Stop Sign Part 6

The League of American Bicyclists, one of the largest nonprofit cycling advocacy and education groups in the nation, is conflicted about the Idaho Code.
“We don’t have a formal position on it,” Executive Director Andy Clarke said. “And recent discussions about coming up with one identified a wide divergence of views from the political to the philosophical that seem tough to reconcile at the moment.”
Education Director Preston Tyree heads up a team of 20 “coaches” who instruct the League instructors across the country. When the League tried to develop a position on the Idaho Code, they went to the coaches for input.
“Out of those 20,” Tyree said, “it came down pretty much even on ‘it’s a great idea’/’it’s a terrible idea.’”
Tyree has his own take on the Code.
"Cyclists have the same rights and should act and be treated as vehicles. If we somehow make them different from cars, we're gonna have a problem.”
Separate laws for cyclists would probably aggravate some drivers, Tryee said, which might very well create the type of tension that could lead to more dangerous conditions for cyclists.
Well, they can suck it up, one might say, cyclists are different from cars. They’re certainly less dangerous. Why not just let them do what they do anyway?
“While bicyclists and drivers of motor vehicles have different equipment,” Tyree said, “they are on the same roads and should act the same to be predictable.”
Cyclists fall under the same traffic laws in every state other than Idaho for a reason, Tyree said. “It’s the safest way to operate.”
“You can quote me as saying this: I’m very uncomfortable with the Idaho law.”