Police Launch Bicycle Safety Operation

News release from the Newport Beach Police Department:

The Newport Beach Police Department will be conducting a specialized Bicycle Safety Operation on Saturday, March 17 and Saturday, March 24.

Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by bicyclists, pedestrians and vehicles. Officers will be addressing traffic violations made by all vehicle operators, bicyclists, and other vehicle drivers that lead to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian collisions.

The goal of the program 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 and pedestrians. Prevention is a key component of the program, which centers on the traffic laws that can prevent bicycle riders and pedestrians from becoming injured or killed due to illegal use or reckless behavior by vehicles and bicyclists. In addition, the Police Department may be required to enforce obvious violations of the City’s Municipal Code to maintain safe operations.

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, pedestrians and motorists share the road.