Nichols Hills ordinance addresses jogger safety

NICHOLS HILLS — Police will concentrate on educating joggers and bicyclists about safety after the city council’s recent adoption of an ordinance governing walking and bike-riding on city streets.

The council’s action requires walkers and joggers in Nichols Hills to face oncoming traffic, to wear reflective clothing or items visible from the front and back when walking in the dark, or to carry a flashlight visible to drivers at least 500 feet away. They also are required to walk or run as close to the edge of the street as possible.

Bicycle riders are required to obey all vehicular traffic regulations and to wear reflective clothing or items visible when it’s dark. The city council set the fine for failing to comply with provisions governing walking, jogging or bicycling at $15.

“Our goal is not to write tickets,” Police Chief Steven Cox said. “Our goal is to keep people safe.”

Officers will issue warnings on the first violation, Cox said. “Not very many people know that the law exists now. Officers will let them know the law is in effect, helping educate people to walk facing traffic, so that you can see cars coming, and to wear reflective gear.”

Cox said police have had complaints from drivers about walkers taking up too much space on the street and not being visible because they’re wearing dark clothing. “The council felt it was time to do something,” he said.

The chief said enactment of the ordinance will give police officers a chance to talk to people about wearing reflective gear and to walk facing traffic, “so they can see cars coming.”

Linda Smith, jogging near Grand Avenue and Huntington Avenue on a recent evening, said she wasn’t aware of the new law, but said she thought it was a good idea.

“I think that’s fair. It makes sense,” she said.

Another jogger, Steve Thomas, said the ordinance was needed.

“From a safety standpoint, I have no real argument against it,” he said. “I’ve seen a number of near-misses.”

“Drivers are trained to look for a profile that resembles a car, not a human,” said Thomas, 61. “Anything that makes us more visible is a good idea.”

Nichols Hills Mayor Sody Clements said city council members received complaints about pedestrians being hard to see, particularly at dawn and dusk. They decided in the interest of safety to require that bike-riders, walkers and joggers wear reflective devices and for those on foot to face oncoming traffic.

The mayor said another problem — pedestrians or bicyclists who are wearing earphones or looking at phone screens and thus are unable to see or hear approaching vehicles — has been identified.

“This may be addressed at another time,” she said.

Cox said Nichols Hills police records show that a jogger was injured in July 2016 when he was hit by a car on N Hillcrest Avenue. The male jogger was taken by ambulance to a hospital and treated, he said.