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by ANNE BAKER
News Editor
An increase in the number of bicyclists in Boone, as well as recent accidents involving bicycles, has prompted the police department to remind student cyclists to be safe.
Sophomore psychology major Victoria E. Pugh was injured Thursday after colliding with a 1989 Oldsmobile, driven by David C. Michael on Blowing Rock Road in front of Bojangle’s restaurant.
Stephanie H. Main, from Boone Police Department’s Records Office said Pugh was transported to Watauga Medical Center, but was released later in the day.
Main said Pugh was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
Charges are pending due to conflicting statements by the parties involved in the accident, she said.
Boone Police Officer Tylor Greene is continuing to investigate the accident.
Boone
Police Lt. J.R. Reese said the department has seen many students riding
their bicycles without a helmet, which is against Boone’s bicycle
helmet ordinance.
“We are seeing an increase in bicycle usage, which is great, but it’s very dangerous to ride with no helmet,” he said.
According
to the police department’s bicycle operating regulations, the law
states, “Every person operating a bicycle on a public right-of-way or
on any property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian
or vehicular purposes shall wear a helmet of good fit, fastened
securely.”
The
penalty for violating the ordinance is a $50 fee, which must be paid
within 30 days or an additional late fee will be charged.
Reese
said while driving during a 20-minute time period Friday, he saw seven
“student-age” bicyclists, with just two wearing a helmet.
He said
the police department usually observes a cyclist traveling
approximately 10 to 15 mph, which could prove dangerous in the event of
an accident.
“The concrete here is hard,” Reese said.
Boone police said they wished to emphasize the ordinance is in place because of safety concerns.
An
incident involving a student cyclist and a vehicle on Stadium Drive
occurred in September when junior English major William F. Heinz
collided with a pickup truck near Justice Residence Hall.
Although
Heinz was taken to the hospital with a broken femur bone in his right
leg, injuries were “minimized” because the rider was wearing a helmet,
Reese said.
For more
information on the helmet ordinance and other traffic rules, visit
Appalachian State University’s off-campus community relations Web site,
offcampus.appstate.edu, or call the Boone Police Department at 262-4500.
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