LexRides

Octopod

Gotta vent a little - why do Lexington cops always ride on the sidewalks in downtown lexington? Does the department understand the message this sends to car drivers? Basically that bikes should be ridden on the sidewalk not the roads. Since cops ride their bikes on the sidewalk, that must be what all bikers should do.

Has anyone filed a complaint to the police department or anyone about this?
I've lost count of the number of times people have screamed at me "get off the road" "get on the sidewalk" etc.

I've wanted to ask the last few cops I've seen about this but then my eyes always gaze down to their belts of pepper spray, .40 caliber gun, handcuffs, etc and I puss out.

Is there a defensible reason behind this practice?
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politicalhero · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

I get exactly where you are coming from.
It sets us back that the police are "allowed" to ride on the sidewalk under the guise of public safety and presence.

Unfortunately here is the ordinance

ec. 18-155. Riding on sidewalks.
(a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the business district, except for members of the division of police and the sheriff's office. The business district shall be from the corner of Jefferson and West Vine Street east along; West Vine Street to Ransom Street, north along Ransom to East Main Street, then west on East Main Street to DeWeese Street, then north on DeWeese Street to East Short Street, then west on East Short Street to Walnut Street, then north on Walnut Street to Barr Street, then west on Barr Street and Church Street to North Broadway, then south on North Broadway to West Short Street, then west on West Short Street to Spring Street, then south on Spring Street to West Main Street, then west on West Main Street to Jefferson Street.
(b) The director, division of traffic engineering is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon by any person, when in his opinion the riding of bicycles would constitute a danger either to the riders or to pedestrians. When such signs are in place only members of the division of police or the sheriff's office can disregard the same.
(c) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(d) Members of the division of police and the sheriff's office are authorized to ride bicycles, horses and Segways on any sidewalk or roadway including those within the business district.
(Ord. No. 4753, § 1, 10-3-63; Ord. No. 95-73, § 1, 4-12-73; Ord. No. 71-2005, § 1, 3-24-05)

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

Yeah, I actually rode alone with one the other day as we were trying to find a non-snow covered street to go down without sliding all over the place. They ride in the street when they are going somewhere, on the sidewalk when they are patrolling. Personally, I am just glad to see them on bikes all day, even yesterday when it was 12 degrees out, than out crawling down streets in a V8.