Whenever cycling comes up, the conversation gets heated. Drivers often complain that cyclists clog up the roads and ignore traffic rules. Cyclists argue they have just as much right to be on the road as anyone else. But no matter which side you’re on, everyone is expected to follow the law.
During the recent Ride in Silence event, intended to honor cyclists killed or injured in traffic accidents, video showed a concerning trend: selective rule-following. In the footage, the first few riders come to a full stop at a stop sign, right in front of a patrol car. But once that police vehicle drives off, the behavior changes. Dozens of riders continue through the intersection without stopping.
This isn’t just a minor infraction—it’s dangerous. Ignoring stop signs puts cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians at risk, especially in high-traffic areas.
Meanwhile, changes are coming for electric bikes. As M. David McFarland recently pointed out in a Desert Sun letter, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors has passed a new ordinance that bans e-bikes from sidewalks in most cases, effective at the end of June. When riding on permitted sidewalks, cyclists will be required to yield to pedestrians and announce their presence—or face penalties.
The question is: how will this be enforced?
McFarland argues that the ordinance will be ineffective without widespread publicity. “Without such publicity, the ordinance is unlikely to have any impact on the health, safety, and welfare of pedestrians using sidewalks,” he wrote.
With bike use continuing to rise—and tension between riders and drivers showing no sign of slowing—the region faces a growing need for education, enforcement, and mutual respect on the roads.
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By: Fred Roggin
June 10, 2025
