Advocacy & Safety - Larimer County Co

http://www.timescall.com/Local-Story.asp?ID=9281

Alderden also catalogued an encounter between some cyclists from Boulder who were riding two abreast and one of Alderden’s deputies, who told the cyclists they needed to leave Larimer County or be ticketed if they didn’t follow the rules.

“Our interpretation was that they were in violation of the law, and their interpretation was that they weren’t,” Alderden said.

“Words are one thing, and actions are another,” he said.

Alderden said he thinks legislation will be needed to clarify the law, and while cyclists riding two abreast is an issue, there are bigger problems of cyclists not stopping at stop signs or red lights and riding in packs.

“The reality of it is that we haven’t issued any tickets for riding two abreast,” Alderden said.

State Rep. Don Marostica of Loveland, who moderated the meeting, said the group will likely meet again in October to discuss the issue further and how it can be fixed.

“I’m glad we had it,” Marostica said. “I think we came a long, long ways.”

The Sheriff’s Office will use reserve deputies to do extra patrols “to focus on the bicycling issues and keep an eye out for egregious violations on the part of bicyclists and motorists,” Alderden said.

“We’re going to enforce the statute as we interpret it,” the sheriff added.

"Yup, them nasty old cyclists breakin' all dem laws in our territory... we're gonna put a stop to that rite quick."

Never mind the thousands of speeding motorists! SIGH.

I'm so unbelievebly frustrated by all of this. I lived in Larimer county when he was first elected, now I'll be going back in a week. He had a meeting with the legislatures (Rebulican, BTW) who authored the bill, and he still thinks his interpretation is correct. I'm kind of hoping I get ticketed so I can take it to court.

What really gets me is his "roads are for cars only" mentality. As a population that frequently is on the losing end of a car vs. bike argument, I find the sheriffs attitude not only perplexing but downright dangerous.

From Tombstone to Dodge (http://www.velonews.com/article/77006)

Talking in Dodge (http://www.velonews.com/article/77477)

they should prohibit cars from 'traveling in packs', too.

:rolleyes:

Well, it's only fair that they ticket them for riding 2 abreast. Even if it's a misinterpretation of the law that favors motorists. After all, some completely separate cyclists ran red lights. :rolleyes:

That's lynching reasoning.

Following is BicycleColorado's communication after meeting with the Sheriff:
http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?PageID=893

I have been following this BS from both sides, and though Larimer County, CO must be an almost crime free place to live if the Sheriff can commit patrols strictly enforce laws on cyclists. I bet he still can't figure out why LEOs get called pigs.

I hope the laws regarding cars stopping at stop signs are enforced

FWIW, no tickets have been issued yet.