Prairie Village police last week placed a sign reminding cyclists to obey stop signs in the traffic island at 69th and Oxford Street — the site of a mass-cyclist ticketing last summer that drew national attention.
Sgt. James Carney, who heads the department’s traffic division, said the sign was simply a form of “preventive maintenance” as the summer cycling season gets under way. The sign reads, “Biyclists required to obey stop signs.”
“The riding season is upon us and the PD is taking its usual measures to ensure the safety of the bicycling community by dropping in at ride start locations to try and have a dialogue about safety and obeying the traffic laws with those who ride through PV,” Carney said in an email. “The sign is just one more attempt to get the attention of riders who are complacent about the traffic laws.”
Carney said that since the ticketing last August, the police have not issued a single citation to cyclists in the 69th and Oxford area, a popular pass through for several local riding groups.
Police put up a similar sign on Somerset Drive east of Nall Avenue. Carney said the department’s traffic unit has been in contact with BikeWalkKC to collaborate on ways to ensure riders obey traffic signs. Carney encouraged people with ideas for improving cyclist adherence to attend the Handlebar Happy Hour June 26 at Salty Iguana.
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