Effort To Enforce Bike Rules Steps Up

More Boston cyclists may soon find themselves curbed by the city's police force.

As part of a Menino administration safety initiative, officers posted around Boston are increasing their enforcement and will be stopping cyclists who violate the city's bike traffic laws.

Police said they are stepping up enforcement in areas of the city with heavy bike traffic, issuing written warnings but no tickets. The initiative comes in response to more than 15 accidents and one fatality involving cyclists and motor vehicles over the last few weeks.

At the Boston University Bridge on Thursday, cyclists were stopped for running a red light on Commonwealth Avenue.

"I'm a little confused as to why I'm standing here," said BU sophomore Charlie Faywell, while a Boston officer wrote out a written warning. Faywell denied running the light.

Another BU student, Junior Jonathan Quinones, admitted he hadn't stopped while the light was red. "I deserved to be stopped," he said. "But I don't think I deserve a warning. They have better stuff to do and if they're not going to patrol everyone, then why patrol some people?"

A third cyclist said he thought the bike lane's continuous green lines meant he didn't have to stop.

Bikers were told they could be subject to the same fine as a driver for running a red light — $150.

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