MyFoxPhilly: Police Cracking Down On Rogue Cyclists
PHILADELPHIA – They come in all shapes and sizes – bicycles and riders by the thousands who have descended on the streets of Center City Philadelphia.
Some cyclists are causing problems.
“We’re getting a lot of complaints of rude and aggressive bicyclists,” says Capt. Dennis Wilson of the 9th Police District.
Experts say over 11,000 people ride their bikes to work or school each day. More than 36,000 bike their way the streets at least once a month.
Recently, 40-year-old Andre Steed was hit by a cyclist and died. A 78-year-old man was also killed when he was struck by a rider, reported Fox 29’s Dave Schratwieser.
“We need to make sure the bicyclists ride with traffic. Number two, you need to make sure that you’re riding on the street and walking your bike on the sidewalk. And number three, you need to make sure that you’re stopping at all the lights,” says Breen Goodwin of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Police are launching a crackdown on rogue riders who don’t follow the rules of the road. Bike cops will be on patrol through Center City and Rittenhouse Square in search of cyclists who break the law.
“We are looking to try to reduce the aggressive bicycle riders in the Center City area,” says Capt. WIlson.
The Bicycle Coalition will join with police to educate the riding public about the traffic laws.
“There are quite a few riders on the road who may not know what those rules are then also encouraging people to abide by them,” says Goodwin.
Police have not announced when the initiative will begin.
