Tempe cracks down on bike laws
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Tempe cracks down on bike laws
https://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/20...29/news/700480
Department cracks down on bike laws
Extra enforcement will last until first week of April
by Sam Good
published on Thursday, March 29, 2007
Bikers beware: the Tempe Police Department is cracking down.
Tempe Police announced last week that it would begin a two-week period
of high bike law enforcement that will run until April 6.
"In Tempe, and especially in the University area, there tends to be
bicycle collisions every year, so we decided to increase our enforcement
of the bicycle laws," said Sgt. Joe Williams of Tempe police.
Tempe Police is concentrating its efforts on enforcing bike laws to
remind bicyclists of the safety concerns, Williams said. Motorcycle
officers will be the primary enforcers of those laws, he added.
The most common bicycle law that people break is riding against
traffic, which carries a fine of $123, or the individual can pay reduced fines
and take a bicycle safety course, Williams said.
The goal of the concentrated effort is not to punish people who ride on
the wrong side, but simply to look out for their safety, Williams said.
"We're not trying to fine them or penalize them. What we're trying to
do is protect them," he said. "It is fairly common in bicycle-vehicle
collisions that the bicyclist is going the wrong way. And that's why we
offer the diversion class, so we can educate [bicyclists] on what they
can and can't do."
Students such as German junior Claire Bunch, who bikes to school every
day, said she understands why Tempe Police is taking bicycle safety
seriously.
"I think it's really important to ride on the right side of the road,
because if you are on the wrong side, it is really dangerous for drivers
because they might not see you," she said.
Bicycles are subject to all laws that are applicable to motor vehicles,
such as stop signs, traffic lights and riding with a headlight at
night, but it not is very often that bicyclists receive those citations,
Williams said.
Another part of Tempe's two-week traffic crackdown is increased
enforcement of the busiest intersections in the city.
The intersections of Rural Road and University Drive, Mill and Southern
avenues, Broadway Road and McClintock Drive, McClintock and University
drives, and Baseline Road and Interstate 10 will all have extra police
presence during the two weeks of increased enforcement.
"We pulled some stats, and those are the intersections where more
traffic collisions are occurring," Williams said. "All of them are in the
top 10."
Besides the normal enforcement of these intersections by patrol
officers, Tempe police will use the photo enforcement vans in the area near
the intersections, Williams said.
Also, there will be decoy cars at some of the intersections so people
will pay better attention, he added.
After the two-week high enforcement period is over, Tempe police will
still place an emphasis on these busy intersections.
"We work the top intersections throughout the year, but we are just
really focusing our efforts during these two weeks," he said.
Reach the reporter at: samuel.good@asu.edu.
Department cracks down on bike laws
Extra enforcement will last until first week of April
by Sam Good
published on Thursday, March 29, 2007
Bikers beware: the Tempe Police Department is cracking down.
Tempe Police announced last week that it would begin a two-week period
of high bike law enforcement that will run until April 6.
"In Tempe, and especially in the University area, there tends to be
bicycle collisions every year, so we decided to increase our enforcement
of the bicycle laws," said Sgt. Joe Williams of Tempe police.
Tempe Police is concentrating its efforts on enforcing bike laws to
remind bicyclists of the safety concerns, Williams said. Motorcycle
officers will be the primary enforcers of those laws, he added.
The most common bicycle law that people break is riding against
traffic, which carries a fine of $123, or the individual can pay reduced fines
and take a bicycle safety course, Williams said.
The goal of the concentrated effort is not to punish people who ride on
the wrong side, but simply to look out for their safety, Williams said.
"We're not trying to fine them or penalize them. What we're trying to
do is protect them," he said. "It is fairly common in bicycle-vehicle
collisions that the bicyclist is going the wrong way. And that's why we
offer the diversion class, so we can educate [bicyclists] on what they
can and can't do."
Students such as German junior Claire Bunch, who bikes to school every
day, said she understands why Tempe Police is taking bicycle safety
seriously.
"I think it's really important to ride on the right side of the road,
because if you are on the wrong side, it is really dangerous for drivers
because they might not see you," she said.
Bicycles are subject to all laws that are applicable to motor vehicles,
such as stop signs, traffic lights and riding with a headlight at
night, but it not is very often that bicyclists receive those citations,
Williams said.
