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Residents recount bullying and near-misses, urge stronger enforcement and education
Summary
Multiple Riverbank residents described being threatened or bullied by groups of riders, reported near-misses in parking lots and neighborhoods, and urged clearer rules, confiscation or more preventative outreach. Residents cited helmet nonuse and suggested confiscation as practiced in other cities.
Several residents told the council they or their children had been harassed by groups of young riders and described dangerous encounters in shopping areas and neighborhoods.
"I was out and about that Sunday...they were doing wheelies around people walking to and from the cars," said Anne Ditschko, who said her family has changed shopping habits because of safety concerns and relayed an officer's practice elsewhere: "we just confiscate their bikes and never get them back." Other residents described a near-miss in the Target parking lot and widespread nonuse of helmets among young riders.
Residents urged clarity on where bicycles are allowed on sidewalks and requested increased education and enforcement to protect pedestrians and younger children. The sheriff's office responded with guidance for residents on reporting incidents and said school-based outreach and helmet distribution programs are planned.
