THE MEETING
The big Northern Nevada Law Enforcement/Cyclist Meeting was held last Tuesday at the Washoe County Sheriff’s office (actually, the jail – there were a number of nervous bicyclists joking about the meeting venue) Terry McAfee of the Nevada Bicycle Coalition and Procrastinating Pedalers did an excellent job of organizing the meeting and keeping it on track. Washoe County Sheriff Michael Haley and Reno Police Chief Michael Poehlman were there, along with about sixteen other officers representing the Washoe County sheriff, Carson City sheriff, Reno and Sparks police departments, Nevada Highway Patrol, and more.
Over fifty cyclists including members of Reno Wheelmen, Reno Bike Project, Muscle Powered, Procrastinating Pedalers, Alta Alpina, and more attended. It was standing room only in the sheriff’s briefing room.
The meeting was respectful on both sides. I was a little surprised – and gratified – at the positive and proactive stance of the law enforcement officers who attended. They had their own ideas about how bicyclist/automobile crashes could be better reported, handled and eventually, eliminated. As Sheriff Haley pointed out: “There is nothing accidental about a traffic accident. They all can be prevented.”
