CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — A cyclist rolling through a stop sign may appear to be illegal. However, Utah’s stop-as-yield law may be safer and more efficient for all road users.

Next time you encounter a bicyclist rolling through a stop sign, they may be treating the stop as a yield. But to motorists, this may sound counterintuitive, unfair and dangerous. St. George News spoke with Mila Allinson, marketing manager for Bike Legal Utah, to better understand Utah’s stop-as-yield law for bicyclists.

“At Bike Legal, whenever we publish an article on ‘sharing the road,’ we often receive a barrage of angry comments from drivers directed towards cyclists who don’t adhere to traffic laws,” Allinson said. “Rolling through stop signs or proceeding through red lights are two common complaints against cyclists. This animosity between drivers and cyclists can often be attributed to a lack of understanding.”

The law: HB 142, Utah’s stop-as-yield law for bicyclists 

In the 2021 Utah legislative session, HB 142, also known as the Utah Yield Law, passed with an overwhelming majority of 28-1. This new law allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. This means that a bicycle rider is no longer required to stop at a stop sign but may proceed through the intersection if it is safe to do so and under these conditions:

• The cyclist must slow down to a reasonable speed.
• The cyclist must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the intersection.
• The cyclist must yield to other traffic that has the right of way.
• The cyclist must yield to any oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard. 

Utah’s Red Light Law

Reasons for the stop-as-yield law

The practice of bicyclists yielding versus stopping at intersections reflects efficiency and safety. The extra effort required to accelerate a motionless bicycle and rider back up to speed to get through an intersection is not only physically taxing, but this delay creates added danger. A cyclist that is clipped into their pedals must twist their foot, unclip, put their foot down to stop, then carefully re-clip into the pedal and create a new force to start moving again. Riders that are not clipped in have an even greater force to apply to get back up to speed.

Bicycles already travel slower than cars. If bicyclists can maintain momentum through a clear intersection, everyone, including motorists, can get to their destinations quicker. The law allows the rider to mitigate their risks, and they have the greatest to lose if they are careless.

“Some rules that apply to vehicles aren’t necessarily the best when riding a bicycle,” Allinson said. “Bicycles and vehicles share the same roads, but pedaling a 20-pound bicycle is far different from pushing a gas pedal in a 2-ton steel-protected vehicle. If a rider is careless, they have the greatest to lose.” 

• Stop-as-yield law decriminalizes a common riding behavior and decreases the drain on court resources.
• Studies indicate improved road safety in states that have adopted stop-as-yield. There is no evidence that these new laws have increased traffic incidents.
• When a bicyclist can maintain a safe but precautionary momentum through an intersection, it allows for continuous traffic flow for everyone.
• Stop-as-yield encourages more people on bikes, which equates to fewer cars on the road and less congestion.

How the law came to be

Utah House Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, who sponsored HB 142, had been a consistent backer of the string of previously failed attempts to pass similar measures dating back to 2011. This time, in 2021, the bill was successfully passed. 

Moss said she believes the reason for the success was due to the increasing number of legislators who are cyclists or have gained a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by cyclists when riding on the roads.

Utah is not the first state to introduce bicycle safety legislation around a stop-as-yield approach to intersections. Idaho introduced its original “Idaho Stop” law in 1982. The law operated successfully for many years in obscurity, with few people outside of Idaho aware of its existence. 

In 2008, when the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission investigated the feasibility of such a law, the concept of the Idaho Stop began to gain recognition. Since then, several states have introduced their own legislation, including Utah with its catchy “Utah Yield” moniker.

Delaware was the first state outside of Idaho to introduce its version of the Idaho Stop law, known as the “Delaware Yield,” in 2017. Arkansas followed suit in 2019 by adopting stop-as-yield and red-light-as-stop laws. Since then, many other states, including Oregon, Washington, Utah, North Dakota and Oklahoma, have signed similar bills into law.

In Colorado, certain jurisdictions allow the stop-as-yield. Additionally, Idaho stop-style bills or resolutions have been proposed in San Francisco, Minnesota, Arizona, Montana and Washington, D.C.

Common counter arguments

• Bicycles are considered vehicles, therefore should follow the same road laws as motor vehicles, no matter what.

Allinson said while that is true for the most part, pedaling a 20-pound bicycle is not the same as pushing a gas pedal on a 2-ton steel-protected car or truck.

• Cyclists are already reckless and don’t follow the rules, and now it’s decriminalized.

There’s a long-standing debate as to who violates traffic laws more often. People selfishly break the laws often viewing their time as more important than others, and the animosity and often hatred between drivers and cyclists seems to grow each year.

Allinson said many ill-behaved bicyclists are part of the problem with this lack of respect, such as when a cyclist or group of cyclists seem to have disregard for traffic laws or the presence of anyone else on the road. Bicyclists absolutely have a responsibility to follow the laws if they want to coexist with motor vehicles.

At the same time, responsible cyclists often feel exposed and disrespected, and there is a sense that the rules aren’t there to protect the most vulnerable road users. 

• Stop means stop. Proceeding through a stop sign without stopping is more dangerous for everyone.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s current research and data, these stop-as-yield laws showed added safety in states where they were evaluated and may positively affect the environment, traffic and transportation. Studies have shown no increase in traffic incidents.

Safety is a shared responsibility

“We all have a common goal, and that is to arrive at our destination safely and with minimal delays,” Allinson said. “The only way to achieve zero injuries and fatalities on our roadways is by working together, practicing patience and setting a good example for everyone else”

Allinson said Bike Legal strives to provide well-researched information about the laws, safety and how to share the road responsibly and legally. Bicycle injuries and fatalities are on the rise nationally, and they want to do everything they can to help reverse these statistics.

Visit Bike Legal’s blog for comprehensive information and statistics regarding Utah’s stop-as-yield law.

About Bike Legal

Bike Legal’s mission is to advocate for bicycle safety and share the road responsibly through education. Their legal team is committed to supporting and representing cyclists across the United States, no matter where or how they ride. The team is a family of cyclists dedicated to helping cyclists, and they live and ride in Utah on the same roads and trails as their clients.

Bike Legal’s goal is to advocate for the cycling community by building partnerships and bringing awareness to bicycle safety through education.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a bicycle accident, Bike Legal is here to help! Visit BikeLegalUtah.com or call 877-BIKE LEGAL (877-245-3534). 

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Resources

• Bike Legal Utah | Address: Offices in St. George and Murray | Telephone: 877-245-3534 | Email: [email protected] | Website.

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