A D.C. police officer making sure cyclists stop at the red light at 14th and U Streets NW in March. Photo by @DCPoliceDept

In the ever-evolving debate between drivers and cyclists over who has the right to use the city’s roads, drivers often argue that cyclists are simply scofflaws that want to use the same roads, but without shouldering the responsibilities that come with that.

And while that may be true in some cases—and yes, there’s a healthy discussion over whether cyclists should follow a different set of rules on the road—not all two-wheeled commuters who blow through red lights get away with it.

On WTOP yesterday, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that in 2011 MPD officers handed out 3,000 tickets to cyclists and 500 to pedestrians for a variety of infractions:

“We try and balance the safety on the roadways to make sure everyone is doing their part,” Lanier says. “My pet peeve is people walking when they’re looking at their handheld device and walking right out into the street.”

Earlier this year, as part of the annual Street Smart campaign, police officers were out in force throughout the city writing tickets for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who violated the rules of the road. There’s also been recent talk of finding ways to curb distracted walking, whether through public service campaigns or possible fines.

Still, the number of tickets for both cyclists and pedestrians was lower than in 2010, and the money that comes in from the associated fines doesn’t amount to much. Moreover, last year the D.C. Police Complaints Board reported that many police officers don’t know the city’s bike laws very well, and that’s bad both for cyclists that break the rules (because they get away with it) and those that are involved in accidents that aren’t their fault (because it can affect insurance claims).

In related news, the D.C. Department of Transportation reported yesterday that D.C. has been designated as a Gold Walk Friendly Community by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, the highest recognition of how pedestrian-friendly a city is.