Cycling safety on our streets should be top priority

Many students ride bikes to school and many adults ride bikes to their jobs. I am all too aware that many bicyclists do not have adequate, if any, safety lighting, making them a black silhouette, barely visible to oncoming motorists. I can’t tell you how often I have not seen a bicyclist in the dark until the last moment, fortunately slamming on the brakes in time.

If you aren’t sure about your lighting, after dark, take your bike out and stand next to it. Have someone stand about a half block away and look toward you. Can they see your lights? Are they bright and flashy enough? Now think of that person traveling toward you at 35 mph on a busy street in the dark.

Bicyclists, your lives are too important not to have adequate LED flashing reflectors on the back of your bikes. Reflective safety vests, LED flashing headlights, reflectors on your pedals, flashing headlamps on your helmet, all would help immensely for us drivers to see you — even in the daytime — so that we can make way for you on our crowded roads. Light up like a Christmas tree and live!

Recently we have heard from numerous people addressing the issue of traffic safety for motorists, bike and scooter riders, and pedestrians. There were many valid points and helpful suggestions made but one aspect was not discussed: enforcement.

I have been commuting by bus across town for almost a year now. I travel through Wheat Ridge, northwest Denver, Lohi, Lower Downtown and on to central Denver. In that time, I have never seen a police officer in any of these municipalities monitoring traffic or citing anyone for violations. Day in and day out, I witness dangerous driving, bike riders taking stupid risks, and scooter riders racing down sidewalks endangering pedestrians.

If we want to make our streets safer, let’s pay to put more police officers on the streets. If this means higher taxes to improve public safety, so be it. If we want to live in a more safe environment, we need to put up or shut up.