Portland Police Bureau releases officer bike training video
Posted by: MichelleOct 07 2009, 10:12 am
On Tuesday, the Portland Police Bureau released a training video that was shown to all officers at "roll call" meetings during the month of September. The video is a "refresher" for officers on bike-related laws and the City of Portland's policies pertaining to bicycling encouragement, education and enforcement.
The BTA contributed to this video beginning in January of 2009, with the City Attorney's office, the Police Bureau's Traffic Division, and a group of patrol officers with a personal and professional interest in bicycling and community policing. The video includes many legal and technical terms used by police officers in their work that might be unfamiliar to a general audience.
The video does not lay out new policies or directions for police officers, but rather is a forum for officers with bicycle enforcement experience to share their approaches with their colleagues. In fact, the video describes the very kind of policing that the Police Bureau is actively working to apply to bicycle and traffic safety.
Developing this training video, which will be shown periodically at "roll call" again over the next few years, was one element of a partnership the BTA, the Police Bureau and the Bureau of Transportation have recently undertaken to develop enforcement and education strategies that support City policies and that address Portlander's concerns about bike safety.
Our other joint initiatives include enforcement and education efforts that are based on crash risk (such as at N Broadway and Flint, one of the most dangerous intersections in the city for bicycling) and the development of a Community Policing Agreement, which will be brought before City Council on October 15th at 2:00 pm.
For years the BTA has heard concerns from our members that the Portland Police Bureau could do more to support safe and comfortable bicycling in the city, that certain behaviors by people bicycling seemed very dangerous and ought to be prioritized for education and enforcement, and that they desired a more cooperative and transparent citywide approach to policing bicyclists and motorists to improve bike safety.
We were very excited to work closely with the Bureau to address these concerns through this training video, and will continue to work together on new initiatives and continuing improvement of our current practices through the Community Policing Agreement.
If you support the direction the City of Portland and the Police Bureau are taking with enforcement strategies for bike safety, let them know!
Community Policing Agreement Hearing
City Council
October 15th, 2:00 pm
City Hall Council C
1221 SW 4th Ave, Portland
Testimony will be limited to 3 minutes. Sign up in advance at the door or with the Council Clerk.
I like how the pinnacle point of bikes not stopping at red lights has a woman with a baby stroller going through the same red light. I'm sure there is not a video of pedestrian rights and responsibilities. When should we ticket jaywalkers? If they slow to a walk…uh, if they slow to a crawl. Stop lights are not as much about safety as flow of car traffic. This is a car centric culture feeling the threat of people that don't share the love of cars.
I like this video. As a cyclist, there's nothing in it that I disagree with. I didn't know that officers are told that they have discretion in citing. I assumed it was an unspoken reality. I like the down-to-earth recommendations around cyclists at stop signs.
I assume terry is talking about the woman crossing the street with the the red light over her right shoulder at 9:30 in the video. The street she is on (or paralleling) in the crosswalk undoubtedly has the green light, so she is indeed crossing legally.
As a bicyclist, I thought this video was well balanced between bikes, cars and pedestrians and especially appreciate the discretion advice, particulary with regard to stop signs. I think a 'walking pace with attention to cross traffic' is a very reasonable way to determine whether to cite or not cite a bicyclist.
This video was well thought-out and presented. The precepts are very similar to those adopted by and taught by the League of American Bicyclists. I'm honored to hold the title of League Cycling Instructor # 195.
Keep up the good work!
I think officers should ride their bikes more in the community. That is a great way to help reduce crime.