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Question: I blew through a stop sign on my bike the other day at a time when no cars were around. I thought it was perfectly safe, but a cop pulled me over and gave me a warning. He also said that I needed to have more lights on my bike if I was planning to ride it after dark. What all do I need on my bike in terms of lights, helmet, etc., to avoid getting a ticket for riding my bike? I hear some drivers get angry at bike riders. What’s the deal? Do I need different gear for riding in town as I do if I’m riding out on the bike path to the village or to Kelly?

This week’s question is answered by Sgt. Andy Pearson of the Jackson Police Department. Pearson is a 15-year veteran of the police department and the supervisor of the Investigations Unit as well as a trained bicycle patrol officer.

Sgt. Pearson: Humm….Having heard this before, two things jump to mind.

The first is,  “No cars were around.” Yet there was a marked police car sitting right there that you didn’t see.  What else didn’t you see?

The second is, What??? A warning? Who was that officer? I need a name!!!  Just kidding.

Sgt. Pearson on patrol.

I guess the easiest place to start would be with the law and the reasons there are traffic laws in the first place.  While traffic laws might seem onerous at times, especially when you’re driving the 90 miles between Casper, Wyo., and Shoshoni, Wyo., the traffic laws with enforcement are the easiest thing that can be done to positively impact the physical safety of the citizens of Jackson and to prevent damage to our property.  When drivers are more conscious of and compliant with the traffic laws, the number of accidents and the accompanying deaths/injuries and property damage drop dramatically.

With regard to bicycles specifically, Wyoming State Statute 31-5-702 gives a bicycle (on the roadway) the same rights and duties as a motor vehicle. This means that the driver of a bicycle can be stopped and cited for the same violations that a regular motor vehicle can be stopped and cited for.

Bicycles have the same duty to stop for signs and lights and to obey other traffic laws. Since I can’t imagine anyone wishing to see cars going through the intersections without stopping, even though it “looked” safe, the same applies to bicycles.

Wyoming State Statute 31-5-704 says that when riding on the roadway, bicycles are to ride as near to the right as practicable and shall not ride more than two abreast unless on a bike path or bike lane.  The Town of Jackson has also given some more rights to bicycles.  Municipal Ordinance 10.12.080 mandates that vehicles passing bicycles shall leave a safe distance and that may not be less than 3 feet.

The equipment needed on a bike is similar to a car, State Statute 31-5-706 lists the lighting equipment used at nighttime and it shall include a white light to the front and a red reflector to the rear.  The red reflector must be visible from 600 feet.  A lamp emitting a red light, visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.  Also, the bicycle needs to have brakes.  This might seem obvious, but it’s in the law.

Helmets…. Wow, you don’t wear one? There is no state law mandating the use of a bike helmet. I would say that you don’t need to wear a helmet as long as you’re not bringing you head along on the ride.  Some quick stats regarding bicycle accidents show the need for helmet usage.  Two-thirds of the deaths in bicycle crashes are from traumatic brain injury and the single best way to prevent this is… TA!!-DA!!!! Wearing of a helmet, each and every time you ride.  No kidding, if I don’t have a helmet, I don’t ride.

The most important thing to remember is, when you are riding on the roadway, you are a vehicle in the eyes of the law. If you have driven a car for very long, you have come to expect other drivers to generally obey the traffic laws.  This makes it possible for you to anticipate possible hazards and move along the roadway safely to reach your destination without much thought toward the dangers.  When other drivers or bicyclists do not obey the laws, it is impossible to anticipate their movements and collisions occur.  Obeying the traffic laws allows the other drivers to see you and anticipate your movements allowing all of us to arrive home safely.

One last thought, the worst part of a vehicle vs. bicycle collision is that no matter who was right in the collision, the bicyclist almost always loses, so ride defensively and be seen.

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