Police Watching For Bike And Pedestrian Violations

With the beginning of the summer season and the end of the school year quickly approaching, the Fond du Lac Police Department would like to remind citizens to be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians.

 

Did you know that in 2013 in the State of Wisconsin one bicyclist was injured or killed every 10 hours and one pedestrian was injured or killed every 6.9 hours?

Wisconsin Statutes state:

 

•  Any person operating a bicycle at less than normal speed shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the unobstructed traveled roadway, including riders who are riding two or more abreast
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•  At any crosswalk (marked or unmarked), the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, person riding a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device, in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by a pedestrian who has started to cross the highway.
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• No operator of a vehicle proceeding ahead on a green signal may begin a turn at a controlled intersection or crosswalk when a pedestrian or bicyclist or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device crossing in the crosswalk on a green or walk signal would be endangered or interfered with in any way.

 

What can you do?

 

As a motorist, look for pedestrians when turning left or right.
Reduce travel speeds in school zones and neighborhoods.
Yield to pedestrians already attempting to cross the roadways. 
As a pedestrian, always look left, right, and left again for traffic before stepping into the street. 
As a pedestrian, cross at crosswalk or where you can see and be seen by motorists.
Give the bicycle at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. 
When turning left, watch for and yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you would yield to oncoming motorists.
When turning right, yield to any bicyclist traveling on your right. Do not try to pass a bicyclist if you are planning to turn right at the next intersection or driveway.
Be aware of children riding their bicycles. A child riding in the street may suddenly swerve in front of you or a child on the sidewalk may suddenly ride out in front of you.
Bicyclists must ride on the right, in the same direction as other traffic.

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