TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Three bicyclists have already been killed by motorists in Pima County this year and multiple county organizations are working to make our roads safer.
As part of the effort, Oro Valley Police are posting officers with their motorcycle unit at intersections, which make up 90% of the bike/car accidents.
"It's either the bicyclists not yielding to cars or the cars not yielding to bicyclists. Not stopping at stop signs, not stopping at lights, those types of violations," said Sgt. Troy Kranz.
The officers will be out at intersections at least three more times in April.
Most cyclists and drivers that officers stop during this campaign will receive a warning because it is more about education, as Sgt. Kranz said he believes many people just are not aware of how bicycles and cars are supposed to share the road.
Cyclists must legally obey all rules of the road as if they were any other vehicle. Drivers must give bicyclists at least three feet between them when they pass; if they do not have three feet, they must remain behind the cyclist until they have the room. When traveling in a group, cyclists can only ride two across.
Education and fair enforcement is two of the things the Tucson /Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee discussed at their meeting Wednesday night.
They would also like to see narrow bike lanes widened and "on and off ramps" on city streets improved.
Chair of the Committee David Bachman-Williams said an example of a city street on and off ramp is where Sunrise and Skyline merge. That is also where 2016's first deadly bike accident happened, when a 69-year-old woman was killed in January.
