What Bicyclists Could Get A Ticket For If One OKC Councilman Gets His Way

An Oklahoma City councilman is proposing another change to the city's ordinance on bicyclists after his previous proposal stalled with the council in January.

Ward 8 Councilman Pat Ryan's proposed change would make the city code mirror a clause in the state's bicycle law; prohibiting cyclists from passing vehicles between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.

“The ordinance change would allow police officers to issue violators a traffic ticket,” said Ryan.

“Right now, officers can only try to enforce a violation by asking a prosecutor to pursue a criminal misdemeanor charge. That is a burden on law enforcement and too serious of a charge for violators.”

Ryan is expected to make the proposal in Tuesday's council meeting. The proposal is set for a public hearing March 3 and a vote March 10.

In January Ryan proposed a broader change to the City's bicycle ordinance that the Council ultimately chose not to adopt. 

1/20/2015 Related Story: OKC City Council Discussing Changes To Cycling Rules