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

[Felix T Chu]

Critical Mass would be one way to raise awareness. But that awareness should be lawful and responsible to gain the trust of the motoring public.

Felix 

----- "Peter Cole" <P-Cole at wiu.edu> wrote:

> REPLIES TO THIS EMAIL WILL GO TO THE WHOLE LIST
> -----------------------------------------------
> I'm happy to hear that the MPD did its job--better than we originally
> were told.
> 
> My suggestion, however, remains valid.  Participating in Critical Mass
> is one (but hardly the only) way to increase the awareness of motor
> vehicles that we have rights on the road, as well.
> 
> One possibility is that folks who partake of the Mass draw up a brief
> list of information/rules re: cars and bikes and distribute them to
> people sitting in cars or pedestrians.  That same flyer can have info
> and who we are.  I know that Jeff made up great "business" cards w/
> info on the Mass but none of us ever really motivated to hand them out
> very much.  However, we could return to that approach now.
> 
> ride on,
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeffrey R. Calhoun" <jeff at outfitters.com>
> To: cycling at macomb.com
> Sent: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 4:28:49 PM GMT -06:00 Guadalajara /
> Mexico City / Monterrey
> Subject: [Macomb-Cycling] [mgalloway at macombpolice.com: Concerns
> expressed about a crash involving a bicyclist]
> 
> REPLIES TO THIS EMAIL WILL GO TO THE WHOLE LIST
> -----------------------------------------------
> 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
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> 
> -- 
> Peter Cole, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor of History
> Western Illinois University
> Macomb, IL 61455 USA
> (309) 298-3691
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