Welcome to another exciting edition of “What’s Wrong With This Picture?!”
Your hosts for this show are two of Long Beach’s very own bicycle-mounted Police.
This photo was taken on E. Broadway near Promenade, looking East.
So, how many things can YOU find wrong with this picture?
Click for larger image
As you know, Long Beach is looking for a new Chief of Police.
With the city’s commitment to become the most bicycle-friendly city in the nation – it would be ideal if the new Chief had a sense of what his officers could do to make Long Beach safer and more enjoyable for cyclists, and to set the best example possible to citizens and residents.
With that in mind, what questions would YOU have for the new Chief?
City of Long Beach cycling on the side walk Law’s:)
Read section C.
When People like cyclist in this community make fun or judge the police, It’s usually the others and not the judge that take the brunt of the joke!
Riding on Sidewalks (10.48.070)
A. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within any business district; upon the sidewalks of bridges; in pedestrian underpasses; on pedestrian overpasses; upon sidewalks adjacent to any school building, church, recreation center, playground, or senior citizens’ residential development; within the area south of Ocean Boulevard between the Long Beach Museum of Art on the west and Bluff Park on the east; on the northerly side of the Downtown Marina mole which directly abuts said marina, between Gangway A and Gangway P.
B. Any person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and when overtaking and passing a pedestrian, shall give an audible signal and shall pass to the left of the pedestrian only under conditions permitting such movement in safety.
C. The speed limit for bicycles on a sidewalk is fifteen miles per hour unless otherwise posted. The speed limit where pedestrians are present is five miles per hour. Signs specifying the speed limit shall be placed by the Traffic Engineer in locations which will provide notice to significant concentrations of sidewalk bicycle riders or where bicycle speed problems are found to exist on sidewalks.
D. For purposes of this Section, the following public ways shall be considered sidewalks: 1. Seaside Walk south of Ocean Boulevard between Fifty-fifth Place and Sixty-ninth Place, known as the Boardwalk;
C. This Section shall not apply to a bicycle operated by any officer employed by the City while acting within the course and scope of his or her employment, having peace officer powers pursuant to Penal Code Section 830 or are employed in positions as provided under Sections 16.16.080, 16.08.340 and 16.08.341 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (Ord. C-7453 § 1, 1997; Ord. C-7210 § 1, 1994: Ord. C-7204 § 1, 1994; Ord. C-7084 § 1, 1993: Ord. C-6883 § 1, 1991; Ord. C-6322 § 1, 1986; Ord. C-5911 § 1, 1982; Ord. C-5678 § 1, 1981; prior code § 3410.206).
I am bit confused by your comment beezleboss. Are you for or against police officers riding their bikes on the sidewalk in a business district?
Im neither for or against it. They are Police, So if a cop car were to go the wrong way on a one way street are you going to jump in-front of it and tell them it sends a bad message to others? I think not!
Seeing as cyclist in Long Beach can’t ride in a group of more than five anywhere in the
“business district” without harassment of some kind. Also with all sorts of bogus ticketing going around.
It’s probably not the smartest thing to make judgments against police on your site.
All this does is bring heat on others and make things more difficult to communicate later with police.
It also makes you sound whiney, like a bunch of kids that can’t get there way:) just saying
Well played beezle, I couldn’t agree more!
Officers should be able to do what they want regardless of State Law or City Ordinance. It is absolutely ridiculous to question their actions at any time.
Police Brutality
NYPD Assualts Cyclist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUFiowOcnIw&feature=player_embedded
my fist post is the State / City laws in which these officers in question are in compliance with. So regardless of the imaginary laws you would like to use today,those up top are the real ones you should be looking at:)
The flood canal off the 710 going to downtown long beach from North Long Beach needs attention. I like riding but have issues with bums or thugs walking taking up the whole bike lanes and yelling at me as i ride by. They try to intimmidate you and i choose to avoid that ride now. I like it and think the city has cleaned alot of the scenery up, but the people who loiter is not enjoyable.
It’s nice to know the law. Thanks for posting that.
However, parents have their kids look to law enforement as sterling examples of appropriate behavior. (I don’t think they SHOULD, but facts are, they do.) So cops riding on the sidewalk and taking up the whole thing while not looking where they are going and not wearing helmets is not setting a good example. Whether it’s legal or not is so beside the point.
Thanks Yoshiyahu, I couldn’t agree more. I understand when police need to break these policies in the name of fighting crime or when there is a dangerous situation (that is their job) but it is obvious that these officers are not in hot pursuit, therefore there is no reason why they shouldn’t be following the rules and regulations of cycling. (oh, and helmets should ALWAYS be worn, setting that example is crucial for the citizen of LB)
Gawd, thanks for bringing this back to reality you last two. Thought I was going crazy there for a second. You might want to add that they should have both hands on the handlebars. That is unless they’re getting ready to shoot the camera person.
Yeah I know they aren’t required to, it’s just good practice. And yes, being a tax paying citizen does make me a concerned party that wishes they follow good practices.
Not only are they riding on the sidewalk, they’re going against the flow of traffic. Also they’re not wearing helmets — I’ve seen other bike cops in Belmont Shore and on the beach bike path riding without helmets on. I’m an avid cyclist and have felt my helmet skid on concrete when I’ve had an accident. Thank goodness it was the helmet and not my skull.