PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — A group of 17 bicyclists were written tickets for failing to stop at a stop sign, all at the same time.
Prairie Village police have cracked down on a group of bicyclists they had warned about following traffic rules. Police said they had tried to educate and warn the riders in several groups of bicyclists in recent months.
On Aug. 13, 17 bicyclists from a much larger group were stopped when they allegedly ran a stop sign at 79th Street and Belinder. Police said the entire group of bicyclists numbered over 30.
“All laws apply equally to cyclists, as well as vehicles,” Prairie Village Police Chief Wes Jordan said.
Jordan said that they wanted the bicyclists to work with officers, but once they continued to not follow traffic laws, officers had to react.
“We wanted to catch them doing right, not wrong, but felt the next step is compliance,” Jordan said.
Maggi Hacker is president of the Johnson County Bicycle Club that has been ticketed. She was riding with the group Aug. 13, but was not in the pack ticketed.
She said she doesn’t agree with police pulling over more than a dozen cyclists at once.
“Several people did stop who got tickets,” Hacker said.
However, Hacker said she she agrees cyclists have to follow the same laws as motorists.
“Expect respect and give respect,” Hacker said.
On Thursday, Prairie Village police were back out at the same intersection and two more people were cited for failing to stop. It’s a big improvement over the previous week and may make a step at keeping people safe.
“I think it already made a difference,” Hacker said. “It’s unfortunate it had to be done this way, but it may save a life.”