Do Bicycles Have to Stop at Stop Signs in Arizona?

Arizona law makes every cyclist stop at every stop sign, as motorists must stop a vehicle. A rolling stop can cost more in a personal injury case than a traffic citation. After a crash, the motorist’s insurance company may argue part of the liability was yours, reducing compensation.

Why Cyclists Have to Stop at Stop Signs in Arizona

Cyclists must stop at Arizona stop signs because, on a roadway or shoulder, Arizona law gives them the same rights and duties as drivers, even though a bicycle is not a “vehicle” in Arizona’s definitions. The same traffic laws require bicyclists to obey red lights and every traffic control device. Other Arizona bicycle laws cover lane position, sidewalk cycling, lights and helmets.

Many bicyclists think stopping is optional because a slow roll through an empty intersection seems safe, but Arizona has no Idaho stop law letting cyclists treat stop signs as yield signs.

How Much Is an Arizona Bike Ticket for a Stop Sign?

Running a stop sign is a civil traffic violation whose fine varies by court. Tucson City Court’s 2022 schedule lists $238, surcharges included. Arizona state law bars courts from reporting a bicycle traffic violation to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), so a person faces no driver’s license risk.

Do You Have to Stop for 3 Seconds?

There is no three-second rule, only a complete stop with your bike no longer moving. A person at a stop sign must come to a complete stop, in this order:

• Before the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, near the curb or edge of the roadway.
• With no crosswalk, at a clearly marked stop line on the pavement.
• With neither, at the point nearest the cross street where a person has a view of approaching vehicle traffic at a safe distance.

A rolling stop is a violation, even at walking speed. Hazards such as potholes, a driveway, or parked vehicles near the edge of the lane reduce visibility and raise the risk of harm, so a full stop supports the safety of children and road users.

State law does not require a foot down or leaving the seat.

Who Has the Right of Way After You Stop

Stopping is only half the duty, a bicyclist must yield to any vehicle in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard. The cyclist should check the lane for pedestrians, children, drivers, and conditions before proceeding.

In ADOT’s review of crashes through 2008, law enforcement officers recorded a bicyclist running the sign in 2% of those bicycle accidents, against failure to yield in 12% for bicyclists and 22% for drivers.

The bicycle then has the right of way a car would have. A left turn or any turn requires a hand signal; extend your arm and check front and rear hazards, road conditions, and safety at intersections before crossing lanes.

Can You Still Recover Compensation After Running a Stop Sign?

Running a stop sign can make a person partly liable and reduce compensation. However, the traffic violation does not end the injured person’s ability to recover when the driver shares fault, unless the person wantonly caused the injury. The insurance company may raise the violation as evidence that negligence caused harm and injuries.

Bicyclists can be found partly or wholly liable. The comparative fault law reduces compensation by the portion a jury assigns to you, counting only negligence that helped cause the personal injury.

Talk to an Arizona Bicycle Accident Lawyer After a Stop-Sign Crash

This article covers the key Arizona bicycle laws on stop signs, but every accident involves distinct facts. Send the police report number to Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group (BALG) for support. An attorney explains what traffic violations mean for liability and compensation. As this article shows, bicycle laws on safety, and lanes give cyclists rights on every road. The firm’s attorneys are personal injury lawyers who provide support in bicycle accident and pedestrian accidents cases across Arizona roads and shoulders.

Posted by Robert Goldwater

Robert Goldwater is a cyclist representing cyclists. He has practiced personal injury and wrongful death law for more than 20 years, graduating with Honors from Arizona State University Law School, and has helped recover over $1 billion for clients, including injured cyclists.

All articles by Robert Goldwater