City strives to make roads safer for cyclists

After safety effort, police will warn night riders without lights

By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer

Published 10/22/09

Bikers have rights on the road, too, and city officials will spend the rest of this month reminding motorists of that fact.

This weekend, the city police and transportation departments will launch the first of a series of efforts to educate the public on bicycle safety.

And next week, police officers plan to step up their efforts and issue warnings to bicyclists riding around at night without front and rear lights. A safety rally is planned for Oct. 29, offering bike repairs and giveaways.

"We thought as daylight-saving time is coming to an end, it was a good time to promote a winter cycling campaign," said...

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tickets/justice - 2009-10-22 22:25:10

This ticket the cyclist thing is a win-win. The cyclists win because they are less apt to die, and the anti-cyclists drivers win as they feel vindicated. But therein lies the genius of it all, once the errant cyclists are made aware that they are to be held responsible, the anti-cyclist drivers have no mantra to distract the public at large from realizing cars are the problem in 9 out of ten cases.

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Fred Shubbie - , - Karma: Terrible

Bike lanes - 2009-10-22 19:26:49

For a city that was just named one of America's charming small cities by Forbes magazine, Annapolis should be ashamed of the lack of bike trails throughout the city, and the pitiful conditions of the trash tracks along the side of streets that are posted as "Bike Paths". Ticket cyclists all you want, day or night, but the best way to increase safety for cyclists is to provide a clean, smooth, separated trail system. Has anyone at the Capital ever tried to ride a bike from downtown Annapolis to Annapolis High School?

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Mervis Pervis - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Tina - 2009-10-22 13:32:02

I seam to remember Tina claiming to be an avid cyclist.

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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent

Its a start - 2009-10-22 12:41:53

As an aid cyclist I applaud the ticketing of cyclist for not using lights after dusk. It is complete idiocy to ride a bike on the streets after dark and most of us cyclist are pretty aware that we will get squished like a bug if we are not seen.

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Fred Shubbie - , - Karma: Terrible