As an advocate of parks and recreation and as a trustee of the Friends of the Saipan Beach Pathway, Ltd., I fully support the club’s purpose and goals. However, I wanted to bring this public policy to your attention that affects all cyclists and hopefully will be shared with the group and potential cyclists. There’s an existing public law that prohibits bicycles at any public pathways, sidewalks, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk when an official sign is posted.
Although our organization wrote a position statement to then-Gov. Juan N. Babauta opposing the measure as a matter of safety for cyclists with recommendations for alternative solution or means to the problem, unfortunately, the bill was signed into law by the former governor.
According to the former governor’s transmittal letter to the Legislature, “This bill, therefore, will help to guarantee the health and welfare of all persons using this pathway.” Furthermore, the transmittal letter goes on to say, “The administration also notes, however, that when bicyclists are prohibited from using the pathway, they are to use the road shoulder, which presents the possibility of creating a danger to them due to the use of the road by scooters, cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles. Accordingly, I respectfully ask the authors of this bill to work with the administration as soon as practicable to properly address the need for a bicycle path adjacent to Saipan Beach Road Pathway that would be strictly for the use of bicyclists.”
Since the cyclist group is preparing to educate and make motorists aware of the rights and responsibilities of cyclists using our public highways and streets, I believe the group should also educate all cyclists about their responsibilities under P.L. 14-13. As a proactive approach, I suggest the group also advocate for a bicycle pathway when a plan arises to design and construct new roads and highways.
THOMAS J. CAMACHO
Trustee
Friends of the Saipan
Beach Pathway, Ltd.
