One morning while riding to work in a Southern capitol city,I was pulled over by a police officer and ordered to ride on the sidewalk. I protested, quoting state law on the situation, but the officer was unmoved and she threatened to call in other officers and make a big situation if I did not comply.

So I stepped off the road way and stood on the sidewalk. She left and I fumed, waiting for her to be gone. But I became mad. I decided I wanted her badge number. She was several blocks away by then, but I hopped on the bike and zipped along the sidewalk. I quickly caught up with her about 1/4 mile down the road (Shows how fast traffic wasn't moving). I called to her from the side of the road and asked her for her badge number. She refused to give it to me and rolled up her window. I got off my bike, pulled out some paper from my backpack and walked back to the point where I could get her license plate, then walked back to my bike. She finally got the light to make her left turn onto the freeway.

I pedaled the rest of the way to work (on the street of course) and called the police. Being a new arrival in the state, I first asked for clarification on just what the laws were. They patched me through to the Sargent of the Bicycle Patrol. I told him my situation and what the officer had said and done. He assured me that I had been in the right, and that in fact, only police officers are permitted to ride bicycles on the sidewalk within the city. He said he would see what he could find out and let me know.

About 20 minutes later he called back and told me that the officer in question had been reprimanded and informed of the law as it was, not as she imagined it to be. Hopefully, in the future, she will know to share the road with bicyclists.