APD Reminds Public of Newly Enacted Bicycle Laws

At the Amherst Police Department, the safety of our community is our number one priority. With this in mind, we would like to remind our citizens that new bicycle laws went into effect on April 15, 2009. Attached is a list of all of the new bicycle laws and the possible fines associated with them. While all of the new bicycle laws are vital to the promotion of safe and responsible cycling, two laws that we’d like to highlight include the requirement for proper lighting and/or reflectors for cyclists operating after sundown and the requirement for cyclists to use hand signals when stopping and turning.

With the new academic year approaching, our bicycling community will increase substantially. Motorists are reminded that they too are required to obey laws and to be courteous when sharing the road with cyclists. Laws that we’d like to highlight include the requirement for motorists to give the right of way to a cyclist, as they would to a motor vehicle, at a rotary or intersection. In addition, motorists, when turning left, must yield to an oncoming cyclist that is travelling straight. Lastly, we’d like to remind motorists that there are many cyclists riding “recumbent” style bicycles that may not be as visible as other bicycles. Please drive with caution.

In Amherst, during fiscal year 2008, there were 14 incidents of motor vehicle crashes that included bicyclists. Eleven of those caused injury to the cyclist. This was an increase of 22% from the previous fiscal year. In an effort to improve the safety of our cycling population, the Amherst Police Department will be distributing safety information and materials to the cycling community throughout September and October. Funded by a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division, Amherst Officers will be educating the community on the new laws and they will also conduct enforcement initiatives that will target both motorists and cyclists that do not adhere to these laws. The goal of the enforcement will be to educate the public on the bicycle laws; this education will largely consist of community interaction vs. monetary fines. We are working closely with the Town of Amherst Bicycle Sub-Committee to identify mutual concerns regarding bicycle safety, and our efforts will be a product of this collaboration.

Questions regarding this educational and enforcement initiative can be forwarded to either Officer Phil Feliciano or Sgt. Brian Daly at 413-259-3000.