Rob Smuts
Chief Administrative Officer
City of New Haven

CC: ECC Traffic Enforcement Subcommittee



Dear Mr. Smuts,

Thank you for your reply to our letter regarding traffic enforcement. We see the designation of a bicycle liaison at the New Haven Police Department as one of many important first steps to better traffic enforcement and safety in New Haven. It is a step that many towns and cities across the country have taken to increase communication between their cyclists and their police departments. Specifically, in New Haven, we are motivated by 1) the fact that in a survey taken earlier this year by 182 of our members, traffic enforcement and safety was indicated as a primary concern about cycling in New Haven and 2) our profound concern that no department of the City of New Haven keeps statistics on motor-vehicle/cycling crashes. Given the Mayor's and the Board of Aldermen's commitment to a bicyle-friendly city, we think you will agree that both of these matters stand in need of remedy.

We have drafted a list of suggested responsibilities for a police bicycle liaison and have sent them to the Mayor's Office. We have tried to limit them, in order to ensure that the position of police bicycle liaison will not be a burdensome one. As for the liaison's qualifications, he or she would ideally be someone in a position to have his or her voice heard in the Department, a cyclist him- or herself and, most importantly, someone who is committed to the importance of cyclist safety and encouragement as a quality-of-life issue in New Haven.

Here is our list of suggested responsibilities for a police bicycle liaison:

1) Gather and report, via the ElmCityCycling e-mail list, among other venues, statistics on reported cyclist crashes at quarterly intervals 
2) Take input from cyclists about dangerous intersections and other matters of concern, primarily by attending Share-the-Streets Committee meetings (quarterly)

3) Keep records of 1) and 2) above; discuss at regular intervals with Dept. of Transportation, Traffic and Parking and other officers at NHPD how to increase safety at dangerous intersections, deciding whether better enforcement or intersection redesign or both are in order.
4) Field questions about local ordinances and state laws relating to bicycles (is biking on the sidewalk allowed, etc?.)

5) Communicate policies on confiscating bikes locked in public spaces
6) Every four years, participate in renewal of LAB Bicycle-Friendly Community Application (minimal time commitment)
7) Lead roll-call training sessions for the NHPD regarding legal issues important to cyclists and bicycle safety. As a possible longer-term goal, consider this San Francisco Police Department training video: http://www.sfbike.org/?bikelaw_sfpd_video
8) Be in charge of any bicycle educational programs carried out by the police, such as bicycle rodeos at local schools
9) Communicate, as necessary, bicycle-related policies and other issues with Southern Connecticut State University Police Department and Yale Police Department

We look forward to discussing the designation of a police bicycle liaison with with you, the Mayor's Office and the NHPD.

Sincerely,

Hunter Smith
(203) 550-4745
(on behalf of ElmCityCycling)