Car drivers in California may need to be extra cautious when stopping at an intersection. At the start of September, State Assembly leaders approved a bill that would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yields. 

Entitled AB 122, this new law aims to encourage more Golden State commuters to convert from driving to bicycling. According to the bill’s proponents, giving bicyclists more freedom should encourage people to use eco-friendly modes of transportation.

But beyond improving California’s “green score,” bill supporters claim this statute will reduce cyclist fatalities and injuries. Allegedly, the less time bicyclists spend in intersections, the greater chance they will avoid serious collisions.

According to a recent bicycle accident study, most of LA’s deadliest cyclist crashes occur at intersections. The most dangerous site in the city remains Sepulveda Boulevard and Sherman Way in Van Nuys. Recent data suggests there were 47 reported collisions at this intersection in 2019. Despite LA’s Vision Zero program, the city still experiences higher-than-average cyclist crashes compared with many other US cities. 

Those in favor of AB 122 believe this new policy could address LA’s intersection safety issues. They also point out this law doesn’t give bicyclists carte blanche to speed through intersections. Cyclists must slow down and proceed with caution when approaching stop signs. Bicyclists will not, however, have to make a hard stop unless they believe it’s the safest option. 

While this policy is a substantial shift in California’s vehicle code, it wouldn’t be the first time a state changed its stop sign policy. In fact, there are now nine states that have similar “yield” policies for bicyclists. Some lawmakers refer to this policy as the “Idaho stop,” since the original stop/yield law passed in Idaho in the 1980s.

To support these safety claims, UC Berkeley professors studied the effect of Idaho’s policy in 2009. Data from this study suggested severe bicyclist crashes went down by about 14.5 percent since Idaho inaugurated its policy.

There was also data out of Delaware that supported these safety claims. Thirty months after Delaware introduced its new yield policy, bicyclist crashes decreased by over 20 percent at intersections.

Despite these statistics, not everyone in California is on board with the new stop/yield policy. A few assembly members argued this new law would increase total traffic fatalities. 

Lawmakers opposed to AB 122 are afraid motorists won’t know how this policy works, thus leading to increased tension at intersections. Some critics also complain that AB 122 doesn’t make an exception for e-bikes. 

Although California makes distinctions between different styles of e-bikes, they are all held to the same standard as traditional bicycles. The only exception is “type three e-bikes,” which have a max speed of 28 mph. Unlike type one or two e-bikes, everyone who rides a type three e-bike must wear a DOT-approved helmet. On all other bikes, only Californians younger than 17 have to wear a helmet.

Even if AB 122 becomes law, it would only be in effect for six years. Once this trial period is up, state leaders will review crash statistics and consider whether to reinstate this policy.