For the second time in the past month, I witnessed Key Biscayne Police officers pulling over bicyclists and giving them tickets for running a red light. The Key Biscayne Police department has taken to these extreme measures due to the fact that some bicyclists (usually traveling in large pelotons) consistently violates traffic laws. Since a bicycle is considered a vehicle, bicyclists should adhere to the same rules that govern motor vehicles.
Unfortunately, this practice has become all too common with the Key Biscayne police department. During the past year, I have heard stories from numerous bicyclists that have been rightfully ticketed for running a red light. However, I am concerned that bicyclists are being unfairly targeted. I’d be interested to see how many tickets have been handed to motorists for aggressive driving towards bicyclists on Key Biscayne during the past year? My guess is probably close to zero.
Perhaps the Key Biscayne police department could also protect the rights of bicyclists. All I’m asking for is equal treatment. I don’t think this is asking for too much.
For those riding in the pelotons; do yourselves and the greater bicycling community a favor, and start obeying the rules of the road. Your “wild west” riding style is not helping our cause. You are simply pissing off the police and the drivers. The road must be shared and traffic laws respected.
6 Responses to Key Biscayne Police Ticketing Bicyclists
Leave a Reply
Contact Us!
Planetizen- Cities May Be Back, But Don't Forget About the Burbs May 22, 2013A review of June Williamson's new book reminds us that the need to retrofit suburbia is as urgent as ever, despite the ascendance of cities. Amanda Kolson Hurley explores the top five reasons 'why the suburbs are shaping up as the new frontier.' […]
- Is Congestion Pricing the Solution to San Francisco’s Traffic Woes? May 22, 2013A new report paints a grim picture of San Francisco’s traffic future. Without radical reductions in auto usage, the city’s downtown will be ‘mired in gridlock.’ Is a controversial congestion pricing scheme the solution? […]
- Why Is it Hard to Find Places to Ride Out a Tornado in Oklahoma? May 22, 2013You might be surprised to learn that in the area famously known as 'Tornado Alley', underground shelters and safe rooms are relatively rare. Several reasons, from physical to financial to cultural constraints, conspire to leave residents vulnerable. […]
- Will New Mayor Seize the Opportunity to Build a 'Truly Urban' L.A.? May 22, 2013The new mayor of Los Angeles is young, charismatic, and a champion of urbanism and smart growth. He should start using all these assets immediately to transform Los Angeles into the vibrant, transit-oriented city it can become, says Bill Fulton. […]
- New Jersey Drops VMT Fee for EV Fee May 22, 2013NJ legislation highlights the need to ensure that those who drive EVs pay their fair share of taxes to keep roads in good repair. A bill that would have charged a mileage fee for all vehicles was scrapped for a $50 flat registration fee for EVs. […]
- Envisioning a LEED-like Ratings System for Infrastructure May 22, 2013Bob Graves discusses the concept behind Envision, "a holistic framework for evaluating and rating the community, environmental, and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects." […]
- The Ups and Downs of the Bike Sharing Economy May 22, 2013What makes Capital Bikeshare, the largest such program in the U.S. with nearly 2000 bikes, a success? What are its shortcomings? Mohana Ravindranath investigates. […]
- Can Signage Change Perceptions About Disabilities? May 22, 2013With New York City's embrace, the dream of revamping the iconic blue-and-white handicapped symbol is becoming a reality. As NYC adopts "a more active representation of people with physical limitations," activists hope the change has a broader effect. […]
- To Stretch Strained Municipal Budgets, Build Smart May 22, 2013Utilizing 17 case studies, a new report from Smart Growth America examines the costs and benefits of competing development strategies. Any way you slice it, smart growth strategies are more financially prudent than building sprawl. […]
- Obama Could Tackle Climate Change on His Own; But Will He? May 22, 2013With a reluctant Congress unwilling to act, and the signs of a warming planet multiplying, the Editorial Board of The New York Times urges President Obama to utilize executive actions to address climate change. […]
- Cities May Be Back, But Don't Forget About the Burbs May 22, 2013
- Green Mobility Network
- An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.
Great piece. Keep them coming. ray welch
You know, I read your headline and wondered just what you mentioned toward the end of your post: how are the Key Biscayne police handling aggressive motorist behavior toward cyclists? Are they ticketing those who do not pass with at least 3 feet of space? Pulling over those ones who verbally threaten cyclists?
This is good, but not great. Equal treatment and enforcing of the laws in all directions for those using any vehicle on the streets of S. Fla. that’s all we ask for, and I think we are entitled to it.
Ticketing for running red lights in Miami is kind of shocking. I tell any out of town visitors to never start driving through an intersection when a light turns green at least wait for the count of 2 or 3. It is just a common fact that at any given intersection at any time of day people (cars or bikes) in this city run the lights. Not saying its right I actually wish there was a better job of traffic law enforcement in the area. So the fact that the police are actually giving out tickets for red light violations is a bit interesting. Maybe we will could see other violations resulting in tickets.
Side note that new Red Light Cam in Coral Gables will be a new gold mind for the city. I guess pulling over someone on a bike is much easier.
A lot of the bike riders crossing the causeway to key biscayne act just like Miami car drivers, except with a bike. Pretty hilarious, really.
Adam,
The vast majority of bicyclists obey traffic rules, since it is in their own self interest to remain alive. Bicyclists are much more vulnerable to accidents and injury, so it behooves them to take less risk when riding a bicycle. Unfortunately the group-think mentality of pelotons, combined with testosterone, seems to exterminate all logical thought concerning one’s personal safety. Since these pelotons are large and visible, motorists seem to group all bicyclists as one in the same. Let me assure you that this is not that case. Most bicyclists like myself are cautions and respectful of the law. After all, I want to see another day ,so I can continue doing what I love, which is bicycling. I think I speak for 99% of bicyclists.
[...] Monteagudo from the Key Biscayne police department. Chief Press invited me to meet with him after I posted a blog regarding the ticketing of cyclists on Key Biscayne. We agreed on mostly everything, even the fact that bicyclists needed to be ticketed because most [...]