The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Police to crack down on bikes
No riding on the sidewalk
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: August 9, 2007
Due to an increase in the use of bikes in certain criminal activity, Ypsilanti Police chief Matt Harshberger has announced that the department will be stringently enforcing state laws and local ordinances pertaining to bicycles.
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In particular, no one is allowed to ride a bicycle on sidewalks in the downtown and Depot Town areas of the city. Bicycles may be walked on the sidewalks in these areas, but cannot be ridden. The penalty is a ticket for a civil infraction.
Also, riding bicycles after dark with no headlight is a violation of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and this will also be strictly enforced, with tickets being issued.
The crackdown comes after two weeks of what Harshberger calls "a small crime wave" in which bikes were used by suspects to avoid being caught.
"We've had bike thefts and the theft of bike parts, like a pedal here or a handlebar there," Harshberger said. "We're seeing people who shouldn't be riding bikes using them to commit larcenies and strong-arm robberies."
Harshberger said he wants people to be aware bikes can be impounded if they are used in a crime. He also urged people to write down the serial numbers of their bikes, so they can be identified if stolen and recovered.
Harshberger noted registering bikes with the city is mandatory, although he conceded most people do not do so and the city has been lax about enforcing the ordinance.
"Still, if you want to make sure you get your bike back, the police having a record of it is the best way to go," he said.
Owners may register a bike at the Ypsilanti police station's records department, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is a $5 registration fee. Harshberger said he is reviewing the current registration process and looking at the possibility of having a grace period, during which people could register for free.
"I don't want to take some kid's last five dollars," he said. "But, at the same time, we want to know where the bike belongs. That's best for everybody concerned."
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