Advocacy & Safety - Safety Lesson - The Hard Way

The home next to mine was sold this past January and a new young couple moved in in February. Yesterday, in talking with the neighbour, he informed me he was pulled over by the police two nights ago after riding north on a main downtown road on his way home at 11pm. He had no lights, one reflector and was wearing dark clothing. The officers cited him for not having a rear light or bell and for having faulty brakes. $200.00 in total. But, the officer mentioned that if he showed up at court with receipts proving he had equipped and repaired the bike properly, the charges would be dismissed.

Personally, I haven't been stopped by the cops since I was 17, twenty-seven years ago and I have been surprised on late night roads by the sudden appearance of ninja riders myself and have had to take evasive action on rare occasions. I usually have a minimum of one front light, two rear lights and, often, two horns (a mega horn and an AirZounds). I don't have much sympathy for those who ride so recklessly and dangerously (and make the rest of us look bad, imho), so I felt that, unlike most of the unlighted, dark-clad riders I encounter on lightly-travelled residential streets, while he was riding on a brightly lit main road, he still deserved the tickets. And, I think the cops were doing him a favour by letting him properly equip the bike in exchange for the charges being dropped. If he had chosen one of the quiet, residential streets adjacent to the main road, he likely would have escaped notice of the police and been less vulnerable to traffic. However, my neighbour didn't seem too upset by the tickets, clearly indicating he acknowledged he was at fault. What do you think? Was this a positive interaction with the police? Were their actions warranted? Does it send a positive message to cyclists at the beginning of the riding season, that they're expected to observe the basic safety requirements imposed upon them? Should the police balance their attention on cyclists with equal enforcement of infractions by motorists that endanger cyclists, like passing too close?

Great thread idea. I look forward to reading the responses. Sometimes I will follow some of our few utility/commuter cyclists a short distance hoping they will stop somewhere to try and talk to them (I don't want to detain or inconvenience them) about cycling and what dangers they face locally on the roads.

I think the cops did a good thing. Even if he was riding on more residential type roads, he's still running a big risk cycling at night without lights, if not more due to less ambient lighting than on a main road. Hopefully the ticket will be encouragement for your neighbor to look into the laws regarding cycling and the overall effect will be him improving his safety while cycling while incurring no extra costs (other than the lights and brake maintenance obviously).

If a cop sees a close pass or harassment occurring, he should do something about it. The one time a cop witnessed someone harassing me, he did pull them over. Not sure if he was ticketted though.

Sounds like a win-win all around. Decent cop and a reasonable way to avoid the 'sting' of the ticket. the real question though, is did your neighbor learn enough to change his behaviour?

I take my dogs out to the local park every morning at 5:30 a.m. The park is only one mile from my house, but the road is windy and there are very few street lights. We have a couple of locals who subsribe to the 'ninja' theory of jogging and bicycling. Ie., no lights, no reflectors and dark clothing. On more than a few occasions, I have come around a corner only to have to slam on the brakes while the jogger, in particular, jumps out of the way. Incidentally, I am going about 15mph when I come around these corners. It makes me angry because my dogs usually go flying when this happens. Arrrgh!

Can you send that cop down our way for a couple of mornings?

Michael

Yes, I think your anecdote is an example of good law enforcement. It's too bad, of course, that your neighbor has to appear at court; but that is a call the policeman had to make.

My only communication with the police was a couple months back, when an officer stopped me to point out that my rear light had stopped working. I was riding to the train station in the hour before dawn. I think he saw that all the proper equipment was in place, and that I was genuinely surprised that the light had given out, so he didn't give me a ticket or anything. Whew!

Fix-it tickets are a good thing.

