News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Monterey Police Department will be keeping a closer eye on bicycle safety issues.
During a police committee meeting Tuesday afternoon, Alderman Charles Looper said he’s seen a number of children around town violating bicycle safety laws.
“It doesn’t matter if they are on Cleveland or on Stratton. They have to follow the rules and they are not,” Looper said. “They don’t know the rules, which is the problem and the parents are not helping.”
Monterey Police Chief Bill Randolph said he will be asking officers to keep a closer eye on bike riders.
“I’ll make sure that all the officers know to stop them and address with their parents what they need to do and what they don’t need to do,” Randolph said. “TCA code states that any violation they violate goes to their parents and not them.”
According to TCA code, bicyclists must ride on the right-hand side of the road with the same direction as traffic, obey all traffic signs and signals, use hand signals to communicate intended movements, and wear a helmet if they are under the age of 16-years-old.
“I’ve never seen one of yet with a helmet on,” Looper said. “They’ve got to obey these rules or somebody is going to get killed.”
Tennessee traffic laws also require bicyclists to equip their bicycles with front white light visible from 500 feet and either a red reflector or a lamp emitting a red light which shall be visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the rear.
