IRVINE : Police Campaign for Bike Safety Gears Up
Last weekend, police issued friendly warnings to errant bicyclists, but this weekend, they are going to put their enforcement effort into high gear.
Four traffic officers plan to issue tickets--most in the $24 range--on Saturday and Sunday to bicyclists riding side by side, pedaling through red lights and stop signs, wearing headphones or violating other safety laws.
The crackdown--every weekend for a month--is in response to an increasing number of complaints about large packs of bicycle riders who occasionally run stop signs to stay together or block vehicle lanes by riding several abreast.
Irvine has such an extensive system of bicycle lanes and trails that the city attracts bicyclists from all over the county, especially on weekends, Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan said.
Police began their bicycle enforcement effort last weekend by cruising through the city in the early morning hours to issue warnings and bicycle-law pamphlets to cyclists spotted violating traffic laws. No citations were issued.
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