For as long as I can remember (since I was a heavy-footed teenager, that's for sure!), motorists who ran afoul of the law could opt to take a traffic class, to avoid losing their driver's licenses. (I took such a class once in my teenage years. I don't remember much about the class, but 2 or 3 hours of misery seemed a small price to pay, to hang onto my flyin' license!)
Now, over in central Oregon, they're trying the same thing with cyclists. A cyclist who is cited for breaking the law can pay the fine and do the time, or can opt to take a ($50) "diversion" class.
Lt. Chris Carney of the Bend Police Department: "Not everybody understands a bicyclist has to follow the rules of the road."
Amen to that!
They've got the police, bicycle advocates and educators, and the courts on board. The class is conducted by a LAB-certified instructor.
I would love to support such a program in the Boise area. I've long contended that education/enforcement are what we are most sorely lacking to be a truly bicycle-friendly community, and this program covers both ends. I just don't know if we could get all those power players on board. Most seem content to ignore bike violators, unless there's a crash.
Story HERE.
Tireless advocate for the most efficient form of
human transportation ever devised - bicycles!
1 comment:
My brother ran a stop sign in Portland, Oregon, and he had to go to a class. This was over 5 years ago, and he still quotes the laws and rules he learned at that class.
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