Is Bicycling Or Walking To Crazy Coyote Tacos In Banning A Crime Punishable By Fine?

Monday, Feb. 20 2012, my boyfriend and I rode our non-motorized mountain bikes eastward to Crazy Coyote Tacos as well as to points beyond. We enjoyed our 20 mile bike ride as well as enjoying our beautiful Scenery and taking photos as well.

We were stopped on Johnson Lane by an officer in a white Tahoe-looking vehicle that said "POLICE" on it. Unfortunately I did not get this officers name.

He asked us if we knew we were trespassing. We stated we did not and that this was the only route available to Crazy Coyote Tacos in Banning, and points eastward. He took our names and address and date of birth down and stated that this was only a warning of trespassing.

As taxpayers and residents of Banning, California, we have noticed that the area does not appear very bike friendly.

There are many people that use cycling and cycle responsibly as a means of transportation as well as various health reasons: improves cardio-vascular fitness and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, etc.

I spent the entire morning scouring for reasons that indeed said I was trespassing and haven't found anything to substantiate that what I did was considered trespassing.

I did however find this article:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/freeways.htm

Shared Use Paths Along or Near Freeways

"There are no Federal laws or regulations that prohibit shared use paths along or near Interstate highways or other freeways.

"Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations may be allowed on Interstate and other major highways and freeways.

"Bridges are essential in any transportation network, and many Interstate or other freeway bridges often are the only possible bridges across rivers, canyons, railroads, other highways, or other major barriers.

"Major highway bridges often are necessary links for non-motorized transportation networks.

"Bicyclists and pedestrians should be accommodated in new construction in corridors where there is current or potential demand. Under 23 U.S.C. 217(g), transportation plans must consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations."

On Hargrave  street - Johnson lane is .3 km north of railroad tracks. The website mapmyride.com (http://www.mapmyride.com/my_home/) gives from Hargrave a total of .88 miles unpaved till paved section. Overall it is 2.72 miles of road until Malki Road.

If by law, this road is in fact considered trespassing it should be marked as such, and an alternative provided.

Accommodations should be granted for use of a current route in place or the City of Banning should newly construct a route for non-motorized transportation networks.

Johnson Lane is a much safer transportation route eastward to Crazy Coyote Tacos, 13033 Fields Rd., Banning, as well as points east of Banning other than the freeway shoulder use when no other routes exist. Because there is a route, it is called Johnson Lane.

If however this is a legal route for non-motorized transportation networks we only believe it is fair to have our names removed from the warning list.

In closing, we were not hanging out needlessly, we were going directly from point A to point B. There are not any "no trespassing" signs or any signs of such nature.

How is Johnson Lane, a frontage road, traveled by bicycle or pedestrian considered trespassing when it is the only route besides the freeway traveling east?

I do not understand this.

Non-motorized transportation networks should be given right to pass accommodations.

I have emailed the Chief of Police in Banning as well as our Mayor of Banning and am anxiously awaiting their replies.