Coronado Eagle & Journal |
I read with dismay the letter from Dana Chisolm (August 29th, p8, “There are better Uses of Taxpayer Time and Money!”). My dismay was not because the Coronado Police Department enforced the bicycle helmet law, but because she took it as bullying. Goodness gracious, haven’t these “poor embarrassed 13 year olds” been told since they first started riding their bicycles that helmets are mandatory?
I suspect that the first day was probably the best time to check for helmet use. The suggestion of a week or so for an education campaign sounds good, but given everything else that happens at the beginning of the school year, it probably couldn’t have been scheduled until much later in the Fall. And had the PD put it off until then and someone gotten hurt because they weren’t wearing a helmet, I suspect that the same people who are accusing the PD of being bullies would be excoriating them for not having done something sooner.
If I can’t stop when one of them darts out in front of me, guess who’s going to be blamed? Not the kid on the bike.
And as far as bicycles on the sidewalks, it seems that no one has ever told the bicyclists that on the sidewalk the pedestrian has the right of way. I’ve written before about the problems my blind mother has had in that regard, so I won’t bore you again. But that’s the real problem—it seems that kids (and adults) on bicycles are not held accountable by anyone for anything. And (just as in Dana Chisolm’s letter) should the police department ticket an infraction, everyone wants to know why they aren’t picking on “real” criminals. Surely the motto “protect and serve” means enforcing preventive measures such as bicycle helmets as well as ticketing errant drivers and catching burglars.
If the parents always protect their children from any negative repercussions, why should the children change? I wonder what people would say if the parents of those who burglarized the 100’s and 200’s claimed that they were just trying to get the money they needed?
No, Dana Chisolm, the police weren’t bullying those kids and you do no one any good by demonizing the Coronado PD. They were demonstrating in a way that will not be soon forgotten that there are consequences to actions. Yes those freshmen were embarrassed, but more of them will remember their helmets than if you had used a mollycoddling approach that was more appropriate for kindergartners.
I suspect that the first day was probably the best time to check for helmet use. The suggestion of a week or so for an education campaign sounds good, but given everything else that happens at the beginning of the school year, it probably couldn’t have been scheduled until much later in the Fall. And had the PD put it off until then and someone gotten hurt because they weren’t wearing a helmet, I suspect that the same people who are accusing the PD of being bullies would be excoriating them for not having done something sooner.
Personally, I am always in fear as I drive the streets or walk the sidewalks here in Coronado, because way too many bicyclists have no concept that any rules apply to them. Adults and youngsters both barely slow for stop signs. And at red lights I have seen many slow down, take a quick look, and then barrel through. The really scary thing is to see a parent bring the children to a red light, stop and then lead them through the red light—“because no cars are coming.”
If I can’t stop when one of them darts out in front of me, guess who’s going to be blamed? Not the kid on the bike.
And as far as bicycles on the sidewalks, it seems that no one has ever told the bicyclists that on the sidewalk the pedestrian has the right of way. I’ve written before about the problems my blind mother has had in that regard, so I won’t bore you again. But that’s the real problem—it seems that kids (and adults) on bicycles are not held accountable by anyone for anything. And (just as in Dana Chisolm’s letter) should the police department ticket an infraction, everyone wants to know why they aren’t picking on “real” criminals. Surely the motto “protect and serve” means enforcing preventive measures such as bicycle helmets as well as ticketing errant drivers and catching burglars.
If the parents always protect their children from any negative repercussions, why should the children change? I wonder what people would say if the parents of those who burglarized the 100’s and 200’s claimed that they were just trying to get the money they needed?
No, Dana Chisolm, the police weren’t bullying those kids and you do no one any good by demonizing the Coronado PD. They were demonstrating in a way that will not be soon forgotten that there are consequences to actions. Yes those freshmen were embarrassed, but more of them will remember their helmets than if you had used a mollycoddling approach that was more appropriate for kindergartners.