I agree with what was done. I see ninja cyclists all the time. Some of it is ignorance, some of it is just don't care. I don't know if there is a one size fits all solution. I barely saw a cyclist the other day on a road that I occasionally travel. It is a 4 lane divided with pretty decent shoulders and site lines, speed limit is 45mph and it does have share the road signs. Cyclist in question was riding a flat bar commuter wearing dark blue clothing, hoodie and jeans, black panniers on the rear rack. It was light enough that lights were not warranted. However I saw the guy on the median in the Bright orange ANSI running the weed eater long before I saw the cyclist. People have got to learn to make themselves visible. I consider myself to be an above average motorist when it comes to paying attention and looking out for pedestrian and cycle traffic, mainly because I am a cyclist myself. FWIW I always wear bright colors when cycling, whether as part of my attire or as a slip on vest. I bought several of the inexpensive lime vests with orange and silver reflective tape and keep them on all of my bikes. I don't expect every cyclist to spend $200-$400 for state of the art lights, but at the bare minimum a safety vest, red flasher and head light are needed. I love the Planet Bike Super Flash and have purchased 3 of them to keep mounted on the bikes I am most likely to ride at night. Two of those bikes already have a generator hub system with mounted head light and taillight and one of those is a modern system with the standlights. Hopefully as more people start riding the enforcement will be stepped up in a nice manner to help bring unknowing people into compliance. I also suspect that a large part of the problem is that people still don't take bicycles seriously and consider them a toy.

In my local community I have taken it upon myself to keep a stash of inexpensive safety vests available to hand out to the bike riders I see that are invisible to most people. So far I have handed out about a dozen or so. There is one older man that I gave one to back in October and every time I see him he is wearing it, so that one is still being used. I probably ought to give him a new one as that one is starting to fade:p

Aaron:)

Not a bad piece of enforcement. Riders must have lights and all that, and the fix-it ticket has the effect of essentially forcing the rider to buy some lights, which is the right way to go about this. For $200, a fairly good light system can be had. To have a legal system, one can get away with less than $50.

As for myself, I got a pretty good light system (NiteRider Digital Revolution) and I ride with blinkies. Furthermore, all 6 of the cycling jerseys I own are yellow; three are flourecent. My rain jacket is also yellow.

I had that happen with me 30 yrs ago in Toronto for a burnt out rear light on my car. I was given a ticket, but it would be cancelled if I showed up at a police station with it fixed within 24 or 48 hrs. I also had it happen in Montreal for a missing front reflector on my bike. I would like to see more of this positive policing.

I had that happen with me 30 yrs ago in Toronto for a burnt out rear light on my car. I was given a ticket, but it would be cancelled if I showed up at a police station with it fixed within 24 or 48 hrs. I also had it happen in Montreal for a missing front reflector on my bike. I would like to see more of this positive policing.
I agree, and I write a lot of fix it tickets (not to cyclists, as I have said before I think I am the only cop I know who has ever written a cyclist a ticket and that was only once). However, to play devils advocate a bit, would an actual ticket, that someone had to pay a fine for, be more of a deterrent in preventing this type of violation in the future? The police can't be there to fix-it ticket everyone so isn't the goal of increasing traffic safety achieved to a certain extent through traffic enforcement by creating a certain amount of fear that one will be fined for their unlawful actions if caught?

I will reserve my thoughts for now, but will provide them if requested. The goal of which is only to get unbiased opinions. There is no right or wrong answer. I am simply interested to hear what you all think about this.

Yes, I guess I should have added that my neighbour mentioned he is getting a new bike and intends to have it fully equipped. I encouraged him to make sure it has all the safety features and even amplified that point by going by him a few minutes later with both my son and I lit up like Xmas trees. I have a trusted LBS that I referred him to and suggested if he used my name, the owner would likely extend a discount as he has offered as much previously and encouraged me to refer his store.

Unrelated to my neighbour, but related to the topic was another interesting story I heard yesterday from a casual friend who advised he was driving a rental car on Tuesday evening, stopped at a light while preparing to turn right when a ninja cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and he hit him, totalling the bike, but not causing more than a ripped jacket and scuffed shoe to the rider. Fortunately, the casual friend, took responsibility and replaced the bike, including the accesories, wisely avoiding contacting his insurance provider.

