IRVINE : 10 Cyclists Cited; Most Observe Law

Ten bicyclists were pulled over and issued traffic tickets Saturday and Sunday during the Police Department’s first weekend of strictly enforcing bicycle laws.

Nine of those citations were issued Saturday, even though more cyclists rode through Irvine on Sunday, Sgt. Al Murray said Monday.

Police began concentrating on bicycle violations after an increasing number of complaints from motorists upset by large bicycling groups riding through the city, allegedly blocking traffic lanes and running red lights and stop signs. Traffic officers went out on May 4 and 5 to warn bicyclists that traffic laws would be enforced to the letter.

The word apparently got out, Murray said.

“We’re finding there was a lot of compliance,” he said. “The bicycling groups have modified their riding behavior tremendously. . . . Instead of going out in the large groups like they used to, they’re going out in smaller groups of five to 10, riding in the bicycle lanes in small groups and obeying all the laws of the road. We were very favorably impressed.”

Tickets were issued for running red lights, riding across the median or on the wrong side of the road, and illegal turns. Only two tickets were written to cyclists riding side by side, Murray said.

The vehicle code says bicyclists should ride as close to the right side of the road as possible, except when passing or avoiding obstacles. Police are interpreting that law strictly to mean no riding abreast, even in the bike lane.

Some bicyclists disagree with that interpretation. Police should ticket bicyclists ignoring red lights and other major violations, but should be more lenient when bicyclists are riding side by side, especially in the bike lane, said Irvine resident Doug Kerr, vice president of the Orange County Wheelman, the county’s largest cycling club.

Since large bicycle clubs begin their rides with groups of 50 to 100 cyclists, it becomes impossible to maintain single file in the bike lane, he said. But as the group rides for a couple of miles, the pack spreads out and the inconvenience to motorists disappears, he said.

“We’re talking about a little understanding for a couple of hours each weekend,” Kerr said. “We’re not asking the city of Irvine to turn its head and ignore the Vehicle Code.”

Kerr said he will attend tonight’s City Council meeting to argue for a compromise between the city and recreational riding groups.

If the city maintains its crackdown, though, he and other cyclists likely will start riding through Irvine in a leap-frog manner, riding side by side but always making sure the outside bicyclists are passing the inside ones, violating the spirit but not the letter of the law.

“I hope it doesn’t get to that point,” he said. “It’s playing games, and we don’t want to play games. We want to ride in peace.”