ACPD to Ticket More Cyclists

[chris_s]

I’m can’t imagine ACPD would be so focused on ticketing cyclists that they would let a bunch of drivers speed past going well over the speed limit during their “safety detail”, but if someone wants to borrow my radar gun and double check, message me to arrange pickup. (batteries not included – takes 2 Cs)

[scoot]

Well, the two locations published do imply that motorist enforcement is the focus. Lee and N Edison is an unsignalized crosswalk, while Columbia Pike and S Frederick is that new flashing beacon crosswalk. Neither location likely sees much bicycle traffic.

[huskerdont]

Interesting. N. Edison Street is my Lee Hwy. crossing twice a day, and is where that teenager was hit in the crosswalk and critically injured a few weeks back. It’s actually difficult not to stop there in the afternoons because there’s so much traffic; I can often Idaho it at 6 a.m. There indeed isn’t a huge amount of cyclist traffic, so motorists speeding or not stopping for folks in that crosswalk could be the reason there.

[sjclaeys]

@chris_s 149020 wrote:

I’m can’t imagine ACPD would be so focused on ticketing cyclists that they would let a bunch of drivers speed past going well over the speed limit during their “safety detail”, but if someone wants to borrow my radar gun and double check, message me to arrange pickup. (batteries not included – takes 2 Cs)

I recall seeing in the ABAC notes a while back that the ACPD reported that about 2/3 of the tickets it issued at a “Safety Detail” at Lee and Lynn went to cyclists, so it does look like they are focused on ticketing cyclists.

[chris_s]

@sjclaeys 149034 wrote:

I recall seeing in the ABAC notes a while back that the ACPD reported that about 2/3 of the tickets it issued at a “Safety Detail” at Lee and Lynn went to cyclists, so it does look like they are focused on ticketing cyclists.

To be fair, it may vary based on the location. As others have pointed out, the current locations do seem to be very much focused on cars yielding to peds in the crosswalk.

[Tania]

@sjclaeys 149034 wrote:

I recall seeing in the ABAC notes a while back that the ACPD reported that about 2/3 of the tickets it issued at a “Safety Detail” at Lee and Lynn went to cyclists, so it does look like they are focused on ticketing cyclists.

Based on what I see going through that intersection twice a day, I’d say many of the ticketed cyclists completely deserved it.

[sjclaeys]

@chris_s 149037 wrote:

To be fair, it may vary based on the location. As others have pointed out, the current locations do seem to be very much focused on cars yielding to peds in the crosswalk.

I hope that you are right, but ACPD’s past practice does not bode well. I also hope that the ABAC follows up with the ACPD on the results of these efforts.

[sjclaeys]

@Tania 149039 wrote:

Based on what I see going through that intersection twice a day, I’d say many of the ticketed cyclists completely deserved it.

True, but the unticketed drivers also deserved it.

[Subby]

You’ll never catch me alive, coppers!!!!!!

[Henry]

The enforcement event at Lee and Edison was focused on Ped safety, targeting cars/drivers for failing to yield to peds in the crosswalk. I talked to Lt. Dennis after the event and he said several tickets were issued, all to driver.

[lordofthemark]

@Henry 149151 wrote:

The enforcement event at Lee and Edison was focused on Ped safety, targeting cars/drivers for failing to yield to peds in the crosswalk. I talked to Lt. Dennis after the event and he said several tickets were issued, all to driver.

Sounds a lot better than what we have had, and are going to again have, in Old Town Alexandria.

[AFHokie]

@scoot 149030 wrote:

Well, the two locations published do imply that motorist enforcement is the focus. Lee and N Edison is an unsignalized crosswalk, while Columbia Pike and S Frederick is that new flashing beacon crosswalk. Neither location likely sees much bicycle traffic.

I live on the Pike in sight of the Columbia Pike & S Fredrick intersection. I wouldn’t say there’s a significant amount of bike traffic, but probably a couple dozen a day at least. That said, the Pike is not a road I ride on unless there’s absolutely no other choice. For some perspective, I’m fairly tolerant of riding in traffic & do so daily commuting in/out of the city, but I can count on one hand how many times I’ve ridden on the Pike.

If metro into the city, I get off at the bus stop there an have to cross Columbia Pike at that crosswalk to get to my building’s side of the street. In my experience, drivers rarely stop for the flashing crosswalk lights at that intersection. Between the significant amount of vehicles turning on/off S Fredrick and the number of pedestrians trying to cross there, that intersection really, really, really, needs a four way stop light.

About two years ago a woman in my building was struck by a car while trying to cross (while the lights were flashing) and from what I recall; word around my building was that the county decided a light should be installed, but that it would take 18-24 months. Again, my memory is fuzzy…it may have been they would do a study and decide in 18-24 months whether or not they should install one. I’ll believe it when they install it.

[sjclaeys]

I am glad to have my usual skepticism to be proven wrong: https://www.arlnow.com/2016/11/22/acpd-issues-citations-makes-arrest-during-pike-pedestrian-enforcement/ Now the fun is betting at what point do the ARLNow comments on this article get an anti-bike rant.

[KLizotte]

@sjclaeys 149297 wrote:

I am glad to have my usual skepticism to be proven wrong: https://www.arlnow.com/2016/11/22/acpd-issues-citations-makes-arrest-during-pike-pedestrian-enforcement/ Now the fun is betting at what point do the ARLNow comments on this article get an anti-bike rant.

I’m biting my tongue not to write a very sarcastic comment about scofflaw drivers being a menace to society. And then someone’s comment about how the law is very ambiguous about what “yield” means made me roll my eyes. Buddy, try figuring out what all the bike laws say in the DMV. Sigh.

[sjclaeys]

@sjclaeys 149297 wrote:

I am glad to have my usual skepticism to be proven wrong: https://www.arlnow.com/2016/11/22/acpd-issues-citations-makes-arrest-during-pike-pedestrian-enforcement/ Now the fun is betting at what point do the ARLNow comments on this article get an anti-bike rant.

And commenter “Nico Corr” goes for the win with this comment: “Love to see them undertake such an operation to ensure cyclists obey traffic laws as well. I see them on a daily basis in flagrante delicto of right of way and stop light laws.”

[Author]

Posts