Modesto police enforcing cyclist, pedestrian safety today

Bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians might want to be a little more aware of – and courteous to – one another on the streets of Modesto today. Law enforcement’s eyes will be focused on them.

The Modesto Police Department will step up bike and pedestrian safety enforcement operations today, and again next Monday and Tuesday. Sept. 21-22.

The department will be paying extra attention to locations over the past year where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred, as well as to the violations that led to those crashes.

Those violations by drivers include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Enforcement will be taken when pedestrians cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked crosswalks or at corners.

Bike riders will be stopped and cited when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists. All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet – those under 18 years of age must wear helmets by law.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use these non-motorized means of transportation, according to a news release from the Modesto Police Department. Locally, Modesto police have investigated two fatal collisions involving bicyclists in the past two weeks alone.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 7:34 AM with the headline "Modesto police enforcing cyclist, pedestrian safety today."