Many concerned citizens attended a special meeting on Monday evening, July 27 to address multiple safety concerns regarding recent incidents related to groups of cyclists harassing pedestrians and drivers throughout Riverbank. Police Services Chief Ed Ridenour presented information to City Council members as well as many residents in attendance to address questions about recent incidents and how law enforcement will be responding to them going forward.
Among those taking the podium to speak, Marilyn McRitchie reported cyclists trying to ride into the path of oncoming cars recently while Eric Grubeck noted that some of the cyclists had been bullying his children. As Grubeck concluded his remarks, he asked, “A lot of these kids are not being safe, not wearing helmets and what happens when one of them gets hit?”
Ridenour responded to the concerns by highlighting a multi-faceted approach including working with a criminal taskforce that was recently created in response to these incidents.
“These incidents are not unique to Riverbank. They are going on across the country. Modesto, Ceres and Oakdale have all experienced similar incidents and that is why we are working with these communities to create a taskforce that responds to these incidents,” said Ridenour.
He went on to share that in addition to the taskforce, law enforcement will be facilitating presentations regarding bicycle and electronic bike (e-bike) and motorcycle safety throughout the community. When school resumes in early August, Chief Ridenour, Deputy Matt Orr and their team will begin spending time at local schools teaching children just how important safety and personal responsibility are when it comes to riding bikes and e-bikes.
Ridenour elaborated on the many factors including vehicle codes and bicycle license requirements that go into evaluating what actions will be taken based on the violations that occur. He also pointed out that just because these are bicycles, e-bikes, and e-motorcycles, that doesn’t mean that they should be treated any differently than a normal vehicle.
“A bicycle is a vehicle and if you swerve towards a person or a vehicle, actions can and will be taken including charges related to assault, reckless driving and vandalism,” Ridenour shared.
Th chief then highlighted some of the things that occurred on July 12 in Riverbank, when a scheduled rideout event turned into a chaotic evening with cyclists vandalizing cars by riding their bikes and intentionally striking vehicles as well as ignoring traffic signs and riding directly into oncoming traffic. Ridenour also noted that the group that came to Riverbank on July 12 was also organizing the same kind of rideout in Ceres for the following weekend, but that due to law enforcement efforts, their attempts at a street takeover in Ceres on July 19 was thwarted. Through the coordinated response with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, Modesto Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, multiple citations were issued and more than a dozen bicycles, e-bikes and e-motorcycles were impounded on July 19.
He also reiterated how important it was to call 911 as soon as possible when these situations occur so that law enforcement can respond quickly. There is also a non-emergency Sheriff’s Department services phone number, 209-552-2468, that Chief Ridenour shared to encourage folks to report things to help keep the lines of communication open.
