Cyclists seeing red over lights

CARSON CITY - As crazy as it may sound, a newly elected assemblyman wants to change state law and allow bicyclists and motorcyclists to turn left on red lights, at least in limited circumstances.

Assemblyman Michael Sprinkle, D-Sparks, realizes he has lot of explaining to do to win support for his first bill, but he insists the idea makes perfect sense and would stop a lot of the frustration that bikers experience.

A former motorcyclist and current bicycle aficionado, Sprinkle said these vehicles often are too light and small to trip left-turn signals on some four-way traffic lights. The cyclists sometimes sit in the lanes for interminable lengths waiting for a red light to change when there is no other traffic in sight. If it is late at night or in an isolated area, it might seem like forever.

Their only solution is to make illegal turns on red lights, according to Sprinkle, leaving them subject to traffic tickets.

His proposal makes sense, said Scott Ma­gruder, a Department of Transportation spokesman. But he noted that technology is coming to the rescue and a law change might not be necessary.

Magruder said his agency for the last decade has been replacing sensors in pavement with visual detectors on the traffic signals. These new detectors are more likely to trip a green light for bikers. He won't guarantee they detect every bike, though.

Even more importantly, Magruder said the Transportation Department over the last two years has been phasing in new left-turn signals at busy inter­sections in Las Vegas, Carson City and other areas.

Motorists now see a yellow flashing arrow left-turn signal at many four-way intersections, instead of the constant red light bicyclists normally see.

The yellow arrow allows the bike or other vehicle to move into the inter­section, wait until traffic clears and then make a left turn. There is no waiting all night for a red light that won't change because it doesn't detect the bike or motorcycle.

"You are going to see more and more of the flashing yellow arrows," Magruder said. "I think it is the solution for motorcycles waiting there for hours. But it is also going to help all drivers from having to wait for a red light to change and waste a lot of fuel and time. We know people get frustrated."

Magruder thinks it would be a safety problem if left turns were allowed on red lights. He fears that when a bike turned on the red light, then drivers following in motor vehicles would assume the light has changed and turn left, too.

REACTION MEASURED

Bill Castle, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department, said police would first want to see the actual bill and review the ramifications before deciding whether to support it.

Under state law, according to Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Kevin Malone, there are no circumstances under which any vehicle can turn left on a red light. However, a ticketed driver could present his special circumstances to a judge.

Dennis Coyne, a member of the state Bicycle Safety Advisory Council and a bike shop operator in the Carson City area, said he and his board would want to review the bill before making their opinions known.

Coyne said he was not aware of any rider being ticketed for turning left on red when no other traffic is in sight. Sitting needlessly for a long time in a left-turn lane "is definitely frustrating for people who want to obey the law," he added.

He no longer rides in urban areas, so he doesn't have that problem himself.

BIKERS REQUESTED BILL

Sprinkle said he is introducing the red light bill at the request of motorcyclists and bicyclists. They have told him of the frustration they feel when their vehicles don't trip a green light and they have to decide between running a red light or waiting for the sun to rise.

"They shouldn't have to run a red light and get a ticket," he said. "After a certain amount of time, they should be able to turn when there is no safety hazard."

While he hasn't determined yet how long bikers should be required to wait before turning, Sprinkle said maybe after the signals have cycled twice in each of the four directions.

He said he does not want to cause any safety problems and the time that bikers should be required to wait before turning will be discussed during legislative hearings.

Sprinkle also pointed out other states have considered similar bills. Illinois this year started letting bikers turn left on red lights after waiting a "reasonable time."

The law does not define what a reasonable time is, although legislators discussed a two-minute wait before cyclists could turn on red.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.