I think I’ve mentioned here before that, each night, our city is beset by a band of petty criminals on bicycles, a little peddle-powered army of addicts that live like parasites on the fringe of society. Most deploy from the homeless encampment on the banks of the river. They coast around town on their bikes, looking for anything they can find that isn’t bolted down; metal that can be sold for scrap, lawnmowers, potted plants, change in the seats of unlocked cars, basically anything that can be sold for meth, crack, or whatever else happens to be on the menu that day in Ypsilanti.

Lately, I guess, it’s been getting worse. For one thing, they aren’t waiting until dark. They’ve been cruising all day, looking for opportunities, trying car door handles, making notes of things to pick up later. A couple days ago, Linette and I watched the same guy go up and down our sidewalk three times, peddling slowly and craning his neck around to see into people’s yards. And he didn’t seem to care what we thought about it. I guess that’s what happens when local jails fill beyond capacity, and we stop putting criminals away unless they’re covered in blood. Well, I’ve just been informed that Ypsilanti Police Chief Matt Harshberger has a plan to deal with it. Here’s the announcement that was released from his office earlier today:

Due to the apparent increase in the use of bicycles to facilitate illegal activities in the downtown and surrounding neighborhood areas, the police department is beginning enforcement of the following laws/ordinances pertaining to bicycles. Please get this information out to your neighbors and fellow businesses ASAP.

1. No Riding Bicycles on Sidewalks in Business Districts – it is a violation of city ordinance to ride bicycles on sidewalks in designated business districts (Downtown and Depot Town). Folks with bicycles can walk their bikes in these areas on the sidewalks, but they cannot ride their bicycles. The penalty is a civil infraction (ticket).

2. No Riding Bicycles on City Streets after Dark without a headlight – it is a violation of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code to ride bicycles in the street after dark without a headlight. The penalty is a civil infraction (ticket).

My first inclination was to be pissed off when I read this, but now I can kind of see where he’s coming from. Given this change in policy, city cops now will have a reason to stop and question a person cruising slowly down the sidewalk, looking into yards. They’ll be able to issue a ticket, which will establish where and when said person was lurking, and maybe, in the process, they’ll be able to see whether or not this person has got any stolen items on him. That make sense. And, as the Chief points out, it’s already the law. They’d just be enforcing it more strenuously.

On the other hand, it’s really going to complicate life for those of us non-criminal citizens (NCC) who are trying to raise families here, drive less, shop at local stores, etc. I was going to make a snarky comment here about how this new policy would force me to put my three year old daughter and her tricycle into the street now, to take her chances with the testosterone-drunk young men who are constantly spinning their tires and flying by at several times the speed limit, but I don’t have to pull on your heartstrings to make the point. There are other examples.

How’s this for one… My wife and I both like to ride our bikes. On several occasions this summer, we’ve ridden our bikes to either Dos Hermanos or the food co-op to pick up groceries. Neither of us, by the way, likes riding in the road. When possible, especially if Clementine is riding in the back, we like to ride on the sidewalk. This is especially true on Michigan Avenue. So, what’s the new policy going to mean to us? It’s probably going to mean less biking, less local shopping, and more driving. I understand why the police feel that they need to do something, but I wonder if they thought about the unintended consequences. I know that property theft sucks, but I don’t think that now, with the fuel situation being what it is, is the time to discourage anyone from bike riding.

And, before you go to all the trouble of leaving a comment, I know that bicyclists are probably safer when they’re on the road, and I know that bikes on sidewalks can result in the injury of pedestrians. I just also know that this new policy, if it’s enforced broadly, is going to keep me away from certain stores. Hopefully, it helps apprehend enough bad guys that it’s worth it.