City to Bicyclists: Berkeley Not in Idaho

Berkeley, California might have a reputation of a very progressive city, but when it comes to cycling, it appears to have little tolerance for cyclists who roll through stop signs. Police are justifying the crackdown on the terms of a state grant.

3 minute read

September 13, 2019, 2:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Berkeley People on Bikes

Bike East Bay / Flickr

Berkeley made history in July by becoming the first city in the United States to outlaw natural gas hook-ups in new buildings—part of the city's commitment to decrease climate emissions by reducing fossil fuel consumption. Critics are now questioning if a safety campaign targeted at cyclists who fail to come to a complete (as opposed to 'Idaho') stop at controlled intersections, sends the wrong message when it comes to the environmental and health benefits of human-powered transportation.

The transportation reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Rachel Swan, found that the Berkeley Police Department has justified the ticketing campaign on the need to "to prevent collisions and fulfill the requirements of a $250,000 state grant [by the California Office of Traffic Safety] to promote good behavior on roadways."

The resulting campaign didn’t take aim at any particular group, Officer Byron White said, adding that bicycle safety enforcement was among several boxes the police had to check to meet the terms of the grant.

The grant guidelines, specified in the 2019 Highway Safety Plan [pdf] does list under "High Visibility Enforcement: Conduct enforcement operations in identified areas of high bicycle and pedestrian traffic," but doesn't indicate that it should be targeting pedestrians and cyclists." [pg. 131]

But bike advocates and city council members criticized the operation for being ill-timed and off message, saying it’s at odds with new Vision Zero policies to show the streets aren’t just for cars. And the fines are steep, set at $238 in California, but running higher after court costs.

What's unusual about the safety campaign is where the cyclists are being targeted – bike routes, including off-road paths and bike boulevards which are meant to give cycling priority over motor vehicle traffic. From the police's perspective, it may make sense – go where the cyclists are, but this sets the university city apart from its neighbors.

The strategy of ticketing people bicycling on designated bikeways sets Berkeley apart from other cities, said Dave Campbell, advocacy director of Bike East Bay.

San Francisco has focused its Vision Zero effort on building protected bike lanes and intersections that separate pedestrians from cars. Oakland has largely de-emphasized enforcement against bicyclists. In a May news release — part of the same state-funded safety program that prompted the citations in Berkeley — Oakland police highlighted bicycle safety “as a top priority” and offered tips for drivers and cyclists to watch for one another.

To be fair, police have issued almost triple the citations to motorists than cyclists and pedestrians.

Since July, Berkeley police have stopped 55 cyclists or pedestrians for alleged violations, resulting in 36 citations, according to records from the traffic enforcement division. At least two city officials were among the people cited. During the same period, police pulled over 143 motorists, issuing 106 citations from those stops.

Office White noted that cyclists pose dangers when they don’t follow the rules of the road: In the first seven months of this year, 64 collisions in Berkeley involved bicycles. In 32 of them the cyclist was deemed at fault.

Swan ends on a positive note for cyclists worried about being cited.

Mayor Jesse Arreguín expects a proposal to come before the City Council in the next few weeks, which would make cyclists who fail to halt at stop signs a low priority for police.

Hat tip to MTC News Headlines.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 in San Francisco Chronicle

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.