The Davis Police Department is announcing a partnership with several Davis bicycle shops to promote and enhance bicycle safety.

Police will patrol areas frequented by bicyclists the week of Jan. 9 to address traffic violations that can lead to collisions with other cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians.

Since Jan. 1, Davis police have responded to 54 collisions involving bicycles. The bicyclist was injured in 93 percent of those collisions. Coupled with an increase in complaints from the public about bicyclists violating safe riding practices, including failing to stop at stop signs and riding at night without a light, police believe there’s a need for this street-level education and enforcement program.

The goal, says Davis police Lt. Paul Doroshov, is to educate the public about the safe and lawful use of bicycles, as well as the safe and lawful use of vehicles that share the roadways with bicycles.

“Prevention is a key component of the program, which centers on the traffic laws that can prevent bicycle riders from being injured or killed due to illegal use or reckless behavior,” he said in a news release.

“While officers may choose to educate and warn offenders, officers also may enforce violations of the state vehicle code, and the city’s municipal code, that prohibit riding a bicycle on downtown sidewalks,” he added.

If a bicyclist is issued a citation for not having a bike light at night, he or she may take a copy of the citation to any of six bike shops in Davis and receive a 10 percent discount on a new bike light. The shops are Apex Cycles and Service, 338 G St.; B & L Bike Shop, 610 Third St.; Blisworks Bikes, 1340 E. Covell Blvd., Suite 102; Davis Wheelworks, 247 F St.; Freewheeler Bicycle Center, 703 Second St.; and Ken’s Bike, Ski & Board, 650 G St.

This discount does not reduce or eliminate the fine, but it allows a bicyclist to obtain required safety equipment at a reduced cost, Doroshov said.

“With more traffic congestion on our city streets, and more people turning to bicycles as a transportation alternative, we need to make sure that all road users understand the rules, laws and safe behavior, particularly how bicyclists and motorists share the road,” he added.

Safe riding practices include:

* Bicycles must be operated in a bike lane, if one is available, or on the roadway or the shoulder of the highway; but in either case, in the same direction as the flow of traffic;

* Bicyclists must stop for stop signs and obey all traffic signs and signals;

* Bicycles operated during darkness must be equipped with a working white light facing forward, a red reflector facing rearward and reflectors on both wheels;

* Bicycles cannot be ridden on sidewalks in downtown Davis; and

* Riders under 18 must be equipped with a properly fitted and buckled helmet.

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A Davis police bicycle officer watches young bicyclists arrive at school in 2009. Officers will be on the lookout for bike safety violations during focused patrols the week of Jan. 9. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise file photo

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