2d ago

The police chief in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, says he doesn’t want to enforce a new state law that prohibits drivers from parking in bike lanes

Cottonwood Heights Chief of Police pushes back against new state law

2d ago

2d ago

The police chief in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, says he opposes new state law that prohibits drivers from parking in bike lanes

2d ago

Cottonwood Heights Chief of Police pushes back against new state law

20 comments

“Why care about the safety of people on bikes? I drive a car, so I really don’t understand.”
-Police chief

The police where I live is doing prevention by telling cyclists to be careful because they could traumatize a poor car driver when hitting them.
- You might dent the bonnet with your head. Also blood doesn't wipe of easy.

Aw geez. If only there was something a person could do if they don't want to do their job anymore.

So what he's saying is that drivers should prepare to have their mirrors broken?
- That's how I heard it.
  
  Totally by accident, of course. I mean, what are illegally parked drivers going to do? Complain to police? 🤭

The newsletter they reference is ever funnier.
First, the Chief looks like biking isn't an activity he does regularly, so perhaps not a well-informed opinion there.
Second, there is a picture of a vehicle blocking a bike lane which appears to be used as an example of the problem. Of course, this vehicle is parked so far from the curb that it should probably be ticketed anyways.
Third, the area they use as an example is in front of a high school that appears to have been widened specifically to create a drop-off area. Unless you literally parked too far over, you wouldn't interfere with the bike lane at all. Toss in some concrete bollards and this problem goes away.
Fourth, the school has a fucking drop off in the parking lot just beyond that spot, so its not like there is no alternative!

Oh, laws are optional now? Cool.
- We all knew since the pandemic: Despite the police often telling us otherwise, they do get to decide which laws they enforce.

OMG, I'm trying to enjoy my vacation and I make the mistake of checking the news and seeing my police chief being a complete tool... again.
Russo is also infamous for stalking a city council member by parking at her house every night. He was dismissed from his previous department for very controversial reasons. He's the reason I gag every time I pay property taxes. We'd actually have a fairly progressive district (for Utah) if it wasn't for this ass-hat and the general car-brainedness of our city council.

A few ideas:
make it so bikelanes are in between the sidewalk and the like of parked cars. Common in Montreal.
make the cops go on patrol on bikes
if enforcement of bikelanes is optional, so should be enforcement of bikes on sidewalks

Imagine states restricting sidewalks and trails, and then ontop of that not enforcing laws that prevent individual instructing those same sidewalk or trails.
Infrastructure should not only designed for cars.

20 comments