He complained however that the cyclist was not equipped with lights. I advised him that, from his description of the situation, even if the bike had the basic requirement of a rear light, it would not have increased his visibility, considering he was broad-sided and suggested that my casual friend had been looking left rather than right when he started moving from a full-stop and that had he checked the path he was about to be travelling in before releasing the brake, the accident could have been avoided. He'd probably have seen the cyclist. My friend noted the bike lights I had with me (I take them off the bike when I go inside, naturally) and said the ninja should have had my light set-up. But, I reminded him that a front light is not mandatory and while that would have made the cyclist visible in this particular case, there was a certain amount of blame on both sides with my casual friend bearing most of it. Of course, I offered some mollification by saying if the cyclist had a bell or horn, he should have sounded it and it is possible---though still unclear---the cyclist may have been coming off the sidewalk and through the cross-walk when he was hit.

Curiously, on the way home, my son and I were passed by a cyclist who had the best set-up I have ever seen. He was visible in my mirror a good kilometer or two distant with a bright front light that was as lluminescent as any car I've ever seen (I thought he was a car, in fact, until he got closer). On his curled racing-style handle bars, he had rear-facing red pin lights that were very bright as well and he had two blinkies on the back, including one that may have been a digital pattern light. In addition, he had lights on either his shoes or pedals (was hard to tell as he passed us at a high rate of speed). Aliens from space could have seen his bike it was so nicely done up.

I agree, and I write a lot of fix it tickets (not to cyclists, as I have said before I think I am the only cop I know who has ever written a cyclist a ticket and that was only once). However, to play devils advocate a bit, would an actual ticket, that someone had to pay a fine for, be more of a deterrent in preventing this type of violation in the future? The police can't be there to fix-it ticket everyone so isn't the goal of increasing traffic safety achieved to a certain extent through traffic enforcement by creating a certain amount of fear that one will be fined for their unlawful actions if caught?

I will reserve my thoughts for now, but will provide them if requested. The goal of which is only to get unbiased opinions. There is no right or wrong answer. I am simply interested to hear what you all think about this.

Good question about whether an actual ticket would serve as a deterrent. But I am of the mind that tickets don't serve as a deterrent for anyone: motorist or cyclist. The very first thing they think of is how they can get out of it, whether they should take it to court and hope the cop doesn't show and if anyone knows of a loop-hole they could use. They don't think 'gosh, I was in the wrong and should take responsibility for my error and not only pay this fine that I rightfully deserve, but correct my behaviour from now on.' Nope, it's a much more selfish lkine of thinking that almost everyone embraces now. It's part and parcel of a self-absorbed 'me-first' generational attitude that does not value being responsible, honest or conscientious.

Good thing ! Im all for less authoritarian oversight in almost every aspect
of our lives but this was a good thing. Im glad the cop didnt overreact and
try to make a statement with a huge fine or something. This was a very
reasonable and thoughtful way to fix a potentially bad situation.
I see a few Ninjas in the 'city' here...but they are vagrants and kids.
I really dont think they are aware the danger they are putting themselves in.

I'd like to see more of this type of enforcement. Everybody wins if drivers and cyclists are educated instead of simply being either ignored or penalized.

Of course, I would also like to see the requirement to mount a bell removed from Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. I can definitely communicate much more clearly with my voice than a bell.

I agree, and I write a lot of fix it tickets (not to cyclists, as I have said before I think I am the only cop I know who has ever written a cyclist a ticket and that was only once). However, to play devils advocate a bit, would an actual ticket, that someone had to pay a fine for, be more of a deterrent in preventing this type of violation in the future? The police can't be there to fix-it ticket everyone so isn't the goal of increasing traffic safety achieved to a certain extent through traffic enforcement by creating a certain amount of fear that one will be fined for their unlawful actions if caught?

