A bicycle bill described as “the one you love to hate” got enough love to win preliminary approval from the Colorado House of Representatives, but not without a bit of anti-bicycle chatter about the so-called “Idaho stop.”

Senate Bill 144 would allow local governments to authorize the Idaho stop in their jurisdictions. It would allow a bicyclist who approaches a stop sign to slow down to a reasonable speed (set in the bill at 15 mph) and, if safe to do so, proceed through the intersection without stopping.

Under the measure, at a red light, a cyclist would have to stop and could then proceed through the intersection if it is safe to do so.

The Idaho stop would not apply to state highways, per an amendment added in the state Senate two months ago.

The Idaho stop has been in effect in Boise, Idaho, for 35 years, and bill sponsors point to lower incidents of bicycle accidents with motor vehicles.

The Idaho-stop bill isn’t intended to impose the rule statewide, leaving the decision on whether to allow it to local governments. Idaho stops are already legal in Summit and Pitkin counties and in the communities of Aspen and Breckinridge.

Democratic state Rep. Chris Hansen of Denver, one of the bill’s sponsors, pointed to the problem that the Idaho stop could help with: what cyclists refer to as the “right hook.” It’s when a vehicle approaches an intersection, and the motorist starts to make a right turn without looking to see if there’s a cyclist on the right also waiting to go through the intersection.

Hansen said he had been hit by a car when on his bike three times over a five-year period, and every time it was someone who wasn’t paying attention and made that right hook turn.

The bill might seem counter-intuitive as a safety measure, Hansen and fellow sponsor Republican Rep. Yeulin Willett of Grand Junction said, but studies have shown that the Idaho stop actually reduces accidents.

“If you’re in favor of law enforcement, it’s a good bill,” and good for bicycles and trucking, Willett said. “It’s not a statewide mandate. It’s total local control.” (And major props to Willett for throwing in a reference to a track stand, which I’ll bet is a foreign term to a few people.)

Opponents like Republican Rep. Jim Wilson of Salida argued that if he has to abide by the rules of the road in his car, always stopping at stop signs and red lights, so should bicyclists. “We’re asking to make it safer for bicyclists and tougher for motorists,” he said.

Wilson said he isn’t against bicyclists, but noted his brother was killed in a bicycling accident while riding on a highway, which he likened to driving his Dodge truck in the Indianapolis 500. “I can do it, but it isn’t a smart thing to do. … Blowing through a stop sign is not going to make anyone safer.”

Democratic Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp of Arvada said she tries not to hit bicyclists, but said driving among them is like playing pinball.

This bill is about preventing accident stories, according to Republican Rep. Lori Saine of Firestone, who is also a bicyclist. Saine said her youth pastor was on a bicycle, was struck and knocked into a creek, where he drowned. “This bill is about protecting those of us who do ride. … This isn’t carte blanche for bicyclists to blow through intersections.”

The bill won approval on a voice vote and heads to a formal vote on Friday. If adopted, it will have to head back to the Senate for their vote on a House amendment.