SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, September 28, San Francisco Mayor Edward Lee noted that he would veto the newly proposed bike yield law if it appeared on his desk.
In a letter sent to the Board of Supervisors, Lee states his opposition to the new proposed law and his reasoning behind it, claiming that the “so-called Idaho stop, while expedient for some bicyclists, directly endangers pedestrians and other cyclists, and I cannot allow it to become law.”
The bike yield law is similar to a law set in Idaho, where cyclists would be able to treat stop signs like yield signs and be able to roll through. Supervisor John Avalos, who had a hand in introducing the new legislation, defends the law claiming that cyclists would still be required to stop for pedestrians and vehicles who have the right away. Officers would still be allowed to issue citations to cyclists who proceed to act in dangerous manners, endangering those around them.
The new bike yield law was drafted in response to public outrage by cyclists because of police enforcement efforts during this summer. Cyclists who failed to come to a complete stop at stop signs located on the street ranging from Market to Golden Gate Park were issued citations by law enforcement officers.
Some cyclists are arguing that they are being picked on by the police, who should be focus on vehicles. The Bicycle Coalition has expressed its support of the proposed law. Some cyclists are staging protests by stopping completely at stop signs, which has been known to cause traffic delays.
The legislation would need eight votes to overturn the mayoral veto that is expected. Avalos has stated that so far they have managed to garner six of the eight votes that they need.
