For four decades Idaho was the only state that allowed bicyclists to treat stop signs as yields and stop lights as a stop-and-then-yield, so it was the easiest way to refer to the concept.
We're finally seeing some sanity, but most of the states have refused to adopt the "stop light is a stop and then yield."
"Idaho Stop" is also more often used to refer to the cycling move than the law. Idaho stopping is something a cyclist does; Idaho Stop laws make the Idaho stop legal.
We're finally seeing some sanity, but most of the states have refused to adopt the "stop light is a stop and then yield."