A turn in the weather means more people are hopping on their bicycles rather than in their cars to get around Saskatoon.

With more cyclists on the streets, the city police service's bike unit is out patrolling, making sure cyclists follow the rules of the road.

Keith Meckleborg with the Saskatoon Police Service said he's on the lookout for cyclists who ride on the sidewalk and who don't follow stop signs and crosswalks.

Meckleborg's message: if you're caught riding your bicycle on the sidewalk, be prepared to get slapped with a ticket.

Just the other day he witnessed a cyclist coming off the University Bridge heading into downtown on 25th Street riding on the sidewalk.

"They crossed five different sidewalks and travelled across five different markings right on the sidewalk, that says 'Walk Your Bike,'" he said. "By the time they hit the fifth one they got the ticket."

Respect pedestrians

The officer added, cyclists need to respect pedestrians and they can't simply expect pedestrians to move out of their way allowing them to pass, especially on tight sidewalks and pedestrian walkways on Saskatoon's bridges.

"It's common sense rules," Meckleborg said.

Another common mistake he sees on the road is cyclists not obeying a stop sign.

"The cyclist was riding on the road, they were doing it right, but they just felt they didn't have to wait, so they zig-zagged through oncoming traffic while all the other traffic in their lane had to stop."

That led to Meckleborg handing the cyclist a $230 ticket.

"Those people who are operating a bike in those business improvement districts, they're going to be targeted for getting a ticket," he said, adding they regularly patrol downtown, Broadway and Riversdale business districts.