by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
MASON CITY – A woman riding a bicycle was struck by a motorist and then cited by Mason City police for riding her bike on the sidewalk.
Jaclyn Faye Pocock, 27, of Mason City, was riding her bike at about 1:52 PM Thursday near the Historic Park Inn on West State Street when she was struck by a car driven by Thomas William Quinlan, 60, of Mason City.
Mason City police and ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
Pocock was examined at the scene and refused medical treatment. When asked, she said “Yes, I’m alright.”
The offense of riding a bike on a sidewalk in Mason City is a simple misdemeanor.
The police report was not clear on exactly where Pocock was at when she was struck by the car. There are driveways and alley entrances along West State Street with sidewalks across them where the incident may have occurred.
One night I stopped at stop sign and man on bicycle pulled up and started yelling at me that I almost hit him. He had no lights or reflectors on his bike. Bicyclists want it both ways they ride wherever they want don’t stop for signs or lights and ride slowly down the middle of the road so cars can’t pass but claim they have the same rights as cars on the road. If the cops handed out more tickets like this maybe they will start obeying the laws.
You people kill me. If they don’t do anything you complain if they do anything you complain. When being downtown where a business is you have no business riding your bike!! If you walk out of a business and get hit by a bike you are going to find the nearest lawyer!!! A child riding a bike around the neighborhood is a whole lot different.
@HiJ-It is not any different in the neighborhoods. How would you like to be on the sidewalk with a walker and have a bike hit you and knock you down. In my neighborhood there is a older gentleman who walks around the block with a cane every day and could not get out of the way of a bike. There is also a lady who walks with a walker every day and a guy with a wheelchair that is also on the sidewalk. The law says, ride your bikes in the street and obey the traffic laws. Not on the sidewalk. What part of WALK is so hard to understand. It is also against the law to block the sidewalk with a car or bike or even other toys.
There has always been an ordinence in Mason City about riding bikes on the sidewalk. What part of WALK is so hard to understand. They are supposed to ride in the streets and obey the traffic laws. It has never changed and people are required to know the law. Complaining about this is as out of line as the idiots who walk down the middle of the streets and then complain when they get hit. Try walking with a walker or wheelchair when someone comes at you on a bike.
Are there signs in that area post against riding on the sidewalk? I can’t seem to think of any.
Are you kidding me? A warning would have been enough! Next…Death Penalty for parking violations!!!
you would think the mcpd would have better things to do like maybe bust some drug deals or something. i rode on a sidewalk today, maybe i should turn myself in?
More facts:
9-9-14: RIDING IN A GROUP:
Bicyclists shall not ride more than two (2) abreast, and upon any sidewalk bicyclists shall ride only in single file. Said bicyclists shall also operate and travel with their bicycles as near the right curb as possible upon any street. (R.O. 1953, 68-18)
who cares. splat
Can we get more facts about parking facing the wrong way one two way street, like the vehicle in the background of the picture?
Ahhh Joe…It’s the cops car, on official business.
9-9-17: RIDING ON SIDEWALKS:
No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district. The chief of police is hereby authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon and when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. (R.O. 1953, 68-21)
http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=382
Couldn’t be seen around Limo that parks there all the time,in front of the Inn.I guess a warning wouldn’t of been enough for riding bike on sidewalk I have seen cars hit bikes then keep going 3 different times.What is up with the me only attitude I’m better then you in Mason City.
So if my young children ride bikes on sidewalks, will I be fined ? They are taught not to ride in the streets !
Some towns allow riding on residential sidewalks, but not on business district sidewalks. Probably so people don’t get ran over as they are leaving a buisness.
Was Mr. Quinlan cited for driving his car on the sidewalk too?
WHY WAS THE CAR ON THE SIDEWALK ? Good reporting -am I missing something? ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 !
WAY TO GO MCPD whats next, some1 gets shot while walking on the northend so u cit them for noise ordanace???