[Macomb-Cycling] [mgalloway at macombpolice.com: Concerns expressed about a crash involving a bicyclist]

[Jeffrey R. Calhoun]

I received the following from Chief Galloway.
----- Forwarded message from Michael Galloway <mgalloway at macombpolice.com> -----

Subject: Concerns expressed about a crash involving a bicyclist
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 14:23:08 -0500
From: "Michael Galloway" <mgalloway at macombpolice.com>
To: <jeff at outfitters.com>

To: Jeff Calhoun
From: Chief Michael Galloway

Re: crash involving a motor vehicle & bicycle this past Saturday

Hi Jeff,

I have been forwarded several e-mails expressing concerns about a ticket
not being issued to a driver of a car after striking a vehicle. I have
reviewed the crash report, the incident report and can assure you that a
ticket was issued to the driver for Failure to Exercise Due Care. In
addition, the e-mail concerns were assigned to Lt. Derek Carle to make an
inquiry with the three officers and the bicyclist. Unfortunately Derek was
unable to contact the bicyclist the past two days and had left her
messages. She came to the police station a little while ago and
we talked for about fifteen minutes. She apologizes for the "grapevine"
confusion of a ticket not being issued, when in fact it was. She expressed
other concerns about the driver's attitude and concerns about the police
not understanding the value a bicycle and needing reports for crash
incidents, even when it involves bicyclist. I will be addressing those
concerns internally. I'm hopeful that through your listserv of the area
bicycle club that you can advise the members that a ticket was issued
and the department continues to look at concerns expressed and plan to be
proactive in education and enforcement of these types of issues.

In addition, the department is currently seeking interest among a large
group of new officers who haven't received any formal bicycle training in
order to be involved in bicycle patrol. It appears there will be a lot of
interest and then we will be seeking a training that is IPMBA (International
Police Mountain Bike Association) certified. We have had bicycle patrol
since 1997, but the number of officers involved has decreased and I feel it
is important that we increase those numbers by recruiting as many of the
new officers that may be interested. 

Also, the bicyclist involved in the crash, expressed that she felt that both
the motoring public and the bicyclist in the community need to be educated
on the laws, etc. She expressed that the bicycle club has and probably still
does have concerns about their observations of both other bicyclist and the
motoring public when it comes to the Rules of the Road and perceptions.
I'm hopeful you could be helpful with expressing those concerns. I will be
putting together a group of MPD bicycle officers to be involved in that
discussion, if you would be available. I will try to arrange that over
the next several weeks and hope you can help.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at
833-4505.  I will plan on calling you in the next several weeks. 

M. Galloway

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
Jeffrey R. Calhoun                     McDonough Telephone Cooperative
jeff at mdtc.net                          Infobahn Outfitters
jeff at outfitters.com                    P.O. Box 248
(309) 836-3706                         Macomb, IL 61455