Idaho Stop Breezes Through the Oregon Legislature

Before the Republicans in the Oregon Senate skipped town, they managed to approve a bill that legalizes the Idaho Stop for bikers around the state. The Oregon House also approved the bill this week.

1 minute read

June 27, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


America's Bike Capital

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Hannah Chinn reports from Oregon, where the notoriously bike-friendly state has taken a step to legalizing a notoriously bike-friendly law: the Idaho Stop.

Legislators in the Ohio State Legislature passed an Idaho Stop bill on Tuesday of this week, which would "allow cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs."

"Senate Bill 998 permits bicyclists to enter intersections controlled by either stop signs or flashing red signals without stopping completely, provided they yield lawful right of way to other approaching traffic. Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), a chief sponsor of the bill, said it only applies to bicyclists — so no changes for motorcycles, unicyclists, or scooters," reports Chinn.

Despite the Oregon State protesting a climate change bill and holding the state government hostage by skipping town, thus risking the future of the climate bill as well as substantial, statewide land use reforms under consideration in the state, the Oregon Senate has already approve the Idaho Stop bill, so this piece of legislation is on its way to Governor Kate Brown's desk.

Thursday, June 27, 2019 in Willamette Week

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