Vice Mayor and Second District representative Suja Lowenthal, along with co-sponsors and fellow councilmembers Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong, has introduced a motion for consideration by City Council at its upcoming meeting tomorrow, enabling bicycle riders that receive a traffic citation to participate in a Bicycle Safety Traffic School program and have the citation dismissed, similar to the option granted to motorists.
In essence, the hope is that the legislation, which is coinciding with National Bike Month and the City’s many bicycle-oriented events throughout this time, will reduce its impact on traffic court and give police officers an additional tool for improving public safety.
Long Beach has made considerable progress over the last six years to implement its Bicycle Master Plan and increase ridership. With more bike paths, bike racks and other bicycle infrastructure being installed throughout the City, more residents are becoming active. In fact, neighborhood and business associations are planning events, creating clubs and establishing new traditions around bicycling and healthy lifestyles, which in turn promotes greater community pride and involvement.
As part of the PLACE grant that funded elements of our bicycle infrastructure, city staff has developed a public campaign to educate and help enforce the rules of the road and sidewalk. However, citations such as a failure to stop at a Stop sign or riding at night without a light can be over two hundred dollars for bicyclists. Currently, motorists have an option to attend Traffic School rather than pay the fine and have a point added to their driving record. In court, bicycle violations carry the same fine as vehicle violations; however, there is no point attached to the individual’s driving record. As with other cities, it is anticipated that participation in a Bicycle Safety Traffic School would cost riders significantly less than a citation. After attending the class, the citation is dismissed and no further action is taken against the individual. If the individual wishes to contest the citation, or chooses not to attend the class, the citation is forwarded to the court and treated as a normal traffic citation.
Other cities and counties such as San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin, Sonoma and Huntington Beach have created or are creating similar safety programs to complement their expanded bicycle programs and increased ridership. Since August 2011, the Huntington Beach Police Department has offered an Adult Bicycle Safety Program for pedestrians that receive minor traffic violations, similar to a juvenile program offered since 1972. The Adult Bicycle Safety Program was designed to “decrease bicycle involved traffic collisions and encourage safe bicycle riding with adult riders.” Police officers have the ability to issue an “Adult Bicycle Citation” in lieu of a regular Traffic Citation, enabling individuals to attend a two hour Bicycle Safety Class for a $50 fee, similar to Traffic School for motorists.
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