The Bicycle Club of Irvine

[Jeff Reissman]

Bill,

At the beginning of todays ride you mentioned riding with the chief of police and discussing enforcement of traffic laws for cyclists. I was wondering what the traffic enforcement is for a group going through a stop sign. When riding in a group and trying to stay together it doesn't make much sense for each individual rider to stop at the sign. The general way it has always been done is for the person in front to slow down, check for cars and then yell out rolling and the entire group goes through the sign. Since this is a scenario that we have to deal with often I was wondering how the law enforcement community view it.

Jeff

[Bill Sellin]

I'll ask for an opinion, but I am sure that if it was done by a group of motorcycles, or van, or trucks - the law is the same for all vehicles:
That's why funerals get motorcycle escorts, why roads get closed for bike races; unless you have a permit & escort, the Vehicle Code does not give us a pass if we are more than 1..

Now an empty 4 way stop in the industrial area where no one sees us, probably is just building a bad habit, but no one sees us...
If we lived in Solvang & rode back roads, there are fewer stops & fewer chances of being seen... although most century organizers expect riders to follow the law &/or have police controlling intersections.
Do it on Yale Loop in mixed traffic & I expect the whole group to get pulled in for a 'splainin' if not a citation of each rider.
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Most of the world is either downhill or flat...