"Protect Us All" Campaign Comes Before Healdsburg City Council

The Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance, introduced by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition last fall, makes its way before the Healdsburg City Council at tonight's meeting.

More than just a bicyclists' safety initiative, the ordinance includes pedestrians as well,  whether walking or running. A PDF of the proposed ordinance is attached.

The "Protect Us All" campaign, as SCBC calls it, attempts to increase legal protections from harassment for people walking and bicycling. The initiative comes out of all-too-many instances of bicyclists and runners being assaulted, injured, abused or forced off the road by thoughtless or, worse, aggressive motorists.

It's the goal of the SCBC to have the initiative passed in all jurisdictions in Sonoma County, but the going has been slow. "So far it has been endorsed only by Sebastopol, but other communities and Sonoma County Supervisors are studying it," said Sandra Lupien, currently the outreach director for the organization.

"Sebastopol was the first to have passed it in January. We're going along talking to people in all of the jurisdictions. It's a long process, because there are ten jurisdictions in Sonoma County," said Lupien.

Perhaps the most extreme example of the harassment  cyclists and pedestrians face is the where driver followed cyclist Toraj Soltani onto a golf range and struck him with his car. 81-year-old Harry Smith is being prosecuted in criminal court and charged with attempted murder.

SBCB is scheduled to make a presentation in favor of the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance at the outset of the Healdsburg City Council meeting tonight, which begins at 6 p.m.

A posting on the SCBC website says, "Healdsburg is a key hub for bicycling in Sonoma County, for both local riders and tourists. Many people also enjoy Downtown Healdsburg by foot. As such, it is particularly critical for Healdsburg to protect vulnerable users. 

"We're excited Healdsburg is ready to take a look at it," said Lupien, but she's  hopeful it won't be the last jurisdiction to do so. "The county staff is getting a version ready to go before the County Supervisors pretty soon."

Supporters of the initiative are asked to attend the meeting, and speak about the ordinance if prepared to do so. For more information, visit bikesonoma.org.

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