County Supervisors Begin Hearings on Bicyclist Safety Ordinance

On Tuesday, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors took the first step in ensuring greater protection for bicyclists by holding the first hearing of the County Code to prohibit the harassment of bicyclists and pedestrians.  The effort was launched by Third District Supervisor Shirlee Zane. 

“Bicycling is a major part of life in Sonoma County," Zane said, via news release. She is a bicyclist herself. "Encouraging people to walk or ride their bicycles lessens traffic congestion, improves public health and improves air quality. A key deterrent to bicycling or walking is that people feel unsafe while doing so. This ordinance will increase safety across all communities."

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Second District Supervisor David Rabbitt stated, “Sonoma County is committed to being a safe and healthy community and we are proud to be the first county to adopt this policy to protect riders."

Rabbitt said bicycling and walking help people lead healthy lives and spur economic activity through tourism.

The proposed ordinance is intended to discourage the harassment of bicyclists and pedestrians by prohibiting:

• Physically assaulting or attempting to physically assault a bicyclist or pedestrian;
• Intentionally injuring, attempting to injure, or threatening to physically injure, either by words, vehicle or other object, a bicyclist or pedestrian;
• Intentionally distracting or attempting to distract a bicyclist;
• Intentionally forcing or attempting to force a bicyclist or pedestrian off a street for purposes unrelated to public safety.

A person damaged by any violation of this ordinance would be able to institute a civil proceeding for monetary damages, and for any other or additional relief the court deems appropriate. The prevailing party would also be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to order of the court.

Sonoma County is the first county in the country to adopt such an ordinance, according to the news release. Similar ordinances, primarily focused on bicyclist safety, have been adopted by cities across the country and throughout the state, including: Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, Berkeley and Washington D.C. The County’s proposed ordinance goes farther than these other municipalities in that it includes protections for pedestrians as well as bicyclists. Tuesday’s action was the first reading of the proposed ordinance. The second reading and final adoption is scheduled for March 19.

Sonoma County has hosted the Amgen Tour of California, an elite level professional bicycle race. It has staged the event six out of the past seven years. Each year, Levi Leipheimer’s Gran Fondo charity ride attracts over 7,000 cyclists from all over the world for a one day event.