Over the weekend, the discussion over enforcement against bicycles in North Plains continued both in the comments of my post from Friday and on the OBRA email list.
Among the reactions was a comment by North Plains Police Chief Scott Whitehead. Whitehead wrote in to clarify his position on the situation:
“It seems that several people have taken my comments out of context…Our efforts to step up enforcement at stop signs has been focused towards everyone…
The point I’m trying to make to bike riders is that they are so much more vulnerable to injury and death because they are on a bike. I never justified my citations because of the death of Timothy O’Donnell. I justify my cites because if a motor vehicle and a bicycle disobey a stop sign at the same time there will most likely be a fatality. I will do everything possible to prevent that from happening.I will park at the intersection of Glencoe and West Union everyday and cite all motor vehicles and bikes if that’s what it takes to preserve a life.
I know people don’t like it and they think its all revenue generated enforcement and that’s not true. There is nothing worse than responding to a crash with injuries or death. You think it’s tough on you as a bike community? It’s tough on us when we have to make a death notification and then second guess if we could have prevented such a tragic event. If I didn’t care about the safety of people in North Plains I would not spend as much time enforcing traffic laws as I do.
As much as it seems that people want us to stop what were doing it’s not going to happen. I will go home everyday knowing that I did everything possible to make my community a safe place to ride and drive, and if I have to write tickets to make that happen I will. North Plains is my responsibility and I have a duty to protect everyone and keep them safe. I will not change what I do and if I ever do then it’s time for me to move on.”
Others did not receive such a well though-out response. Evan Mackenzie allegedly got this reply from Chief Whitehead:
“I can see where your part of the problem and not the solution. It’s people with your attitude and thinking that place bicyclists in danger by listening to your abstract views on things.
…Maybe someday your bike friends will respect the traffic laws that they spend so much time complaining about.
After reading your email again, your a complete idiot!!”
Read the full exchange (as posted to the OBRA email list).
Here’s reply from Whitehead that was posted on the OBRA email list:
“Thanks for writing. As usual your email is consistent with all the others I receive. Maybe next time you could put some thought into it and make a valid point instead of all the blah blah blah crap.”
TeamEstrogen.com owner Susan Otcenas thinks cyclists should vent their concerns at an upcoming North Plains City Council meeting. On the OBRA email list she wrote that she will attend to make two points:
“1) The assertion by the ticketing officer that ticketing cyclists at anintersection is the City’s response to the terrible deaths that have occurred in the County in recent months. Preposterous & offensive. Ignorant too, if they actually believe it.
2) That the Chief of Police would respond to citizen concerns with such contempt and disrespect.”
No word yet on whether Police Chief Whitehead will attend the meeting.