A number of folks are coordinating efforts to encourage more cyclists to use lights at night. Since most night time crashes happen Downtown- roughly the Square to Camp Randall , we are concentrating our efforts there. Among the activities we will be undertaking include:
MPD will issue citations for cyclists who don't have lights but will void the tickets if the cyclist later shows they have proper lights. They will also distribute discount coupons for lights at area stores. Coupons will be available at other places. We will be experimenting using Twitter to get our message to the target audience. ( ¾ of the riders involved in night time crashes are male- average age 28.) We will have displays of some sort at Ride the Drive and other events. One idea is to have a series of pictures of cyclists at night. Sometimes there will be multiple cyclists, sometimes one; Sometimes they will be lit, at other times they won't. We will give people a couple of seconds to count the number of cyclists in each picture. The goal is to show cyclists how hard they are to see w/o lights. Our goal is to be creative in getting the message out- not just the usual stand around and hand out brochures approach. If you have any ideas please share them. Steve Meiers Safety educator (608) 267-1102 Box 2986 Madison WI 53701 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]]<mailto:[mailto:[email protected]]> On Behalf Of Tom Held Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 1:15 PM To: 'Hans Noeldner'; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Bikies] riding at night Here's the latest we have on the fatality in Pleasant Prairie http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/127247618.html Based on the criminal complaint - the cyclist had reflectors but no lights on the bike. There is no mention of a helmet. Tom ________________________________ From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]]<mailto:[mailto:[email protected]]> On Behalf Of Hans Noeldner Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 1:10 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [Bikies] riding at night Any word whether the bicyclist in Pleasant Prairie had headlights, reflective vest/clothing, etc. I bicycle a lot at night and I am astounded at the number of bicyclists I see in the Madison area who have no headlight, no taillight, no reflective clothing, no helmet. I don't say this to excuse motorists, but we bicyclists need to take responsibility too. Motorists often tell me I'm lit up like a Christmas tree. With very few exceptions I wear a reflective safety vest at night. They are inexpensive, relatively comfortable, and one is visible in headlights a half-mile away. Every bicyclist who ventures into auto traffic at night should wear one. What we need is mandatory TRAFFIC education and licensing, starting with how to be a responsible pedestrian, then a responsible bicyclist, and then - and ONLY then - a responsible motorist. Moreover, we need regular retesting. I am astonished at the number of motorists who seem to genuinely believe that bicyclists don't belong on the road. Who trained them? Who issued a license to them? Who retested them? The ignorance out there is inexcusable. Has any organization prepared model legislation for this? Is there an American Bicyclist Exchange Council? Hans Noeldner
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