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House bill would let cyclists roll through stop signs after yielding; advocates cite safety data
Summary
House Bill 7 would permit bicyclists to slow and proceed through stop signs without a full stoppage if they yield to other traffic, aligning Maryland with several other states and citing studies showing reduced intersection crashes.
Delegate Regina Boyce told the Environment and Transportation Committee that House Bill 7 would authorize cyclists approaching a stop sign to slow, yield and proceed without a full stop when safe.
Supporters said the change — sometimes called "stop as yield" or the "Idaho stop" — reduces intersection exposure for bicyclists, helps avoid rear‑end collisions and gets cyclists through intersections more quickly, improving safety and traffic flow.
Evidence and testimony: Seth Grimes of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association cited a December 2024 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration analysis showing stop‑as‑yield laws were associated with reduced crash rates at certain intersection types. Riders and advocates from Bike Moore, Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Bike Maryland described practical benefits: stopping at low‑speed intersections can make cyclists wobbly and less visible, increasing their risk.
Opponents and concerns: the committee received letters of opposition from some groups concerned about applicability on highways or multi‑lane roadways; the bill’s sponsor stressed the text applies to roads two lanes or less and included statutory exemptions for emergency situations and directions of police officers. Advocates noted similar laws are in force in several states, including Delaware, Oregon and Washington, and Montgomery County and other jurisdictions in the DMV have already adopted TOD‑friendly zoning or related policies that make cycling safer in station areas.
What’s next: HB 7 was the subject of a favorable hearing with broad cycling‑community support; the committee did not take final action in the hearing record. Backers urged the panel to advance the bill citing national safety data and examples from other states.
Ending: If enacted, the change would align Maryland with other jurisdictions that allow cyclists to clear intersections more quickly after yielding, with the bill’s text preserving exemptions for safety and allowing law enforcement discretion.
