Should You Stop for a Red Light or Stop Sign?
To stop or not to stop: That is the question. It’s an even bigger question when you’re riding in a large group. Unfortunately, there isn’t one right answer. In an informal survey, we saw not only answers across the board—ranging from ‘stop at everything’ to ‘roll anything that seems safe’— but also skirmishes between commenters. Clearly, this is a divisive—and sensitive—topic in the cycling world. However, we did notice a few key trends, and developed a set of rules that your group can work with to set a stoplight standard based on where you’re riding.
Decide before you ride
When you ride with a group of any size, make a plan beforehand for how to handle stop signs and stoplights. “When I lead road rides, lights are absolutes,” explains Michigan cyclist Chris Jensen. “Stop signs are condition-dependent. Full stop at two-ways, and full stop where there's traffic.” A disjointed group where some riders blaze through and others screech to a halt is dangerous both for the group (it could lead to crashes) and for drivers, who don’t know how to predict cyclists’ movements. A decision before the ride can also reduce in-ride squabbling—bickering is one of the fastest, easiest ways to ruin a great ride.
Stay together
This is the number one group ride rule of the Rapha Cycle Club in New York City. “Take care of each other,” the guidelines state, meaning, don’t leaving half the group behind because they felt unsafe blazing through a red light. Sometimes, though, you end up in a group so large that only some of you can make it through one green light cycle. If you do get split up, politely wait for the rest of the group to get the next green light.
Location matters
Plan your group ride routes with as few stop signs and lights as possible, to limit stops before they start. That’s Georgia-based cyclist Mark Babcock’s best advice, and it’s genius for a good reason: You can’t run a red light if there aren’t any along the ride route!
Shout it out
Even if you’ve established a stoplight protocol, cyclist Paul Goulden reminds his group to shout a warning that everyone is stopping. Then, yell “Clear!” when you’re ready to roll again. If the group is large, the riders at the back may not see the stop sign ahead, so yelling prevents getting rear-ended.
Check your town laws before you ride
If you’re thinking about telling a group to roll stop signs and go at red lights if traffic is clear, make sure you know if the laws are on your side. Some cities and states allow riders to run red lights if there isn’t any traffic. Knowing if it’s allowed can save you an argument with a cop, or enforce the need to stop your group.
Know your group
If you have a beginner-heavy ride, stop more: That way, there’s no panicking, and riders learn to pay attention to red lights and stop signs. "Big groups, big stops,” says Pittsburgh cyclist Jordan Villella. The larger your group, the longer stops are going to take. Embrace it and enjoy the ride.
Don’t be a dick
If the rest of the group decides to stop at every sign, respect that decision and don’t sprint ahead. You may not get invited back.
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