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Challenges
to taking action. (Common Beliefs)
Police
have better things to worry about: terrorism, gangs, crashes, and
crimes-what's the big deal? Why bring bicycles into this?
- Law Enforcement must also include PREVENTION. Anticipating
high-risk behaviors that can lead to terrorism, gang behavior,
crimes, and crashes, INCLUDING crashes involving BICYCLES is
part of their mission.
- A bicycle is considered a vehicle and is bound by the same
laws as other vehicles, e.g. riding with traffic, obeying red
lights and stop signs.
- Motorists must treat a bicyclist with the same respect as
other motorists.
Police Officers are already overworked - why
give these folks more to worry about? There are only so many hours
in a day and they can be better spent.
- Knowledge leads to thinking about every day in a different
light. In this case, it means greater awareness of situations
that could lead to a crash. Since bicyclists are more vulnerable
if they are hit--- no safety belt, no steel exterior to take
the brunt of a hit-safe behavior is essential.
- With more knowledge, police can incorporate the laws as they
apply to their everyday activity in law enforcement and direct
bicyclists and motorists to safer behaviors that can prevent
crashes.
What are you asking a police officer to do--- ticket a kid?
- Most enforcement actions do not result in a citation. Law enforcement officers are trained to use the least amount of force necessary to gain compliance with the law. Enforcement options include; positive reinforcement, verbal and written warnings and yes, finally citations.
- Tickets are seldom effective in changing a child's behavior, especially young children. A firm reminder about the rules of the road from an officer is generally sufficient.
Adults aren't wearing helmets- I didn't wear a helmet when I was a kid--- it should be up to the parents to decide; Government and law enforcement should stay out of it.
- Bicycling is not unreasonably dangerous but it is not without its risks. Regardless of the law in your area, bicycle helmets do save lives and prevent traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), each case
of TBI costs $125,000 in rehabilitation, social services, insurance
and other disability costs. These are costs we all have to pay
because someone did not put a bicycle helmet on AND wear it
correctly.
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