Toward Bicycle Safety

The number of bicycles that share congested Orange County highways with cars keeps rising, and the results have been tragic for an increasing number of bicyclists. In 1986, 20 bicyclists died and more than 1,700 were injured on Orange County roads, according to a report by the California Highway Patrol.

But in Huntington Beach, which has one of the highest concentrations of bicycles and automobiles in the county, the number of bicycle-related accidents is remarkably low.

The city has a traffic problem that becomes especially dangerous during the summer months, when county residents flood the long stretch of public beaches that abut Pacific Coast Highway. Nonetheless, last year only two cyclists were killed and 151 injured in city accidents, Kathie Parnell of the Huntington Beach Police Department said.

Parnell attributes this low number of accidents to a no-nonsense bicycle safety program sponsored by the city. While most county schools have safety programs and many police departments issue traffic citations to bicyclists, the Huntington Beach program reinforces the elements of its program by requiring parental participation and possible court appearances and often levying hefty fines.

Huntington Beach police officers present a bicycle safety program to all elementary-school children within the district. They train the children to use their bicycles safely, and they explain the rules of the road.

City patrol officers routinely issue citations to bicyclists for traffic violations. A first-time offender under the age of 14 is required to attend a special bicycle safety class accompanied by a parent. A second offense or a failure to appear at the safety class calls for a mandatory court appearance before a judge and a minimum fine of $30. Older traffic violators may find themselves in court after a first offense. This is a good program that educates the rider, disciplines the offender and involves the parent.

Until families become involved in the education and training of their young bicyclists, the number of accidents will probably continue to rise. While parents may spend many hours teaching a child to ride a bike, frequently little time is devoted to the traffic laws that apply to their young riders as well as to motorists. Few parents would allow a teen-ager to drive a car without headlights, yet many allow children to ride bicycles at night without lights or reflectors.

Respect for the law must begin at home, where many habits are learned. A child’s first encounter with traffic regulations usually involves a bicycle. By following the Huntington Beach example and teaching young cyclists to obey these laws early, parents can help reduce bicycle accidents today and produce better drivers tomorrow.