Wheels & Heels: Decatur Police Ticketing Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Bicyclists and pedestrians have learned the hard way that breaking traffic laws in Decatur can be expensive.

Decatur Police Chief Mike Booker said his department has ticketed at least 30 bicyclists in the past year for such offenses as running stop signs, going through a red light or failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk. At least one cyclist was stopped and given a warning, Booker said.

Under Georgia law, bicyclists are considered vehicles and are required to obey all of the same traffic laws as motorists.

Jaywalking pedestrians have also been ticketed, Booker said, after officers spent time at Decatur's busy intersections trying to educate walkers about obeying the law.

It's all part of the Decatur Police Department's efforts to make the city's streets safer, Booker said.

"We're trying to do some things now with safety and enforcement," he said.

Some of the enforcement efforts are triggered by complaints, Booker said. City officials read local blogs and know when residents are complaining about bicyclists who zip through stop signs without slowing down a whit.

"We’ve all seen it," Booker said of bikes running stop signs. "Cars do it, too."

The difference is that if a cyclist runs a red light and gets hit by a car, even though the car wouldn't be at fault, the cyclist could be injured seriously.

"That collision will impact the person for the rest of their lives," he said.

Booker would not comment on whether bikes would be ticketed for running red lights that work off road sensors that are difficult or impossible to trigger with a bike.

But he did say that Decatur's a very congested city, and people get around by car, bike, foot, scooter, bus and train. City officials are promoting walking and biking as healthy alternatives.

In October, Decatur police will be trained by advocacy group Georgia Bikes about state laws regarding bicycling, including a new law requiring motorized vehicles to leave at least three feet when passing a bicycle. Booker says the training also will ensure police are consistent in enforcing traffic laws against cyclists.   

Cyclists often proclaim their right to the road, but most aren't as stalwart about obeying traffic laws. Coming to a complete stop at a stoph sign does slow one's momentum, they complain. 

Whenever I'm biking on Clairemont Avenue near the V.A. Hospital, I pray that the light at the bottom of the hill doesn't turn red because I'll lose all that momentum that I'm counting on to pedal up that hill.

So, now I'm coming to a complete stop at stop signs. It's not so bad, and it probably burns a few extra calories.

Sure, a biker can probably scan for oncoming traffic without coming to a full stop, but one could argue the same thing about a car. I sure want that car to come to a full stop when I'm around, whether on foot, pedal or Plymouth.

Cyclists aren't above the law. If we want the right to ride on the roads, we've got to obey the rules, too.

And if bicyclists start obeying traffic laws, drivers are going to have to complain about something else.