Portland Police say the rowdy bunch of cyclists known for bombing down hills from the Oregon Zoo, are now bombing down West Burnside and Highway 26.

Traffic has been narrowed to one lane on parts of Burnside during construction, and the terrain is rough and dangerous.

Police say the bike bombers are barreling through construction zones and blowing by traffic flaggers.

On highway 26, the riders are zigzagging across lanes, some with no lights and no helmet.

That kind of behavior needs to be curbed, said Portland Police Lt. Mark Kruger.

"You know it's a badge of honor for them to be involved in this particularly irresponsible dangerous behavior and they get injured in the process. And my fear is that this kind of thing is going to lead to other members of the public getting injured or killed."

Police are citing Zoo Bombers for disregarding stop signs and careless driving.

Citations are often $242.

Zoo Bombers --who call Highway 26 "Hellway"-- are complaining on their website forum about the Police Bureau's "excessive" ticket-writing.

But Kruger says the enforcement won't stop until the bad behavior dies down.

"If they want to get out and they want to ride their bicycle down 26 and they want to use the shoulder of the road that's perfectly legal. Surfing in and out of the lanes is illegal. Running through stop signs is illegal," he said.

Usually on Sundays, late in the evening, the cyclists use a MAX train to get their bikes up to the Oregon Zoo, and then they bomb down hills on their way back to the closest MAX stop.

The process is repeated, like skiers on a ski lift.

Police and neighborhood leaders have worked with Zoo Bombers to try to keep noise and injuries to a minimum in order to keep the weekly ritual rolling.

Earlier this year, the cyclists jumped aboard Portland’s new aerial tram, taking the tram up to OHSU on a day when admission was free.

There were noise complaints from patients at the hospital.

Lt. Kruger says the cyclists can have their fun in the West Hills, as long as they don’t break any laws.

And right now, what he’s seeing on West Burnside and on Highway 26, causes him some worry.

Link: Zoobomb.net