The Orange County Board of Commissioners convened Thursday night to consider approving a bicycle safety resolution. The resolution would support efforts to improve the county's roadways by increasing safety awareness between motorists and bicyclists.
"People riding a bike should adhere to the rules as well," said Commissioner Penny Rich, who believed it would be important to have a line item on the resolution for education.
However, Norma White, a spokesperson from Orange County Voice, an organization serving rural communities in the county, said education wasn't the issue. Instead, she said the problem was due to imperfect laws and roads that weren't designed for sharing. She said cyclists didn't face any legal consequences and wanted a resolution that included accountability for cyclists who broke the law.
"It's time for Orange County to step up and do its part," White said.
Other community residents agreed they wanted consequences for cyclists. They also discussed a problem involving identification for bicyclists when they didn't obey traffic laws, unlike motor vehicles that could easily be identified by license plates.
"My main concern was I had no way to identify them," said Chair Earl McKee, citing his own experience involving bicyclists, including some that had shut off a passing avenue.
Commissioner Renee Price discussed the possibility of a subcommittee to meet regarding the issue, saying that "some type of subcommittee is warranted." County manager Bonnie Hammersley said it was certainly an option.
A bicyclist advocate said she was concerned that the resolution would be passed and then not touched again for several years. She requested the Board come up with a specific action plan with a list of goals and budget line item that could be used to produce educational items such as posters and brochures.
After discussion, McKee said he did not feel that the resolution was ready for primetime.
The Board unanimously decided to defer the resolution back to the county manager, who would confer with the outboard before it will be brought back to the commissioners again next year.
Noteable:
An Orange County resident said she felt insulted when she received a citation saying that she was cruel to her animals because their water container was dirty and due to issues concerning her doghouses. She said she was penalized with a fee of $1,500 or would face jail time.
Quoteable:
"The county has accomplished most of what the county has authority over," said Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County manager.
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