Safety comes first at bicycle checkpoints
The 2012 series of Cape Region bicycle safety checkpoints wrapped up July 30 in South Bethany Beach with Delaware Department of Transportation Shailen Bhatt getting in on the action. Bhatt, a rider himself, assisted volunteers, DelDOT staff and South Bethany Beach police officers with outfitting bicycles with lights.
Volunteer Mike Tyler of Sussex Cyclists explained the checkpoints started in 2006 following the tragic death of Katarina Reteruk, a visiting student worker from Poland, who was killed while riding her bicycle along Route 1. Visiting students have always used bicycles as their major mode of transportation.
“We needed to reach out to these cyclists in particular who were not even aware of the basic rules of the road,” Tyler said.
The next year, there were no traffic fatalities involving bicyclists. Since 2007, 18 cyclists have been killed on Delaware roads.
Over the past six years, thousands of cyclists have been assisted at the checkpoints and more importantly have learned how to be safe on a bicycle riding in the traffic congested area in and around Route 1 during the summer. “We've helped with everything including replacing pedals, fixing brakes, putting on lights, fitting helmets and pumping up tires,” Tyler said,
Getting the students to wear helmets has always been a challenge. Under Delaware law, riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet.
DelDOT joined Sussex Cyclists to sponsor the checkpoints. According to DelDOT spokesman Jim Westhoff, more than 500 cyclists stopped at checkpoints this year. Three-quarters of those who stopped were vacationers or international students working in the area. During the 17 checkpoints, more than 475 sets of rear and front lights were installed and nearly 200 helmets were given away.
The following organizations have donated money or staff at checkpoints: Sussex Cyclists; DelDOT; Delaware Bicycle Council; Beebe Medical Center; Bethany Beach, South Bethany and Ocean View police departments; and Delaware State Police.
This year's Delaware Bike Summit has included safety on its agenda. The annual free summit is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and is being held in conjunction with the Amish Country Tour on Saturday, Sept. 8. For more information about the summit go to wilmapco.org/bikesummit.
