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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- While bicycle riding might be relaxing for most, it is causing a headache to some Fairfield Residents.

The Fairfield Police Department declared May “Bicycle Awareness Month” and have been writing up violators.

Fairfield Police Chief Julie Harvey says a number of factors led to this decision.

She said the city council received written complaints, many business owners complained to the police and there were also some bike accidents involving minor injuries.

 “The whole thing is to make everybody safe. We don’t want to get a bicycler hurt. We don’t want to get a pedestrian hurt. A bicycle is just not going to win against a car. The whole goal is to make everybody safe,” Harvey said.

Harvey said they are issuing warnings first and they just want to raise awareness.

"If you don’t do this you, you know were going to, one, get somebody hurt or were going to end up having to write tickets and that's not what our goal is, but we wanted to enforce our bicycle laws and make them aware of it," Harvey said.

KTVO talked with a number of bicyclists on the street.  They said they have seen the cops hiding behind bushes and one lady said she saw an officer chase down a mother and two children.

“You should be able to take care of yourself. I just think this is totally ridiculous. There are real crimes going on all over Southeast Iowa with meth and stuff like that,” said Matthew Kendz. “They should be focusing on real things and helping people instead of busting kids and families out on bikes."

Harvey said even though it has been less than a week, they have received a lot of feedback, both positive and negative.

"It's to the point now where they know because they come up to the square, get off their bikes, walk the bikes. Other bicyclers have had contact with us, they tell their friends. It's been effective and we have only been doing it for three days,” Harvey said.

Harvey said they have issues about 35 written warnings, but only one ticket to a non-complying rider.  The tickets can be costly too.

State violations of failure to obey a stop sign, riding double, and no bike light (front and back) are $80.25 citations. Riding the wrong way on a one way street costs more than $100.

Breaking city ordinances brings a $50 fine plus court cost Harvey said.