Like to ride after dark?...don't go to Indy!

The police are handing out $50 tickets to cyclists who use the bike paths in some Indianapolis parks after dark, or before sunrise.

...Biking on the Monon Trail after dark recently earned about 15 bike commuters tickets from police...Because the Monon is a park, city rules indicate people can't be there after sundown, but avid cyclists don't like the alternatives...Technically, David Clark is breaking rules if his Monon commute ends after sunset or begins before dawn.

"Daylight's pretty much gone, and I don't get off 'til 5:00," Clark said, as he set off for home. "People were … going to work before the sun was up, and I think...the trail is a safer route...than some of the options, like Keystone or College (Avenues)..."

Some poor cyclists have received multiple tickets for repeat infractions. Read the whole article, especially the SIX pages of gloating comments by Indy drivers. I'm soooo glad I live in Chicago!

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 25, 2009 at 11:43am
At least the police are willing to admit that the ordinance is confusing, not enforcing it and trying to get it changed to something less ambiguous.
Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on November 25, 2009 at 11:43am
The article states that the tickets have been pulled, that the city recognizes there is confusion with their ordinances and differences at least at that park path than other parks. Sounds like the city, the police, and bicyclists will work on clearer ordinances.

I am freaked though about all the comments. Bunch of hateful, narrow-thinking stuff from many of the posters. I think I might be scared to ride there.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
What an absolute BS rule. Sounds like some Chicago lawmakers needs to go educate some Indianians. "Ok kiddies. Here's how it works logically - the path is open 24/7 for transport, but path users can't go venture off into the parks."

It would suck to live right by that path. Hopefully they all decide to contest the tickets.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 25, 2009 at 11:45am
I got that after I read the article. (I thought Clark would quote all relevant parts.)

Liz W. Durham said:
The article states that the tickets have been pulled, that the city recognizes there is confusion with their ordinances and differences at least at that park path than other parks. Sounds like the city, the police, and bicyclists will work on clearer ordinances.

I am freaked though about all the comments. Bunch of hateful, narrow-thinking stuff from many of the posters. I think I might be scared to ride there.

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
What an absolute BS rule. Sounds like some Chicago lawmakers needs to go educate some Indianians. "Ok kiddies. Here's how it works logically - the path is open 24/7 for transport, but path users can't go venture off into the parks."

It would suck to live right by that path. Hopefully they all decide to contest the tickets.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on November 25, 2009 at 12:12pm
I'd say "Use at your own risk" is a positive outcome coming from writing tickets for commuters trying to get home. They can always screw it up though. We'll see.

Clark said:
Well who knows how this will settle out. The article concludes on less than a positive note:

...Meantime, Indy Parks isn't exactly welcoming after-hours cyclists. "We issue the message that the trails are not open after sunset. Use them at your own risk," said spokeswoman Paula Freund....
Permalink Reply by Liz W. Durham on November 25, 2009 at 12:26pm
So I have only been to Indianapolis once and I was not biking. Is the city as anti-bike as all the comments and the apparent poor ordinances suggest?
Permalink Reply by mike w. on November 25, 2009 at 4:24pm
Vonnegut was right: Indianapolis truly is the Armpit of the Universe.
Permalink Reply by ishnock aka the blue baron on November 25, 2009 at 4:54pm
Hey, force all the city dwellers,politicians and law officers to
watch the movie "Breaking Away"....That film was shot in
Indiana,and it has a way of turning the most putrid cyclist hater
into a bike lover overnight.....

and the city lived happily ever after inside of a velodrome.

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