85 cyclists detained trying to 'take over' San Francisco's Bay Bridge
Story by Noe Padilla, USA TODAY
Over 80 cyclists attempted to "take over" the Bay Bridge on Saturday, March 28, but were stopped by the California Highway Patrol and San Francisco Police Department, who intervened and issued citations to the group, according to a press release from officials.
At about 2:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol was informed of a large group of bicyclists traveling through San Francisco's streets "recklessly" and observed the group heading toward the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, according to the CHP press release.
Highway Patrol officers witnessed several riders traveling through traffic, passing moving vehicles, and coming dangerously close to pedestrians on city streets. Highway Patrol alerted the San Francisco Police Department to the cyclists' movement toward the 8.4-mile bridge connecting San Francisco and Alameda counties.
The group of cyclists attempted to enter onto the bridge on the Harrison Street off-ramp. Footage captured by a California Highway Patrol helicopter showed vehicles slowly driving past the cyclists as they rode up the off-ramp.
However, before they could make it onto the bridge, close to a dozen California Highway Patrol and San Francisco Police personnel intercepted them at both ends of the Harrison Street off-ramp.
Officers detained 85 participants, ultimately citing the group for riding a bicycle onto a freeway, before releasing them. In addition, officers also seized 85 bicycles from the group.
The ages of those detained by the police were unclear.
“What we saw yesterday was not harmless fun. This is no place for games or risky behavior. Riding the wrong way on the freeway poses a serious danger not only to cyclists but also to the motoring public traveling at freeway speeds," said Tim McCollister, captain with the CHP San Francisco division.
"Our priority is safety, and actions like this put lives at risk and disrupt critical transportation corridors. We will continue to enforce the law and hold individuals accountable to prevent a tragedy before it occurs."
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 85 cyclists detained trying to 'take over' San Francisco's Bay Bridge
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