07/06/2012 00:00
TW
0

Palma.—From the start of next month, Local Police in Palma will start to fine cyclists for breaking new bylaws restricting two-wheeler activity in the city. Regulations relate chiefly to the use of pavements, pedestrian-only areas and public zones such as parks and squares.

There will be no official warning or advance notice of the fine. It will be imposed on the spot.
The start of July will thus bring to an end of a public awareness campaign launched by the police after the new bylaws had been approved by the City Council at the end of April. Officers were tasked with letting would-be offenders know that careering wildly across pavements being used by throngs of pedestrians is now illegal, giving them an official warning that were they to be caught again, a fine would be imposed.

Citizen Safety Councillor Guillermo Navarro said that both the City Council and the Local Police were agreed that the public had been given sufficient time.

He said that officers would not fine in an indiscriminatory way but would attempt to match the fine to the seriousness of the offence.
One of the most frequent offences committed by cyclists is riding on the pavement or across pedestrian only areas. Fines imposed will vary from 60 to 300 euros according to the degree in which members of the public were endangered by the cyclist.

Bike riders, when stopped by Local Police for riding on pavements have on occasions claimed to officers that they have to ride on the pavement because they need to go in the opposite direction to traffic in a one-way street. “This argument is not valid,” said Navarro.

Children up to eight years-old will be able to cycle on pavements but only if they are wearing a protective helmet and are accompanied by parents or guardians on foot.

Pedestrians, said Navarro are also reminded that they too will be fined for “jay walking” along cycle tracks, particularly in the event of their blocking the path of people on bicycles.