Education & Enforcement Summer 2005 ipmbaNewsletter of the International Police newsMountain Bike Association IPMBA: Promoting and Advocating Education and Organization for Public Safety Bicyclists. Vol. 14, No. 3 “Watt’s” It All About? by Maureen Becker Shedding light on new technology Executive Director ince the early days of police cycling, IPMBA t has been three years since IPMBA News last featured bike safety education. During that time, it seems as if the issue has been recommending that any public safety has gained more attention. There is an increasing effort on cyclist operating at night be equipped with a I ten-watt minimum headlamp. This was to the parts of various government agencies and non-profit S organizations to work together to enhance cyclists’ safety help ensure that departments did not skimp on lights, leaving their personnel vulnerable to night-time through the “Four E’s” – Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Encouragement. road hazards. Over the course of the years, the “10- watt minimum” became established as the IPMBA This issue of IPMBA News focuses on just two of those E’s – standard. This worked fine for as long as bike lights Education and Enforcement – because these are the areas in utilized bulb technology. Then along came the LED which IPMBA members can make the biggest difference. Bike (light emitting diode), and things changed. However, medics and officers are frequently called upon to educate their the way we think about brightness did not – and it community members through rodeos, should. presentations, and other programs. Bike What do you do when the light in a room is not bright officers can take education one step further through enforcement efforts enough for reading? Chances are, you replace it with a bulb of a higher wattage, which makes the room directed at both motorists and cyclists who break the law, putting themselves brighter. Higher watts = brighter light, right? Wrong. th and others at risk. They can also educate As defined by the IES Lighting Handbook, 5 Edition, their non-cycling colleagues about the Light Research Center (www.lightresource.com), a importance of enforcement for bicycle watt is a unit of measuring electrical power. It defines safety. (Continued on page 27) This issue is not unique to the United States. As oil prices rise and congestion Photo by Jim Bowell increases, citizens are being encouraged inside to get out of their cars and onto their bikes. The Mayor of Paris is considering creating a pedestrian zone along both sides of the Board List..................................................................38 Conference Highlights ..............................................17-21 Seine, and implementing a congestion charge similar to Instructor Corner.......................................................37 London’s. It is rumored that London’s congestion charge will IPMBA Corporate Members ......................................27 be raised. A British national standard for cycling education has Issue Focus: “Education & Enforcement”...................5 - 15 been put forth by the Cycle Touring Club. More and more Bicycle Enforcement Training Tools .....................5 police officers and medics are operating under pedal power, Bicycle Safety Education Resource Guide ............5 even in countries like the Netherlands, where cycles are more National Bicycle Safety Network..........................10 plentiful than people. In fact, IPMBA just conducted the first Safety through Stunts? ..........................................11 Instructor Course beyond the US borders – in York, England. MPTC Votes to Incorporate Bike Law Training .....11 Fifteen new instructors – 14 from the UK and one from the Enforcement for Bicycle Safety.............................13 Netherlands – have been certified. Many thanks to Mocean, Member News ..........................................................30-34 Cycle-Force UK, and Patrol Cycle Shoes, whose generous Membership Form.....................................................39 News from the UK ....................................................35-36 contributions helped make the course possible. President’s Column ...................................................2 Like their fellow instructors in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Product Purchase Program ........................................23-26 Australia, and Israel, they join with the rest of IPMBA’s Product Review members in leading the effort – through education and GWC Radio Headset............................................28 enforcement – to keep their fellow bicyclists safe – and cycling! IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 14, NO. 3 1 President’s Column The Four “Es” IPMBA Cycling Jerseys Hello IPMBA stories from fellow members Members! who have implemented bike and Socks Now Available! safety programs are also It’s time for included here. idden Gold Gifts, purveyors of IPMBA another On another note, we recently merchandise, is pleased to introduce the information- worked with Alerte Systems long-awaited IPMBA cycling jersey and packed issue of IPMBA International to obtain more th News. I am certain that you Hsocks! The jersey made its debut at the 15 detailed information about are quite busy in the middle Annual IPMBA Conference in Scottsdale, but the lighting systems. This article socks got caught at U.S. of the summer bicycle patrol is very informative regarding season, so I’ll keep this the measurement of light and Customs and arrived just a brief. power as they pertain to bit too late. These jerseys This edition focuses on two bicycle lighting. We have are HOT…Chris Hodges of the four “Es” of bicycle redefined the IPMBA barely had them out of the safety: Education and standard against which box before six were Enforcement (the other two lighting systems are to be snatched up, so don’t waste are Encouragement and measured, replacing the 10- a moment – order one Engineering). Educating our watt minimum with a more today! Contact Hidden individual communities accurate measure of Gold Gifts at about bicycle safety is an brightness, lumens. additional duty most bike So read on, enjoy this issue patrol members inherit when of IPMBA News, and stay they are assigned to a bike safe. unit. Sometimes, finding Respectfully, resources for these missions can be difficult. You will find all kinds of valuable information regarding Sergeant Monte L. May bicycle education resources Kansas City PD (MO) in these pages. Success Hey! Be an IPMBA Instructor! ipmba news Newsletter of the INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Want to become an IPMBA-Certified 583 Frederick Road, Suite 5B Baltimore, MD 21228 Police Cyclist or EMS Cyclist Instructor? PH: 410-744-2400 ~ FX: 410-744-5504 E-mail: [email protected] all 410-744-2400 or email [email protected] to Web site: www.ipmba.org Sergeant Monte L. May C obtain an instructor application packet. In the IPMBA President Maureen Becker simplest of terms, to become an Instructor, you must Executive Director; Managing Editor Jennifer Horan meet the criteria outlined in the packet, apply to Design and Layout Copyright 2005 © International Police Mountain Bike IPMBA headquarters, be approved, then register for Association (IPMBA). Reproduction without permission is prohibited. and attend one of the Instructor Courses that will be The International Police Mountain Bike Association is a non-profit educational organization providing resources, offered in 2005-06. The next Instructor Course is networking opportunities, and training for public safety bicyclists. November 14-18, 2005, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Interested in submitting an article? Interested in advertising in IPMBA News? See www.ipmba.org for details. Call Maureen (410-744-2400) for information. 2 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION, Summer 2005 IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 14, NO. 3 3 4 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION, Summer 2005 Doing a Google search on “Bicycle Safety” yields 3,230,000 results. Searching on “Bicycle Enforcement” yields 608,000 — a lot fewer, but still a huge number. The average IPMBA member is too busy riding a bike for business or pleasure to spend time “separating the wheat from the chaff”, so IPMBA has tried to narrow down the list. In this section, IPMBA presents a series of resources that can be used in the ongoing effort to keep the Bicycle Enforcement: Bicycle Safety Education: Resource Guide lthough the concept of law enforcement for bicycle his resource guide highlights just a few of the many safety is not a new one, in recent years, it has gained tools available for bicycle safety education programs. A increased attention from the National Highway T Other resources are available on the web, through Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In its ongoing organizations such as those which comprise the National efforts to ensure the safety of America’s roadways, NHTSA Bicycle Safety Network and local government agencies and has embarked upon a campaign to encourage law businesses. enforcement officers to take enforcement action against cyclists and motorists who break the law, placing themselves Bicycle Safety Education Resource Center and other road users in danger. Although it is usually The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Resource perceived otherwise, enforcement is often more about Center provides bicycle safety education information for the education than punishment. Very few states, if any, have a following groups: Preschool (under age 5), Beginner (ages 5- history of mandating safe cycling education or including a 8), Young (Ages