This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re Ellen Gibson's letter, "Why was I ticketed?" (Forum, July 14), and the article "SLC to cyclists: We will ticket you" (Tribune, July 17):
Gibson, a cyclist, was recently ticketed for not coming to a complete stop and putting her foot down on the pavement at a stop sign.
Few cars approaching a stop sign with no other vehicles or pedestrians present will come to a complete stop sufficient for a driver to put a foot down. When most cars come to a rolling stop, they are traveling at a much faster speed than a similar stop on a bicycle. They do not appear to be moving faster because of the relative difference in size.
I commute on a bike and, like most drivers and pedestrians, slow to a near but not complete stop when no one else is present at an intersection. By the way, pedestrians and bicyclists have far better visibility than do motorists in their enclosed vehicles, and competent bicyclists can come to a complete stop without putting a foot down.
Speed should be the primary concern for public safety. Speed and relative mass are the main determinants of the severity of injuries in an accident.
Chad Mullins
Holladay