Cities are struggling with the right way to control bicycle traffic in a system built for cars. Should bicycles act like cars? Or should roads change to meet the special needs of bicycles?
This article divides bicyclists into "vehicularists," who believe that bicyclists should share the road and follow automotive habits like signaling turns and stopping at lights, and "facilitators," who believe that roads should be altered to accommodate the special need of bicyclists.
"'If there weren't cars, we wouldn't need stop signs,' says Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. 'They're not there for bicycles.' Bikers can safely slow down, look both ways, and proceed without sacrificing the momentum necessary to keep cycling, says Thornley. Lawmakers tend to favor the full-stop, in part because not all cyclists are skilled enough to judge the safety of proceeding through an intersection."
FULL STORY: Stop Means Stop
Virginia Lawmakers Won't Let Cyclists Roll Through Stop Signs—Yet
The state legislature passed a bill calling for a study of the proposed law and its effects in other states.
As San Francisco Debates Idaho Stop, Gov. Brown Gives All Cyclists a Break
Regardless of how San Francisco's proposed Bike Yield Law fares, all California cyclists who are ticketed for not stopping at stop signs may have the option to pay a reduced fine if they opt to attend bike school thanks to a new law signed Sept. 21.
The Passing of One of the Bay Area's Most Effective Bicycle Advocates
Deb Hubsmith, who went from executive director of the Marin Bicycle Coalition to state and federal bicycle advocacy positions, passed away on August 18. She was known throughout California as being a tireless force for the advancement of bicycling.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.
Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.
Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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