Alameda Police Launch Two New Bicycle Programs

From the Alameda Police Department

As part of the Alameda Police Department’s continuing effort to promote bicycle safety, two new programs were launched on Dec. 1. One of the programs is designed to reward children who demonstrate safe cycling skills. The other is a Bicycle Diversion Program for adults.

The reward based program is specifically intended to acknowledge and encourage safe cycling skills demonstrated by middle and high school aged children. When a police officer observes a child following the rules of the road, the officer will give that child a Tucker’s Token. The Token entitles the child to a free ice cream cone at Tucker's Ice Cream. A total of 50 tokens per month will be distributed throughout Alameda.

The California Vehicle Code (CVC) defines a bicyclist as a motorist when on the roadway. As an example, if a cyclist is stopped by a police officer and issued a citation for CVC 22450, “Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign”, that individual faces a potential fine of approximately $234. The only difference is a bicyclist does not accrue “a point” on their driving record.

In lieu of the above, the Bicycle Diversion Program allows a cyclist who has been cited for a CVC violation to attend an Alameda-based, Bicycle Traffic School. The violator will have 30 days from the date of the violation to pay a $50 administrative fee for the two-hour safety training course. Upon completion of the safety course, the citation will be dismissed. If the violator elects not to attend the training, the citation will be submitted to the Clerk of the Court for standard processing. Violators are eligible for the Bicycle Diversion Program once per calendar year.

The classes are to be held at the Alameda Fire Training Facility, located in Building 522, at 431 Stardust Pl. Classes will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and administered by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.

The goal of the program is to decrease the number of bicycle collisions, injuries, and fatalities in Alameda through bicycle safety education. Additional information and registration can be found on the East Bay Bicycle Coalition web site at www.ebbc.org/AlamedaPD.

Our deepest gratitude goes out to Bike Alameda, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Tucker’s Ice Cream, Greer Family Mortuary and Alameda Bicycle. Who without their support these programs would not have been made possible.

Like Alameda Patch | Follow Alameda Patch | Blog on Patch | Get Free Patch Newsletters | Post Events | Post Announcements