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From: powers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: bicycle patrol
Message-ID: <1016@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 10:27:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: noscvax.1016
Posted: Wed Jul 17 10:27:11 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Jul-85 05:05:00 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 29

The statistics on bicycle accidents show that the bicyclist is his own
worst enemy.  Bicyclists are constantly violating traffic
regulations.  If bicyclists can ever expect to be treated by the law
and the motorist as simply another slow moving vehicle, they must, as
a group, act like any other slow moving vehicle (i.e., they must obey
the law).  What I'm wondering is whether anyone knows of any cities
where there are volunteer bicycle patrols.  These patrols would
probably be trained by the police and have the authority to ticket
other bicyclists for traffic violations.  The ticket would essentially
be the same now administered to any other vehicle using the roadway.
At present, most cities have laws already in place which stipulate
that the police have the authority for such action.  However, such
actions are almost never taken.  I am not a total stickler when it
comes to enforcement.  The bicycle is not, at present, given the same
treatment as cars by loop detectors and road design; consequently,
sometimes a bicyclist has to take actions which would be strictly
illegal.  No, what I'm concerned about are riders who simply ignore
traffic lights (seemingly reagardless of the danger and expecting
everyone to watch out for them), ride the wrong way (kidds are
particularly prone to this form of suicide), etc.
What I would actually like to see is for many of these violators not
to be given fines but being compelled to attend a class on biclycle safety.
The advantage of this method (for the not flagrant violator) is that
it serves to promulgate (spelling?) bicycle awareness amongst both 
bicyclists and motorists, i.e., the bicycle and the bicyclist become a
more noticeble part of the community.

Anyway, any ideas?
Bill Powers