Cycling Safety at Intersections: My Rule for When the Driver Has a Stop Sign
🚲 Quick Take: You’ve got the right-of-way. The car has a stop sign. But one thing has changed—and it’s making intersections more dangerous than ever for cyclists. One of the most dangerous places for a cyclist to encounter a car is at an intersection. And I’m not just talking about big, busy intersections with traffic lights. In fact, I’ve come to believe those are actually safer. At least you know who has the green, who’s turning, and where to expect trouble. But those smaller intersections—especially the ones where you have the right-of-way and the car is stopped at a stop sign —they’re tricky. I’ve had far too many close calls in those exact situations. A few years ago, there was one thing I always relied on: eye contact . I’d approach an intersection and glance straight through the driver’s window. If the driver turned their head and made eye contact with me, I’d feel a little better. It wasn’t a guarantee, but at least I knew they saw me. Of course, I still rode...
