If you’ve been riding around town without lights or a helmet, it’s time to mend your evil ways and start riding the legal way. This evening beginning at 5 p.m. until supplies run out, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will be handing out light sets and helmets to riders at the popular biking intersection of Campbell Avenue and East 3rd Street.
The giveaway is part of an initiative to promote bicycle safety on the streets by handing out lights and helmets every month in a new location. According to the Living Streets Alliance, more than 400 light sets and 65 helmets have been given away since October.
It’s not just about safety though. Riders caught without a white headlight visible up to 500 feet away and a red reflector visible up to 300 feet away can face fines of $184.
So basically, go grab some free lights or pay $184— tough call, right?
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2014.
And who is going to collect these fines? They might want to teach them road safety while they are at it.
Rather than give away safety products that ANYBODY should buy themselves, run a bicycle safety course like they do for motorcyclists.
They need to know what they are up against.
The City of Tucson Police Department cites (and collects, obviously) the $184 ticket to cyclists who don’t have lights and the reason for giving them out for free is that many who ride bikes have no other affordable transportation option left and simply can’t afford the safety equipment. The most basic front and rear light sets available run about $20 plus batteries. That’s a lot of money for a lot of people. There are many free bicycle safety courses available through Pima County and they are usually packed with students.
Good for Pima College. I didn’t know that. Maybe the poor would be better served to take the rider improvement class than pay the fine.
But just like cars…if you can’t afford some part of it, why would I be assured you buy good tires and good brakes?
It’s worthless with out enforcement.