Bloomington Distributes Lights to Bicyclists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2016

For More Information:

Beth Rosenbarger, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department, rosenbab@bloomington.in.gov, 812.349.3423

Bloomington Distributes Lights to Bicyclists

Bloomington, Ind. - With shorter days and longer nights, proper bicycle lighting is vital to staying safe on the road. Recently, the Bloomington Police Department, Indiana University Police Department, the City of Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission, and volunteers distributed more than 100 free bike lights and bike bells to bicyclists riding in the dark without them. The "pop-up" give-away was held on two September evenings at dusk to increase riders' awareness about their visibility.

The bike light campaign is a part of "Civil Streets Bloomington," which is funded by a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Riding a bicycle without lights is a ticketable offense, but more importantly, it's dangerous. The bike light giveaway campaign focused on turning a ticketable moment into a teachable moment about transportation safety.

More information about bicycle safety can be found on the City's Biking in Bloomington website at bloomington.in.gov/bike.

Volunteers work with Indiana University Police at the intersection of 7th Street and Jordan Avenue to distribute bike lights.

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