Proposed bicycle law shines light on nighttime riding

A proposed law would add a little bite to a requirement for bicyclists to ride with lights and reflectors at night by allowing law enforcement officials to assess fines to those who ride without them.

Under Senate Bill 390, bike riders could face a $15 fine for not having a light on the front of their bikes or lights and reflectors on the rear.

Law enforcement officials could choose to give warnings instead, and first-time offenders could get a pass as long as they could prove they installed the required lights and reflectors after receiving the citation.

The bill also would eliminate a requirement that at least one hand must be on the handlebars at all times and is meant to clarify when a bicyclist must ride in a specific bicycle lane or along the roadway.

Sgt. John Cameron of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and Brooksville Police Chief George Turner agree the lack of proper lighting is a problem they have witnessed in the area, with many riders unaware of the requirements or unwilling to spend money on lights and reflectors.

The result puts both bicycle riders and vehicle drivers at risk, they say.

"A lot of people are riding bicycles more now because the gas prices are up and because of the economy," Cameron said. "But when you tell them they need lights on and other equipment, their answer is when they're able to afford it, they'll put it on the bike."

If the bill passes through the Legislature and is signed into law, Cameron said, it would assist the sheriff's office with educating riders about the importance of the devices, along with helmets and overall safety.

The $15 citation, while not a hefty fine, is enough to at least bring awareness and get the word out. Most times, Cameron said, law enforcement officials are more concerned with raising awareness when it comes to pedestrian safety.

The latest statistics, which are for 2010, show there were no bicycle fatalities in Hernando County that year and only one to two each year in the prior four years.

2011 statistics are not yet available.

As to bicycle-related injuries, that number is at its lowest in five years, with 13 injuries in 2010, and has shown a steady decline since 2007, when 28 bicycle-related injuries were reported.