Saturday, December 16, 2006

Bike Safety

Great job by a local bike group passing out free bicycle lights for night riding.

Bicycle safety advocates give lights to night riders
Light On! volunteers will distribute more headlights on Wednesday evening.
By Chelsea Phua - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, December 16, 2006


Elisabeth Maguire has lost count of the number of times her bicycle lights have been stolen. Earlier this week, she lost lights to theft again. Getting new ones can cost her between $30 to $100 -- or more, she said.

But on Friday evening, she got a new set of headlights and taillights for free.

To promote safe cycling, a handful of volunteers with the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates stood at 21st and K streets to flag down cyclists without lights and hand out the battery-operated lights.

"This probably saves me from a ticket tonight," said Maguire, who thanked SABA volunteer Ed Cox repeatedly as he installed the lights on her bike.

Maguire, an audio visual sales representative who works and lives downtown, said she doesn't own a car.

"I'm on my bike all the time, she said.

Part of SABA's "Light On!" program is also to remind cyclists that state law requires them to have a headlight and rear reflector when cycling in the dark.