Hermosa Cyclists’ traffic school educates, clears slate
Jim Hannon of the South Bay Bicycle Coalition addresses a crowd gathered for the dedication of sharrows on Hermosa Avenue. Photo A few years ago, while watching someone ride away from a bike shop on a new purchase, Jim Hannon had a surprising thought. Hannon is a retired engineer and member of the board of directors of the South Bay Bicycle Coalition. “We all know that in high school, kids are eager to get their license. But they’ve got to do testing, take drivers ed to become a licensed motorist. We thought it was interesting that if you want to drive a bicycle on the road, the same roads that automobile drivers are on, there’s no requirement at all,” Hannon said. Hannon is often thinking about bicycle safety, but lately, the topic has been on his mind even more, because of the coalition’s efforts on behalf of bicycle diversion programs. The diversion programs mimic traffic school options available to motorists who receive tickets for moving violations. Instead of paying the full price of a ticket, cyclists can take a bike safety class, and pay a reduced price or avoid fines entirely. About 200 South Bay residents have graduated from the bicycle diversion program, a three-hour…
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