while it lasted.]
The law requires that all cyclists have a front light and a rear reflector. A little over one year ago, the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau began giving out free lights to bicyclists who were stopped for violating this law.
The program was spearheaded by then Commander Bill Sinnott and was met with much rejoicing by city bureaucrats and bike advocates in Portland. It also garnered significant publicity locally and nationally, including a spot on CBS News Sunday Morning.
Unfortunately, I’ve just gotten word that the PPB does not plan to continue this program after their remaining 50 sets of lights are given out.
I called Lieutenant Mark Kruger (2nd in command at the Traffic Division) this morning and asked why. He said,
“It was always approached as a one-time program…it had to have an end date. We think cyclists have had an exceptional opportunity to learn compliance with this law and after we run out of lights it will again be their own responsibility to have the required equipment.”
I still remember visiting ex-Commander Sinnott and seeing my story on the program pinned up on his bulletin board. It was clear that he took pride in this program not just because it kept cyclists alive but because he knew that it meant a lot to the relationship between the Traffic Division and the community.
I applaud the Traffic Division for their efforts and look forward to working with them on similar programs in the future.
Thanks for reading.
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Although I thought the police bike light program was indeed cool, I also think it is okay that it was a one time thing – frankly, most of the folks I see riding down my street in the middle of the night without lights can afford a set of lights and the PPB should not be expected to subsidize them. On the other hand, a community-based program designed to provide lights to folks that can’t afford them could be cool . . .
I’m sure the police don’t have time to hand out free lights anymore when there’s so many fixed gear riders to ticket. They gotta get that revenue somehow.
Why does everything have to come back to the fixed gear issue? Get over it and move on to other, potentially more significant ‘violations’ of personal rights. Put a brake on and move on. Adding this type of subtext to the bike light conversation is counterproductive and juvenile at best. Move on and ride safe.
Jeremy,
We’re not the only ones not moving on with this whole fixie debacle. It’s the cops not moving on, and it’s their time that is more valuable and their efforts that are counterproductive.
And frankly it has become sort of a joke at this point, and I think that’s the spirit in which peaches intended.
What a cool program. Perhaps PPB should hand out brakes now to fixies. It would be hilarious.
Maybe this program just needs a new funding model. The lights when bought in bulk are probably relatively cheap, perhaps when an officer stopped an unlit bike it could be like it used to be in montana for speeding cars, give them 5-10 dollars and they hand you lights for your bike instead of a ticket.
Bjorn
Is Shift’s Get Lit Program still going on? Is Jeff still doing it?
Clearly the cops simply do not understand the value of community policing, or simply do not want to go down that road.
The goodwill programs like this can generate towards the police is tremendous. I’m sure they could lean on one of the big local bike store chains to sponsor the program, and it wouldn’t cost the tax payers a dime.
The problem is that the cops clearly have the wrong mentality when it comes to bikes. I cannot help but wonder if perhaps it is time to set up a lobbying fund to see if we can get some laws passed at the city council level to reign in the whacky enforcement actions and change the dynamic?
Is the BTA doing something on this level already, or perhaps it is time to set up a different organization to deal with this issue specifically?
I don’t think budget is an issue.
I think it’s a matter of the police feeling like it’s not their job to equip cyclists with lights.
And I agree with them. It’s not. Their program was extraordinary and it succeeded in raising awareness of having bike lights.
Consider it a honeymoon that has ended.
The Get Lit program is still going on (but needs volunteers and new backing) and now PDOT is about to embark on their See and Be Seen campaign.
I just don’t think we should expect the cops to keep doing this.
Again, although I thought it was a cool program, why exactly is there a feeling that the PPB’s discontinuance of it is a failure of “community policing”? If I have a legal responsibility to carry lights, why should I feel like the cops should provide those lights? If I am driving a car with broken lights, should the cops pay for my repairs or convince Bradshaw’s top do it for free, all in the spirit of community policing?
I must be confused. So is their goal…
a) To get as many cyclists as possible to be safe and visible on the road?
or
b) To raise as much money as possible by ticketing as many cyclists for as many offenses as they can find, and fulfill their ticket quotas?
Looks like Jonathan and I posted at the same time. Jonathan was, of course, more polite in his response 🙂
Vladislav,
Their goal is to enforce the laws. If by doing so it keeps people safe than all the better.
They are not bike advocates and they should not be expected to go too far beyond their duty of enforcing laws. When they do that’s great…we should applaud them. But when they don’t, I don’t think we should call them out for it.
I’m not sure why you bring up ticket quotas.
There is a law that says you must have a front light and a rear reflector. If you don’t have them, you should be prepared to get a ticket.
If the cops are being unreasonable or acting in a way the community does not approve, than it’s up to us to engage them (or their superiors) and try to find a solution.
Cecil and Jonathan both said it well. The PPD’s involvement was great PR, but their resources are better spent elsewhere.
