Paris is going to start adding bike-specific lights to the bottom of traffic lights at certain intersections to let cyclists proceed on red.
The lights will indicate when bikes can either turn right or ride ahead - even when lights for cars are on red.
All I can think is what a role reversal this is. America is suppossed to come up with the overly complicated technical solution, and Europe is supposed to just find an easier, low-tech way, but whatever.
The change would "help improve the flow of cycle traffic", the statement said.
Tests held in 2012 found that allowing the cyclists to move more freely cut down the chances of collisions with cars, including accidents involving the car's blind spot.
This seemed like a decent idea to me, since I'd prefer not to be breaking the law when I cross a red light. But in both of the examples the lights are in places where bicycles don't cross lanes of car traffic. ...so of course they should be allowed to proceed. France doesn't allow turning right on red for cars, so this does make a bit more sense in that context. But it isn't much like the Idaho stop at all.
Posted by: Ben | July 10, 2015 at 09:58 AM
FWIW, I have a friend who describes the Idaho stop light law (proceed safely after full stop on red) for bicycles as being similar in spirit to allowing right on red after a full stop for cars.
Posted by: Jonathan Krall | July 10, 2015 at 12:26 PM