further east. The new ones will extend from Conneticut Ave to 16th St. NW Yay!!!

Also, they seem to be painting bike lanes on Naylor Rd SE Looks like they have moved the dividing line narrowing the lane heading NW (?) down the hill, with no bike lane. Looks like only the climbing side will have a bike lane. The uphill lane will be great. On the downhill, I typically bike the speedlimit but cars usually go much faster. Maybe (hopefully) the narrow lane will have a calming effect.

[contrarian]

Failing to signal is a separate infraction from failing to stop. It shouldn't be a factor in whether you made a proper stop. The whole "signals properly" thing makes me uneasy.

[Greenbelt]

I'm a Hole stopper.