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Distracted? Stay alert. Cops about!

4/11/12 update: See “Distracted? Watch out! We’re all family.”

3/23/12 update: Thanks to Mark C. Anderson of the Monterey County Weekly for bringing  Fog & Smog’s “Put your phone down” video to my attention.  Check it out at the end of this post.

2/25/12 update:  Refer to “Mad? So’s Eric’s dad! Time to stop distracted driving” to learn about an April 2012 protest ride in California, and how to help–by biking all or a portion of the route, or by showing your support in other ways.

These police officers are prepared to get around town quickly, free of any possible traffic delays.

Police officers are out and about,  doing everything they can to keep the peace and assure the safety of our communities.  In this post are cops from the City of Monterey.  Click here to see Constables of the Peace, on bicycles, in other Monterey County cities.

Cell phones–and other distracted driving

Got cell phone?–in your hand while driving/pedaling? Let’s hope not!  Cops on bikes can pedal right up and–bingo–write a ticket.  They may look like they’re just out having fun, but these cops mean business too!  They know that a split-second text, or other distraction, can be all it takes to result in tragedies such as these.

There’s probably not a person in the world who hasn’t at some time driven a car or motorcycle, or biked, distracted.  The stories at the U.S. Department of of Transportation Distracted Driving website are a somber reminder of why it’s so important to keep first things first!–Your eyes on the road (or bike path), your hands on the wheel (or handlebars), and your mind on your priority task at hand–safe travel.

Need more reminders? Visit the Eric Okerblom Foundation website, http://www.eofoundation.net/ – Eric was killed while bicycling because of a distracted driver! In April 2012, cyclists will bike through Monterey County with Eric’s father, Bob Okerblom, to express outrage and bring attention to what more must be done to prevent such tragedy.  Visit the website to learn more, or email Eric’s dad:   bobokerblom [AT] yahoo [DOT] com.

Here’s what California law says. 

And for cyclists?  “Same road, same rights, same rules.”

  • Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
  • Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
  • Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers–defined as drivers under age 18 (Secondary law)
  • Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

See what else our Monterey County’s police officers are up to.

In this post, officers are from the City of Monterey Police Department.

Ma’am, sorry to have to write you up, but California’s seat belt law says “click it or ticket.”

Pausing to give directions help.

Whoops, crosswalk!

Stay alert, folks, there are ticket books in those bike bags!

Keeping a sharp eye on things….

Hey, every biker on the road  needs some of that super-reflective tape!

Getting ready to hit the road again….

Hey, it’s the bike woman! Sure, we’ll pose, no problem.

Back in the saddle….

And away they go, on to the next call of duty.

Thanks for your service, officers.

* * * * *

August 2011

Concours d’Elegance?  See Bicycling Pebble Beach, where you’ll find other Monterey Auto Week tips too.

Tips below published 7/19/11 especially for

Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix/MotoGP World Championship and  101st annual California Rodeo

Want to skip traffic and parking snarls? Bike or bike-and-ride about the county.

See Tips for Bicycling Monterey County, a 20-section guide.   Have questions or need help?  Contact me or other bike community resources.

Especially for Red Bull/MotoGP fans

Want a first-hand experience of the track?  Come early! On Wed, 7/20, all adults and children are invited to take to the track on bicycles in a Twilight Ride, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Tackle the infamous Corkscrew on a bicycle!  Helmets required.  $10 fee to participate, with portion of proceeds going to charities.

Tips for July 23 Street Party, 5-11 p.m.

Cannery Row street party (AKA 14th annual Race Night on the Row) will be packed!  This is a fun night, for foreign and domestic visitors and residents alike.

Where to eat, have drinks, taste some wines before/during party?

If you want to be closest to the party, start with:

  • Cannery Row
  • Wave Street
  • Lighthouse Ave (Monterey end–below, see reference to PG end)

Find great places on the clickable map or quick reference guide for the HER Helmet Thursdays project.  There are nearly 200 places in those listings! And if you’re bicycling there, you’ll appreciate the bike-there tips provided in most of those listings.

Looking for those voted “Best of Monterey County” or those that are in the Seafood Watch program?  See “For all visitors” heading below.
It’ll be busy nearly everywhere.  Still, you may want to make a stop en route to the Row (or take a break during the party) to avoid such packed in-house 7/23 eve crowds.  Good options not far from the party include:

  • downtown Monterey (Alvarado Street, Tyler, Munras, etc.)
  • Monterey’s Coast Guard Pier and Wharf I and Wharf II
  • Seaside’s Broadway Avenue and Fremont Street (don’t get mixed up about Fremont–ask a local)
  • Monterey’s Del Monte Shopping Center
  • downtown Pacific Grove (Lighthouse Ave, PG)
  • the Forest Hill area of Pacific Grove
Travel up-close easily–bicycle to the street party

Make it a stress-free experience by avoiding traffic and parking snarls and instead bicycling to this popular scene.  Here are a few tips:

  • There’s a Class I bike path immediately above the Row; and unlike the street, it won’t be closed!
  • Can’t bike all the way there? See bike-and-ride tips.
  • There are 20+ bicycle racks along the Cannery Row bike path, so remember to lock up.  See night riding tips.
  • Be extra careful regarding personal safety! There will be lots of people in town, many intoxicated and/or unfamiliar with there being cyclists about.
Drinking alcohol?

Please use the same good judgment about when it’s safe to get behind those handlebars that you would use about when it’s safe to get behind the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.  And although you would not be subject to a DUI (driving under the influence) ticket, you would  still be subject to a BUI (biking under the influence) ticket.  Refer to VC 21200.5 in this overview of California bicycle laws.  The California Department of Motor Vehicles website has the latest info about a BUI fine.

Especially for California Rodeo visitors

For all visitors

For all locals and visitors

Have fun and travel safe!

Special thanks to Officer Kevin Mead of the Salinas Police Department, who is pictured at the top of this section.

Thanks to Mark C. Anderson for his 3/22/12 Food Blog post in the Monterey County Weekly bringing the following video to my attention.

Fog and Smog have the last word.

Posted by: marilynch on July 19, 2011.
Last revised by: marilynch on April 11, 2012.

One Comment

  1. avatar
    Silvio says:
    October 1, 2011 at 08:54

    In Brazil our authorities are only occupied with the “ticket business” and not with the “educational purpose” of tickets. Generally people receive a ticket by mail weeks, months, or year later. How can someone think about his/her ticket and what they have done wrong?
    The right way is just like in these photos. When wrong, get your ticket right at that time and info for stopping the error behaviour.

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