Full Notification

DATE AND TIME OF PRESS RELEASE: April 4, 2011

II. ANNOUNCEMENT:
Livermore Police to focus on Bicyclist violations in April 2011.

III. FACTUAL INFORMATION:
During the month of April, the Livermore Police Department will be focusing some enforcement on bicyclists violating the Vehicle Code. With the nicer weather approaching, we feel it’s the right time to remind our community’s bicycle riders that they are required to obey the rules of the road just like drivers operating motor vehicles.

Over the last three years, there have been 88 reported collisions where bicyclists were injured in the City of Livermore. A vast majority of these injury collisions are found to be the bicycle rider’s fault. In the first 3 months of 2011, there have been 6 reported collisions involving bicyclists.

The Livermore Police Department wants to remind the community to ride their bicycles safely. According to 21200(a) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) a bicyclist riding on the street is subject to, and expected to follow, all the rules of the road as a driver of a vehicle. This includes driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, not wearing audio/radio type headsets, having required lighting during darkness, stopping at stop signs/traffic signals, riding in the same direction as vehicle traffic, etc. 21212 CVC requires that anyone under the age of eighteen who is riding a bicycle must wear a proper fitting and fastened helmet.

If we can get our community’s bicycle riders to follow the rules of the road, and wear appropriate safety equipment, we can reduce the number of bicycle collisions occurring in town, and more importantly, reduce the number of people injured as a result of bicycle collisions. We ask that parents review this information with their children who ride bicycles, and that parents take a moment to look at their children’s bicycle helmets to ensure that they fit properly.

The Livermore Police Department will be conducting educational opportunities in the form of two bicycle safety rodeos during April. The bicycle safety rodeos are designed show our community’s youth safe riding techniques and how to properly fit and wear bicycle helmets. Please check our website for dates and times @ www.cityof livermore.net

IV. CONTACT PERSON: Traffic Officer Steve Vail
PHONE NUMBER: 925-371-4850

V. DISTRIBUTION:

City Manager Operations Captain Briefing Board
Chief of Police Dispatch/Records Press Board
Support Services Captain Watch Commander