I especially like Shift’s Get Lit program because it’s a way of bicyclists taking care of their own. Bravo to Jeff and the other volunteers.
Vladislav, when you get the point where you’re ready to do something constructive, a great place to start would be volunteering to help with the Get Lit program. Or donate money:
http://www.shift2bikes.org/GetLit.shtml
Oh, for heaven’s sake. The PPB’s goal is to enforce the law. If cyclists commit a ticketable offense, then it is the job of the police to ticket them, just as it is the job of the police to ticket drivers of cars who commit ticketable offenses. There are many organizations in Portland devoted to getting as many cyclists as possible to be safe and visible on the road. The PPB was not formed for that mission and, consequently, although its efforts to contribute to that mission are worthy of praise, it should not be castigated for not making that mission its focus.
Okay, Jonathan and I clearly have to stop it with the simultaneous posts (although once again he was nicer than I was)
Cate,
Have you missed the fact that my company, ThinkHost, already donates hosting for the very website you point out? 😛 Do you also not notice that I already sponsor this website (see ad above for the SEiM Bike tours ;). We do quite a bit for the bike community as it is.
Through Common Circle (SEIM) we will be opening our bike grants program in the fall of 2008. This may be a good place for Get Lit, although I’m more thinking legal and local legislative action at this point, as it seems there is a potential there. All in good time 😉
I really couldn’t disagree more. This is exactly the kind of thing that police should be doing more of. The reason in my opinion is that one of the causes of bad attitudes on the force is spending your whole day having negative interactions with people. I wholeheartedly believe that if an officer spends part of their day doing something that actually protects someone, doesn’t involve writing them a ticket, and ends with both parties smiling that their overall outlook on their job will be better. Will that necessarily make portland a eutopia where no one gets killed by the cops? Maybe not, but it is a start.
If the officer doesn’t have time at that moment to stop and deliver a safety message with an opportunity to get some reasonably priced lights because something more pressing is happening, well then I guess that particular unlit cyclist will just have to be allowed to continue on their way. If this program could be self funding and ongoing I think it is a no brainer.
Bjorn
Bjorn,
I’m not saying the cops shouldn’t do this type of thing…I’m saying we shouldn’t expect it from them.
There’s utopia and then there’s reality.
At this point I think our best move is to continue to forge solid, working relationships with them in hopes that they voluntarily do more stuff like this in the future.
I have to wholeheartedly agree with Bjorn. This whole issue goes far beyond just bike lights — it is about how policing is done in this town altogether.
Yes, we can simply let the cops follow the national model of being the guys who simply enforce the laws, ticket cyclists to meet quotas, and sometimes shoot people (some of whom are sometimes innocent). Or we can look at how we can pass legislation and pursue avenues that would force them to switch into more community-based methods of policing.
Excuse my sarcasm, but seriously — there are better ways to do policing than what we’re doing in this country overall. Like it or not, there are far bigger issues than just biking itself involved here — it is about how policing is done period and what role they play.
The question we need to ask is not whether it is the mission of the Police department to give out lights. The question to ask is whether our tax dollars are better spent handing out tickets to fixie riders and light-less cyclists, or handing out free lights to those who need them? Which one is likely to produce better safety benefits to the community?
And yes, I agree with Jonathan that building good working relationships with the cops is not a bad idea. However I also think that part of that may be a need for legislative and/or legal action to get them thinking in a slightly different direction. Basically what we’d be asking them to do is completely rethink the way they’ve been doing their jobs.
Vladislav,
Yep, I already knew your company hosts Shift’s site. My point was for you, personally, to move beyond complaining and criticizing. Tell us your ideas and how you’re going to make them happen.
Cecil,
My mother would say about you and Jonathan, “Great minds think alike”!
Great,
My light was stolen today, I’m sure I’ll either get killed on the way home or given a ticket for no light.
The trouble is, the Portland Police only seem to be interested in compliance with the letter of the law; a smarter police force would be interested first and foremost in public safety, and use compliance only as a tool to achieve the highest and best public safety goals. That would mean not focusing on ticketing ‘fixie’ riders, but rather on violations like red light running and speeding by motorists, which are both much greater threats to public safety. And, as others have already pointed out, a free bike light program is much better advertising for community policing that heavy-handed enforcement of the bike light statute.
The free spirits who ride Critical Mass in portland have been calling krugar names for a while. I won’t get into name calling here, but, let me make a few points regarding the quote that jonathan posted from crouger.
“It was always approached as a one-time program…it had to have an end date.” It HAD to have an ENDATE because it was always approached as a one time program? really, well, what if it were approached as a way for the public servants (who are losing the PR battle faster than they are letting people die as they drive them to jail) to do something nice for the community, for a change?
“We think cyclists have had an exceptional opportunity to learn compliance with this law and after we run out of lights it will again be their own responsibility to have the required equipment.” – Thanks, Mark, glad that you are such a master of personal responsibility. how did YOU get to work today? how many gallons of fuel do YOU waste everyday doing your job?
