Ocean City Police Distribute Bike Lights to Violators

OCEAN CITY, MD – : The Ocean City Police Department recently completed an initiative designed to improve the visibility of bicyclist during night time hours. While the number of pedestrian collisions has dramatically decreased over the past several years, bicycle collisions have not followed suit. A prevalent safety issue that the Department noticed was the lack of bicycle lights being used during the night time hours.

In an effort to correct this issue, the OCPD was awarded $800 in grant funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office to purchase 60 bicycle lights which were then distributed to officers certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association as Bike Maintenance Officers. The certified Bike Maintenance Officers then stopped violators that were observed riding their bicycles at night with no front and rear lights installed on their bicycles, most of which were visiting international students.

“Rather than ticketing the individuals, officers educated them on the importance of riding with bike safety lights and installed the lights on their bicycle during the stop,” commented Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “This was an extremely successful initiative, receiving multiple positive comments from those that were stopped.”

Bicycle lights are essential to remaining safe during a night-time bicycle ride. “It can be nearly impossible for drivers to see cyclists that are not equipped with front and rear lights,” Buzzuro continued. “According to Maryland law, all bicyclists must have a white front light facing forward and visible from the front of the bike, and a red rear light facing backward and visible from the rear. Lights can be either steady or flashing and must be used during night-time hours. Violators can face a citation along with a $90 fine.”