FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Bicycle Ordinance Up for Approval

An ordinance that will prohibit bicyclists from riding on sidewalks or in the street against the flow of traffic is expected to receive final approval by the City Council tonight.

The council introduced the ordinance at its Sept. 6 meeting. Next week, the council is expected to decide whether violation of the new law is an infraction or a misdemeanor and will set the fine.

Police Sgt. Larry Griswold said that under the proposed law, residential areas would be excluded. The law will apply only to major roadways in the city.

The rise in the number of bicyclists, combined with increased traffic, has resulted in more accidents since 1991.

Griswold said in 1991 there were 14 injury accidents involving bicycles. In 1992, that number rose to 36, and last year to 42.

Of the accidents that occurred from January, 1992, to October, 1993, 77% were the bicyclist’s fault, Griswold said. Moreover, 65% of those occurred because the bicyclists rode against traffic on roadways or rode on sidewalks.

“If we can address that one violation, we can make a significant reduction in the number of injury accidents,” Griswold said.

The Police Department has made an effort to educate students about the hazards of bicycling on both sidewalks and streets.

Griswold said if parents want assistance in mapping out a safe route for their children who ride bicycles to school, they can contact the Police Department traffic bureau at (714) 965-4481.