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Samantha Hayes ReportingThey are going too fast, blowing through stop signs, even disregarding traffic lights. Those are the complaints police are hearing from residents and drivers about another group of people on the road -- bicyclists.
The complaints are primarily in the canyons where it's easy, and quite honestly fun, to get going fast downhill. Warmer weather has more bicyclists out and deputies have been ticketing many of them for the same offenses drivers usually commit.
We found a cyclist running a stop sign at the bottom of Millcreek Canyon. We were NOT the only ones watching. From his fee post-Bert Christensen-sees this happen all day long.
Bert Christensen, Park and Recreation: "I've been here 13 years and I've yet to see very few stops for the stop sign right here."
Deputies see it too and have been ticketing cyclists for not stopping at the stop sign and for speeding.
Bert Christensen: "Many cyclists have been clocked going down here several miles over the speed limit. They clocked one guy over 50 miles per hour, the sheriff's department did up in the canyon before they ever get this far."
A sign in Emigration Canyon tells bicyclists to obey the traffic light. It's there temporarily because of construction east of Hogle Zoo. Deputies say they were in the area looking for drivers speeding when cyclists went through the red light right in front of them. Drivers complained.
Brandon Smith, Bicyclist: "You are going to have to share the road. People complain, but not much you can do about it."
Deputies say it's not about targeting one group or another- they just want to keep everyone safe on the roads, especially for cyclists, who are more likely to be hurt in an accident.
Bert Christensen: "I tried to stop him several times. A car was coming up the same time and he ended up in the trees."
Deputies say they are not targeting cyclists. Ever since the law allowed them to use the lanes of the road, law enforcement has been busy making everyone on wheels follow the rules.
