1 - Yes Sheriff doesn't allow Waller deputies to work cycling events anymore. Lots of residents were complaining and I guess he didn't want to be associated with the rides. Sometimes in the spring there are 4-5 large rides every weekend.
I'd personally rather have deputies stopping traffic at intersections. If there is a large ride then the cyclists just assume they don't have to stop at stop signs anyway. These large rides don't have any kind of legal recognition from Waller County. They have no standing to block intersections, roll through stop signs or otherwise break traffic laws. Cyclists ride like they are on a closed course.
2 - I've never heard of anyone being arrested. I know they have written tickets for running through stop signs and will use their loudspeakers to tell people to keep right. A lot of cyclists got pissed about just being told to keep right, I couldn't imagine the **** storm if someone got arrested. One ride where a couple dozen got written tickets for not stopping at a stop sign were calling it bull**** and getting together lawyers to fight it.
3 - I only remember one fatal incident while I have lived here. Driver had mental issues and purposely ran over some cyclists. Nothing to do with the route. Sheriff tries to get rides on routes that are safer, roads that have shoulders, more than 2 lanes, and lower traffic areas.
https://abc13.com/texas-man-gets-life-in-prison-victor-kevin-tome-sentenced-to-for-2017-killing/10851617/I was looking at the pictures from the incident this weekend, you can't see faces but I'm pretty sure that's my neighbor's kid in one of them. His mom is on Facebook defending the driver, describes the driver as a 'family friend'.
Where this incident happened it was a 4 lane road, really easy to pass. No reason for him to have messed with the cyclists like he did.