I bet that Lt. Kruger nevers answers my questions.
So many takes, where to start? Get Lit has been giving out lights for 3 years, 1600 to date, with an all volunteer army(thanks). Police cost about $55 dollars an hour. I’d rather they spent their time fighting crime and stopping drunk drivers. As a taxpayer, I’m done paying for everyones great ideas, free lights or a tram.
When giving out lights, I’ve had cyclists announce they got a $97 ticket, the other cyclists gathered around, clamour to get a light. Tickets really work, like em or not. If you’ve gotten a ticket you tell everyone you know, the word spreads fast. I’ve had cyclists turn down free lights and ride on and get hit by a car. Sometimes a ticket can be alot easier to deal with than an injury. You’d pay #97 to get out of that cast.
An adaquete set of lights costs only $34 at your local bike shop. Remember that supports a local business and a bike business at that.
Bike light awareness is big in Portland, I use to be super busy giving out lights, it’s alot slower these days. Sure there’s still people who ride without, but their the minority. Look around.
Willamete Weeks Night Cabbie feature said “if cyclist want to be seen and respected the first thing they could do is get a light!”
If you still don’t have a light rumor has it Get Lit and PDOT will be giving out lights on Alberta at Last Thursday (Dec.30.) Donations will be accepted at that time too.
If you see Matt Phillips, tell him GET LIT really needs him.
I believe, actually am sure, Jeff, that Willamette Week’s “Night Cabbie” is also an ex-messenger, by the way.
I like her articles. Not just ’cause she used to be oneof us..
“Night Cabbie” might be my favorite part of WW. It’s fun reading.
Vlad said: The problem is that the cops clearly have the wrong mentality when it comes to bikes. I cannot help but wonder if perhaps it is time to set up a lobbying fund to see if we can get some laws passed at the city council level to reign in the whacky enforcement actions and change the dynamic?
“get some laws passed”? Don’t we have enought laws? I say careful what you wish for. I don’t want cops any more involved than they already are.
Bikers need to just get a light. I personally am not looking forward to the day I have a head on with a biker who couldn’t trouble him or herself to buy one.
Friends,
more laws is not the optimal solution to the current problems with the police.
as cyclists, we are only at risk for some dumb ticket that we can beat in court anytime we want to. for some less fortunate members of portland’s community, interactions with the police can leave you, literally, dying on the sidewalk while hogtied.
now, the biggest danger for us, the cycling community, is getting hit by something large which is moving at a rate of speed which is different than yours. if you don’t believe me, talk to someone who knows physics. if that does not work, talk to any of the proud zoobomb injury elite.
I think there is a better way to discuss these matters, do you?
I guess cyclists are no different than the rest of America – nothing is ever our fault, the laws are dumb therefore we don’t have to follow them, the military-industrial-police state-yet to be named boogeyman hates us, we are special thus deserving of special treatment, free stuff, etc., the taxpayers should be funding us we are…uhh…cyclists!
Cripes! Stop being so damned cheap and buy a freakin’ light! You can get them for about $10.00 at Performance or REI (I know – tools of The Man, greedy capitalist pigs, blah blah). I have even found they are easily removed, tucked in a bag, and then re-attached for use later thus, eliminating those pesky theft issues.
Then again, what do I know? I’m just a guy with a job, a bike, and a sense of self-reliance and personal responsibility.
While there are many issues here, I’d like to focus on just one: enforcement. PPB “enforcement” of the law need not come in the form of a ticket. If the goal is to enforce compliance with the law, then the method should reflect the best possible result. While Jeff makes the arguement that tickets are effective, I would reason that being forced to spend $97 on a ticket is a financial impediment to also spending $30 on a set of lights. I believe that PBB can more effectively enforce this very safety-oriented law by following the suggestion of a previous post: offer the offending lightless rider a choice: buy a front light then and there from the officer or receive a citiation (which should be ‘waived’ if the offender appears before the court with a receipt for said mandatory bike light).
Nevertheless, big kudos to Jeff and the Get Lit team.
The police should give out lights free of charge to whomever needs one. Period. The police also ought to make me a sandwich when I’m low on cash (it’s a danger to public safety if I bonk and fall on my way to work), and give me a ride to work when I’m running late. The PPD needs to start helping me with the NYT crossword puzzles on Fridays and Saturdays when they are particularly challenging, and disturbing to my peace of mind. When I go on vacation, I would like Portland’s finest to make sure my cat is fed and the mail gets picked up. As a busy cyclist, I do not find a lot of time to clean my room. Where are the cops on this issue? For that matter, the component group on my road bike could use an upgrade. But do the 5-0 care? Of course not. Who’s with me on the letter writing campaign?
Pengo, thank you for adding some much needed levity (and perspective) to this thread and my day . . .
I want a police escort every time it rains!
Can’t get better lights than the Po Po have.
Pengo,
Ditto what Cecil said. What a breath of fresh air and good humor.