Cyclists, Irvine Police Claim Victory in Rules Dispute

Recreational cyclists and Irvine police both claimed victory Sunday after a planned confrontation over a continuing crackdown on bike-riding rules failed to materialize.

Eight traffic officers, in squad cars and on motorcycles, followed and videotaped 40 members of the Orange County Wheelmen as they rode from the Irvine Food Park to the city limits on their way to Laguna Beach. No citations were issued.

The group’s vice president, Doug Kerr, had announced that club members would protest the city’s recent crackdown on group cycling by riding as usual--in a “pace line,” with faster cyclists moving out from the bike lane and using the traffic lane to pass. Last weekend, bicyclists were cited for riding side by side as well as running red lights, riding across the median, making illegal turns and riding on the wrong side of the road.

“I think the whole thing is comical,” said Orange County Wheelmen member Todd Wulffson, as he prepared to pull out for his 9 a.m. ride amid squad cars and motorcycle officers.

Cyclists said police changed their interpretation of the vehicle code and informed them that pace lines, in which faster cyclists stray out of the bike lanes to pass slower bikers, would no longer be considered a violation. “We consider this to be a major victory,” said Steve Nelson, president of the Orange County Wheelmen.

Although some cyclists did ride outside the bike lanes Sunday, Sgt. Al Murray said none were cited because they were in “100% compliance” with the vehicle code.

“The only time they were more than one abreast was when they were passing a vehicle. . . . They didn’t maintain the position for any period of time,” he said. “You used to see them take up a whole lane.”

Other cyclists who account for the 200 to 300 recreational riders who fan out on Irvine streets on weekend mornings were also monitored starting at 6:30 a.m., he said. They also complied with the requests to stay in small groups of about 10, stay in lanes and stop at lights, he said.

“I hope the message is coming across,” Murray said. “As long as they comply with the rules, there will be no need for us to come out here in the future.”

Nelson said bicyclists still consider the police escort “harassment” and have additional, unspecified complaints they hope to resolve with city officials.