I will reserve my thoughts for now, but will provide them if requested. The goal of which is only to get unbiased opinions. There is no right or wrong answer. I am simply interested to hear what you all think about this.

Fix-it tickets for equipment violations probably work better than purely punative tickets. However, it shouldn't be a repeated thing. Once a person gets one, the next should be a purely punative ticket. It does have the effect of essentially forcing the person to buy the equipment.

But fear works too. What's wrong with a little randomality? I can see it now... the special equipment violation ticket book with random fix-it tickets mixed in with traditional ones :D.

Was this a positive interaction with the police? Were their actions warranted? Does it send a positive message to cyclists at the beginning of the riding season, that they're expected to observe the basic safety requirements imposed upon them? Should the police balance their attention on cyclists with equal enforcement of infractions by motorists that endanger cyclists, like passing too close?


Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

....so isn't the goal of increasing traffic safety achieved to a certain extent through traffic enforcement by creating a certain amount of fear that one will be fined for their unlawful actions if caught?

I'd say it's secondary to the fear or getting smoked by a car, or at least it should be. Even if, for whatever reason, we disregard injury as a factor, it doesn't take much of an accident to rack up $200 in other damage.

I am now in the habit of using front-and-back daytime running lights on my bike, but that said, since there are no requirements for people walking to have lights, I've got no real greviance with cyclists who behave in a pedestrian manner being unlit... but of course they have to ride like... well, a wheeled pedestrian, in terms of speed and behavior.

And as Enigmatic pointed out, any time I hear about someone, with or without a bike, being hit crossing at an intersection by a right-turning car, I am forced to assume that it is most likely a result of the driver never looking right... because when I am out for a walk in this situation, all I ever see is the back of their head.

Unless I had a light bright enough to noticibly warm the the back of the driver's cranium, nothing is going to help in these situtations, other than just waiting or crossing behind the car.

My girlfriend almost hit a ninja cyclist the other night, dark skinned guy, dark clothes no lights and going the wrong way down a one way street (though he was in the bike lane :rolleyes: ). As for me, I've got one of these:
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/CE-EL300G.gif
one of those:
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/CE-LD600.gif
and sometimes (when I attach it to my helmet) one o' dese
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/CE-EL400.gif

In addition to the lights, the out and rearward surfaces of my seatstays of my daily rig are done in red reflective tape from seatpost to axle. I also have 4" minimum strips of black reflective tape (it's a black bike) on either side of the fork, and on all three of the main tubes of the frame. The effect looks like this:
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/937/stealthreflector5ls.gif
To top it all off on my wheelset I've used white reflective tape in between the spokes like this:
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/5430/reflectorstrategycombined2nk.jpg
Only in the latest incarnation I've gone with the section of 8 "on" then 8 "off" repeated so that half the rim is "on" and the other half is "off".

I've got plenty of nighttime viability without looking like a dork during the day. My stuff blends so well that you won't spot it during the day unless you actually look.

DJ, yes fixit tickets do a great job of deterring future problems. I once got a fixit ticket because I didn't have a front license plate. I didn't know you were supposed to have one. So many people don't. Now I will tell other people about getting my ticket so they will hopefully put their plate back on and avoid getting a ticket, too. I think the bike light fixit ticket would be the same.

By the way, I have the same lights pictured above. I love that helmet-mounted light. When the batteries are fresh it's blazingly bright. Not for me seeing where I'm going but for other people seeing me. And when the light isn't on, stoners think they're being filmed and freak out. He he he.

I love that helmet-mounted light. When the batteries are fresh it's blazingly bright. Not for me seeing where I'm going but for other people seeing me.
Mines good for reading the computer. I've also taken to pocketing it when I go out at night, (off the bike) but then again I'm a Mcgyverish kinda guy

The fix it ticket is a good idea. Imo, if a police officer is not there to educate people (as part of the job - recognising that there are times when this is NOT appropriate) and only ever gives out punative tickets, I wonder if they are in the right job. I also agree though that if a second ticket needs to be issued to the same person, that it should be a punative one. Sometimes the police get a bad rap; interactions like this can go a long way to improve relations.

