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SFPD and Bicycle Coalition debut training video; commission discusses police role at large rides
Summary
The commission screened 'Bikes Belong in Traffic,' a 10‑minute training video produced with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and commissioners pressed for wider distribution (SFGTV) while raising concerns about finite police resources assigned to large bicycle rides such as Critical Mass.
The police training division and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition presented a 10‑minute training video titled 'Bikes Belong in Traffic' at the commission meeting. Captain Richard Correa said the film, developed by Officer Brenda Walker and featuring members of the Bicycle Coalition, is department‑wide training material intended to promote predictable, lawful bicycling behavior and motorist awareness.
The video dramatized common hazards—most notably 'dooring' when a parked motorist opens a car door into a cyclist's path—and included on‑screen dialogue that stressed motorists' responsibility to check mirrors and bicyclists' need to ride predictably. One on‑screen exchange noted: "It's your legal responsibility to check your side view and rear view mirrors before you open your car door... If an injury or damage occurs because you open your car door into traffic without first looking, you're the one responsible." The department's practice of filing collision reports whenever a bicyclist is injured was reiterated during the discussion.
Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition thanked officers and the training division for the partnership and offered companion educational materials developed with the Municipal Transportation Agency and public health. Commissioners discussed making the video available on SFGTV; Commissioner Veronese urged staff to arrange an airing and suggested the video could fill downtime during televised meetings.
Discussion also turned to the use of department resources at large, informal rides. Commissioners asked the Bicycle Coalition and the department to explore monitoring and escort options that reduce direct police resource demands while maintaining safety. Thornley acknowledged the resource question and said continued talks with the department were appropriate.
Public commenters, including a resident with kidney issues and an SFPD inspector who recounted a relative killed while bicycling years ago, urged broader public distribution of the video for safety education.
Next steps: Commissioners encouraged the department to seek SFGTV distribution and to continue dialogue with bicycle advocates on resource allocation for large rides. No formal policy changes or directives were adopted at the screening.
