Santa Monica Police Cracking Down On UnSafe Biking, Again

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica may be one of the most traffic-calmed cities in the Southland, but that hasn't stopped bicyclists from getting in the crashes and police are again planning a special enforcement period to crack down on unsafe behaviors.

There have been more than 875 injuries or fatal crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in the city in the past four years despite the addition of new bike lanes and safety signage.

Friday and Monday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., police will be looking at several locations where pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers frequently smack into each other, Santa Monica police Lt. Saul Rodriguez.

Bikers, walkers and motorists are equal opportunity offenders, he said.

“Special enforcement efforts will be directed towards drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and similar dangerous violations,” he said. "Bike riders will be stopped and citations issued where they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is funding the concentrated enforcement, through the California Office of Traffic Safety.

— City News Service contributed to this report, photo via Shutterstock