Raiyn,
+1 on the rim tape. They actually used to sell that stuff pre-cut. I have one 15 year old bike that still has it on it. I like the strobe effect of it and it can be seen even at a reasonably sharp angle to the bike. I am sold on the Planet Bike Super Flash strobes. They are worth every penny they cost. I will have to look into that smaller head light. Two of my three light equipped bikes don't have stand lights on them so I really need a white light for the front. I thought about modifying a set of pedals to use the motion activated LED's from a set of kid's sneakers:D...

Aaron:)

I thought about modifying a set of pedals to use the motion activated LED's from a set of kid's sneakers:D...

Aaron:)

Aaron,
Check these out !

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page6.html

Aaron,
Check these out !

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page6.html


SCHWEET!! wonder if toe clips will fit on them:rolleyes: (kind of doubt it) but I may order a set just because. I really like the fact they don't require batteries:p

Aaron:)

Straight up? I think it was a great response....well handled by the police and the life they saved may well be his!:D

The home next to mine was sold this past January and a new young couple moved in in February. Yesterday, in talking with the neighbour, he informed me he was pulled over by the police two nights ago after riding north on a main downtown road on his way home at 11pm. He had no lights, one reflector and was wearing dark clothing. The officers cited him for not having a rear light or bell and for having faulty brakes. $200.00 in total. But, the officer mentioned that if he showed up at court with receipts proving he had equipped and repaired the bike properly, the charges would be dismissed.

Personally, I haven't been stopped by the cops since I was 17, twenty-seven years ago and I have been surprised on late night roads by the sudden appearance of ninja riders myself and have had to take evasive action on rare occasions. I usually have a minimum of one front light, two rear lights and, often, two horns (a mega horn and an AirZounds). I don't have much sympathy for those who ride so recklessly and dangerously (and make the rest of us look bad, imho), so I felt that, unlike most of the unlighted, dark-clad riders I encounter on lightly-travelled residential streets, while he was riding on a brightly lit main road, he still deserved the tickets. And, I think the cops were doing him a favour by letting him properly equip the bike in exchange for the charges being dropped. If he had chosen one of the quiet, residential streets adjacent to the main road, he likely would have escaped notice of the police and been less vulnerable to traffic. However, my neighbour didn't seem too upset by the tickets, clearly indicating he acknowledged he was at fault. What do you think? Was this a positive interaction with the police? Were their actions warranted? Does it send a positive message to cyclists at the beginning of the riding season, that they're expected to observe the basic safety requirements imposed upon them? Should the police balance their attention on cyclists with equal enforcement of infractions by motorists that endanger cyclists, like passing too close?

I agree, and I write a lot of fix it tickets (not to cyclists, as I have said before I think I am the only cop I know who has ever written a cyclist a ticket and that was only once). However, to play devils advocate a bit, would an actual ticket, that someone had to pay a fine for, be more of a deterrent in preventing this type of violation in the future? The police can't be there to fix-it ticket everyone so isn't the goal of increasing traffic safety achieved to a certain extent through traffic enforcement by creating a certain amount of fear that one will be fined for their unlawful actions if caught?

I will reserve my thoughts for now, but will provide them if requested. The goal of which is only to get unbiased opinions. There is no right or wrong answer. I am simply interested to hear what you all think about this.
A technical question: Is there a way to put someone's name in a law enforcement database as someone who has gotten a break the first time just in case there are more such encounters in the future?

SCHWEET!! wonder if toe clips will fit on them:rolleyes: (kind of doubt it) but I may order a set just because. I really like the fact they don't require batteries:p

Aaron:)
I got to see a pair of these in RL at my local REI a few months ago. Sadly, they are really poor quality. I don't believe they would hold up to the daily commuting I do.