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Weston Selectmen vote to discipline cyclists

Ride the western suburbs

Weston Selectmen vote to discipline cyclists

Here's a heads-up from a racing friend of ours regarding enforcement of cycling regulations in the Town of Weston. Please read it (and check out State Law too by clicking on the link). Since we don't ride no-hands, in poor light, or carry bags of bagels, the primary issues for us are those that might impede or interfere with motorists. These are …

• Riding side-by-side
• Failure to ride within three feet of the shoulder
• Failure to signal for turns

… and we might add a few more "common sense" things like …

• Failure to wear a helmet
• Riding a bike without working brakes
• Riding, rather than walking, across major roadways
• Riding (gasp!) through red lights and stop signs
• Using "inappropriate" language in "discussions" with motorists

Ignoring these things, at least in Weston, could (see below) become a very expensive mistake.

Lee and Bob

Date: Fri, 14 May 2004

Subject: Weston votes to enforce bicycle laws with fines

Hello, fellow cyclists.

Weston completed its town meeting last night, passing an Article directing police to issue fines to bicyclists for infractions. Under this scenario an entire group ride could be cited, giving the Town $20-plus per rider. The money collected from large groups could be an attractive excuse for aggressive enforcement.

Townspeople were obviously motivated by frustration with bicyclists; cycling is very popular now, and more cyclists are on the roads. Unfortunately, the number of cars on the roads is also at an all-time high. Conflict is inevitable. Those of us who love cycling should try to present ourselves as responsible users of the road so that we can generate more support for our way of life.

Here's the text of the town meeting article:

ARTICLE 42: AMEND GENERAL BYLAWS: ARTICLE III, POLICE REGULATIONS

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town's General Bylaws by adding a new Section 12 to Article III as follows: 93Section 12: No person shall operate a bicycle in violation of M.G.L. Chapter 85, section 11B, or of any regulations issued by the Board of Selectmen with regard to the equipment and operation of a bicycle. Violations of this bylaw and of any regulation of the Board of Selectmen adopted hereunder may be enforced by any available means in law or equity by the Board of Selectmen or its respective designee, and by any Police Officer of the Town of Weston; provided, further that any police officer of the Town may also, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 85, section 11C, enforce by non-criminal ticketing violations of this section and of any regulations adopted hereunder.

Penalties

1. Refusal to State Name and Address when Requested to Do So: $50.00

2. All Other Violations: $20.

Explanation: Weston roads are heavily used by bicyclists throughout the year. The Weston Police Department, however, currently has no authority to enforce traffic rules and regulations for cyclists. This Article, if approved, will allow the Police Department to enforce State laws regarding bicyclists and allow the Board of Selectmen to further establish rules and regulations regarding the riding of bicycles in Town. Enforcement will be through the non-criminal ticketing process, which allows a police officer to issue violators a ticket fining them for violations of the State law or local regulations.

Ride the western suburbs

For those on the western fringes of Get Up'N Go's operating area whose commute to our starting points is on or over the threshold of what's workable, we recommend looking into Adventurides. A Westford-Groton-based Get Up'N Go spinoff, Adventurides' founders share our philosophy, approach, and obsession with the outdoors. Their routes, while passing primarily through bucolic towns outside Route 495, overlap Get Up'N Go's to take advantage of venues like Carlisle and Chelmsford's Cranberry Bog and Great Brook State Farm. So, don't sit on the sidelines if we're too far way; get up and go with Carole and Bill!