On the heels of an urgent meeting Aug. 28 of city and university officials, the University Police Department and the Arcata Police Department are mounting increased patrols to crack down on bicycle and skateboard violations. UPD Chief Tom Dewey and APD Chief Randy Mendosa have ordered increased warnings and citations and an information campaign to stem unlawful conduct.
In both accidents this week, the student victims had to be airlifted to advanced medical facilities. Near-accidents are escalating, and UPD is receiving many complaints from administrators, faculty, staff and community residents about unsafe and unlawful cycling and boarding. Witnesses report incidents both on and near campus that threaten a rash of collisions with pedestrians and motorists.
Dewey has already launched a two-pronged campaign to curb violators. Prominent advisory signage has been posted at campus locations notorious for past accidents. At the same time, accelerated UPD bike and foot patrols are buttressing enforcement. Both warnings and citations will be served to violators to preserve campus safety, Dewey said.
“We strongly urge bicycle riders and skateboarders to yield the right of way to pedestrians, to stop at stop signs and to wear helmets when biking or boarding,” Dewey said. “Particularly dangerous are cyclists and skateboarders who ride on the wrong side of the road, ride the wrong way on one-way streets, and weave in and out of pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Also, at dark, lights and reflectors are not just a good idea, they are mandatory, they are the law.”
Dewey underscored that helmets are crucial to safety and provide protection against traumatic brain injury that can cause paralysis and death. Federal data show that fully 75% of bicycle-related fatalities are caused by head wounds.
“The best advice is to wear a helmet and to ride your bike or board with the same concentration as when driving a car, because all the same rules apply,” Dewey said. “You will have a safer ride and you will be saving the planet with environmentally conscious commuting.”