Another part of Tempe's two-week traffic crackdown is increased
enforcement of the busiest intersections in the city.
The intersections of Rural Road and University Drive, Mill and Southern
avenues, Broadway Road and McClintock Drive, McClintock and University
drives, and Baseline Road and Interstate 10 will all have extra police
presence during the two weeks of increased enforcement.
"We pulled some stats, and those are the intersections where more
traffic collisions are occurring," Williams said. "All of them are in the
top 10."
Besides the normal enforcement of these intersections by patrol
officers, Tempe police will use the photo enforcement vans in the area near
the intersections, Williams said.
Also, there will be decoy cars at some of the intersections so people
will pay better attention, he added.
After the two-week high enforcement period is over, Tempe police will
still place an emphasis on these busy intersections.
"We work the top intersections throughout the year, but we are just
really focusing our efforts during these two weeks," he said.
Reach the reporter at: samuel.good@asu.edu.
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Excellent!
(The stats I've seen are that University/Rural and McClintock/Southern have the most motor vehicle accidents in Tempe.)
(The stats I've seen are that University/Rural and McClintock/Southern have the most motor vehicle accidents in Tempe.)
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It sounds like speed limits will be enforced at the hot spots based on the article.
Al
Al
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Broadway/Rural was where I had mine!
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"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
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Originally Posted by rando
Broadway/Rural was where I had mine!
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Bicycle. I was on the sidewalk going against traffic and ran into a car that pulled up in front of me just as I was getting to the crosswalk. first and last time I ever did that!
__________________
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
Excellent!
Hopefully I wont get a ticket for splitting and not sharing the lane.
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Originally Posted by wheel
+10
Hopefully I wont get a ticket for splitting and not sharing the lane.
Hopefully I wont get a ticket for splitting and not sharing the lane.
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It seems that the primary focus is on wrong way riding, stopping where required too.
Spend a few minutes near campus (within 2mi) and you are certain to see wrong way riding in street (99% of street wrong way in bike lanes). I posted a week or so ago me counting something like 25 wrong way vs. 30 correct way in a 2mi stretch on College. It was crazy - but another good reason to take the lane the entire way.
I really don't think they will get stupid with far to right. I suspect they are being clear headed about this.
Also note the reduced fines if one takes a bicycle safey course. I like that.
Al
Spend a few minutes near campus (within 2mi) and you are certain to see wrong way riding in street (99% of street wrong way in bike lanes). I posted a week or so ago me counting something like 25 wrong way vs. 30 correct way in a 2mi stretch on College. It was crazy - but another good reason to take the lane the entire way.
I really don't think they will get stupid with far to right. I suspect they are being clear headed about this.
Also note the reduced fines if one takes a bicycle safey course. I like that.
Al
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I wish people who were driving had to take a bicycle safety course.
Yea we will see Baseline and I10 is a target, with a huge wide lane. I take it becuase of the speed and Numerous right/left turns availible. That and people have two other lanes to choose from. I will note the honking has gone off the hook in this section at least 5 or 6 or almost buzz me trying to turn everytime I drive this section. Hopefully thy will stop aggressive behavoir like this.
On a side note while Tempe cracks down Phoenix bike police run red lights. Adams and 3rd. Ran right in front of me. Not saying it is bad just they are doing it.
Yea we will see Baseline and I10 is a target, with a huge wide lane. I take it becuase of the speed and Numerous right/left turns availible. That and people have two other lanes to choose from. I will note the honking has gone off the hook in this section at least 5 or 6 or almost buzz me trying to turn everytime I drive this section. Hopefully thy will stop aggressive behavoir like this.
On a side note while Tempe cracks down Phoenix bike police run red lights. Adams and 3rd. Ran right in front of me. Not saying it is bad just they are doing it.
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Originally Posted by wheel
I wish people who were driving had to take a bicycle safety course.
... Brad
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Originally Posted by bac
Ditto. Being able to parallel park does not make one a driver.
... Brad
... Brad
Just last night, maybe I am doing something wrong, but I recieve alot of this now on my trips.
JAM
Use the sidewalk,
then pulls up beside me a mile later on a different road.
Are you suppose to be a car (as she was talking on the cell)?
My reply Do you even know the bicycle laws? I was turning left and had to go before repsonse.
Arggggg