No light, no bell, loud music in the ears – In front of the Herbert high school police checked on Tuesday the bicycles of the students. Many of the wheels were not safe.
Tuesday began with a – not always pleasant – surprise for the students of the Herbert secondary school. When they entered the school grounds, the police were already waiting, especially for the cyclists. The Manfred Ewer and Owe Diner checked whether lights, reflectors, and bell are available and work well.
Support was provided by the security community Mallow and the prevention team of the police department West. Chief Inspector Ute and High Commissioner Axel distributed reflectors, safety vests, reflective bags which made of reflective fabrics, and informational material to show what a safe bike is.
Police call out “days of visibility”
Throughout Brandenburg, the police have called the “days of visibility”. Until Thursday, especially cyclists are informed about the risks of the dark season. “People dressed darkly recognize a car driver only about 25 meters away,” explains Axel. With light clothes, it is at least 40 meters. Anyone wearing reflective clothing or a light can be seen 140 meters away.
Principal Michaela and her fellow teachers Lutz and Matthias Stiller are at the school gate. Most of the 267 students come by bike. Many wear headphones in their ears that play music so loud that they do not notice their surroundings. Others hang their cycling helmets over the handlebar instead of turning it over.
30 of the 82 bikes have shortcomings
The balance of the day: Of 82 controlled bicycles have 30 shortcomings. In most cases, the lighting is broken or not available at all, others do not have the prescribed reflectors front, rear, on the pedals and spokes, others are missing the bell. A bike was particularly negative. “Apart from brakes, it did not have any safety-related parts,” says Axel. Manfred noted all shortcomings on lists, which the students should work off.
The fact that parents leave their children with such companions on the street, annoys Michaela. “Everything that serves security is good.” The Herbert secondary school is located directly on the busy L 40. “We have had some accidents here,” says the headmistress. Brittle situations between motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are not uncommon. Whether the action brings something permanent to the police? Michaela hopes.
Girls were more insightful
Some students, especially girls, found the action good, the boys were less insightful. Some dropped their bikes on the way. Olaf, responsible for prevention in the Police Inspectorate, wants to take some of them back in the coming weeks. “I’ll do a retraining,” he says. Silvia, chairman of the security community, is even more rigorous. “My son is not allowed to cycle to school until the light works. Until then he will run. “