Arlington Police Have Issued 75 Citations To Bicyclists So Far This Year

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington Police are on a mission to educate bikers about rules of the road. Part of that is by issuing tickets and written warnings to cyclists blowing through stop signs.

So far this year Arlington Police have issued 75 citations, including warnings to cyclists.

The number of citations has been going up from previous years. Last year during this same time, police issued 37, and the year before 23.

"Our goal has been to share the laws of the road in the Commonwealth, but more importantly to pass on information to keep all those traveling in our community safe," said Captain Richard Flynn of the Arlington Police Department.

Christopher Tonkin of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee said the number of citations may be going up, but that is because the police have been working to enforce the rule of the road a bit more - which can be a difficult task.

He's heard complaints from cyclists who have been sited near the Lake Street crossing, which he said is a bit of a tricky intersection for bikes. It's a crossing that is about to get reworked on account of all the confusion.

"Mass law is rather wolly. It's a bike way and yet it's a pedestrian crossing. Cyclists don't have to stop when they're on bikeways but they do have to stop at pedestrian crossings. A cyclist doesn't think they should dismount and walk around, and for good reason."

Tonkin doesn't use that section of the bikeway, himself. The spot he sees as especially troublesome is the Mill Street crossing.

He comes across Mill Street, takes his foot off the pedal to indicate that he's going to stop and often the first car screams to a halt before he can stop. "And what can you do? Because you have have the hands on the handle bar so it leads to some contention. Well, I try to stop. But rather than hold up the traffic I want to get out of the way as soon as I can," he said by way of making a point that it's not just the cyclists causing a ruckus.

Still, with those tricky spots the exception rather than the rule, he stresses that all cyclists should stop at the red lights and at stop signs. And, just like drivers of cars, they need to pay attention, which is often a reason cyclists get into dicey situations. But he thinks, for the most part, many are following the law.

"I think a number of people are conforming... I think there's more cyclists about, and from the observations from the last 20 years, both drivers and cyclists are getting better behaved," he said.

For sure, that doesn't mean they're perfect. But infrastructure such as the marked bike lanes along Mass Ave, though very contentious in planning, and information campaigns have helped.

"We're all for equitable for enforcement of all rules," said Tonkin.

Bicycle Violations From Jan 1 - Aug. 10 Year To Date

2017 - 75
2016 - 37
2015 - 23
2014 - 31
2013 - 29

Image by Jenna Fisher/Patch