Bike riding mistakes concern city officials

If a bike rider travels through an intersection that has a stop light—and doesn't stop—should the bike rider be ticketed?  State law says bicycle riders must obey all the rules of the road that cars and trucks obey.

But City of Decorah officials say, as a practical matter, tickets are rarely if ever given to bicyclists.  "We don't issue citations to bike riders," Police Chief Tom Courtney told the Decorah City Council Monday night.  The problem, City Attorney Rick Zahasky told the city council, is that there's some confusion about what section of the city code—if any—could be cited when writing a ticket.

City council members say if there isn't a city ordinance covering bicyclists, there ought to be.  Council member Paul Wanless said he had personally seen bike riders ignore stoplights at intersections.  Council member Gary Rustad said either the city's Public Safety Committee or its Streets Committee ought to take up the issue.  "I think it's a discussion we need to have," he said.