TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to develop a process for individuals issued citations as bicyclists for minor traffic violations to attend Bicycle Safety Traffic School and have the citation dismissed; and
Request City Manager to bring the cost and funding source for the Bicycle Safety Traffic School back to City Council within 30 days.
DISCUSSION
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. It also spurs commerce as sixteen new bike-related businesses have been started over the last eighteen months alone. Much as parking impacted areas benefit when more people choose to ride their bikes, residents and merchants are realizing that multiple objectives can be served by infrastructure and programs promoting bicycling. Unfortunately, it also means more people are riding bicycles on sidewalks in business districts and in some cases, failing to observe state and local traffic laws, which threatens their own safety as well as that of pedestrians and drivers. Parenthetically, it is those same rules of the road that bike riders are violating, which make the strongest case for their right to share the road with and be protected from vehicles.
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.
If bicyclists were given the same option, we could more effectively educate our bicycle population, reduce our impact on traffic court and give our police officers an additional tool for enforcing public safety.
Other cities such as Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Huntington Beach have implemented traffic schools for the same purpose. 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. 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. In court, bicycle violations carry the same fine as vehicle violations; however, there is no point attached to the individual's driving record.
As users of our public space, we must learn to co-exist on our roadways and sidewalks for the benefit of the entire community. Drivers can contribute to safe streets by respecting the right of bicyclists to share the road; bicyclists can contribute to safe streets and sidewalks by observing state and local laws and respecting pedestrians on sidewalks. Long Beach will continue to encourage healthier lifestyles through bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programs, but this commitment should not come at the expense of public safety. A bicycle safety traffic school program will improve public safety by educating our residents rather than simply citing them.
REFERENCE:
California Vehicle Code Division 11 - Rules of the Road, Chapter 1. Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws, Article 4. Operation of Bicycles
Long Beach Municipal Code 10.48 - Bicycles
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Manager will come back to Council with costs associated with program development, marketing materials and operation of a safety school.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
VICE MAYOR SUJA LOWENTHAL
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT GARCIA
FIRST DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER GARY DELONG
THIRD DISTRICT