-Ensure that all staff involved in the Traffic Safety Enforcement Program receive training on the rights as well as responsibilities of cyclists and pedestrians, and review best practices from cities which have succeeded both in encouraging alternative transportation and reducing bike/ped injuries and fatalities.
-Mount a publicity campaign (via free public service announcements) urging cyclists and pedestrians to report incidents of harassment and careless driving by motorists. Unfortunately this is necessary because there is a perception that the police are only interested in such crimes when they result in injury or death.
-Make reports and follow up on all such incidents.
-Target the two most common motorist violations which endanger motorists and pedestrians: violations of California Vehicle Code 21950, as described by Kevin Karplus, and cutting off cyclists at right turns. Plainclothes officers would be able to catch dozens of violators every day at almost any intersection in Santa Cruz.
-Wait until a bike safety traffic school is in place before handing out large numbers of tickets to cyclists. There is still very widespread ignorance of the fact that bicycles are in fact vehicles and subject to all the "rules of the road." Unfortunately, the inadequate infrastucture for cyclists does nothing to contradict this ignorance.
This grant could be an opportunity to regain credibility for the police force if a real commitment is shown to educating and enforcing the law equitably across all transportation modes.
Thank you for you consideration,
Vicki Winters