Tucson Police Department says it will increase tickets given to bicyclists — mainly in University area
At the depressing Bike Advisory Council meeting last Wednesday (more on that later) Mike Pryor of the Tucson Police Department stated that beginning quite soon there would be a two-hour period each week where six TPD officers will be focusing only on bicycle violations. Apparently most of this stepped-up enforcement will occur near the University.
This plan was roundly applauded by every member of the committee who spoke up. The idea is that by ticketing more bicyclists we will decrease the hatred that motorists have for cyclists and also improve the safety of cycling. In my often-expressed view, this plan might work but it needs to be done cautiously and it needs to be even-handed. The police should consider giving warnings instead of tickets. And why not some enforcement of the three-foot rule, too?
My prediction is that tickets for rolling slowly through a deserted intersection will outnumber tickets for violations of the three-foot rule by 200 to 1.
I don’t know this to be true, but I believe the best way to be seriously injured on a bicycle is to be struck from behind. It may not be the most common way to be injured, but I bet it is the most common way to be killed or severely injured.
–Erik Ryberg
October 24th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Erik,
Would it be legal to mount a yard stick or tent pole to your bike as a way of tracking or reminding Tucson drivers of the 3 feet law?