A MESSAGE FROM YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPT.

As the warm weather approaches, the Matawan Borough Police Department, and the Aberdeen Township Police Department in a combined effort with the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, want to remind parents and students of the mandatory bicycles laws in place to keep our children safe. More and more people are out on bicycles – including teens and young adults. To that end we have been receiving multiple complaints of our children disregarding these laws. Children riding bicycles is a positive physical activity. However, it is important to be aware of potential dangers associated with this activity, and have conversations with your children about possible consequences of not wearing helmets. New Jersey state law requires that parents be held responsible for minors who are not wearing a helmet. Those parents face fines between $25 to $100 if their child rides a bicycle without a helmet. The most common complaint/ violation that we are receiving is bicyclists riding in the middle of the roadways. State law states that every person riding a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as near to the right of the roadway as possible. Unfortunately, each year our officers respond to traffic collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians. Many times, we find the primary collision factor was the unsafe operation of a bicycle and neglecting to pay attention to the traffic around them. It has always been our goal to eliminate injuries and fatalities on our roadways; however, this is not possible without your help.

We have attached a list of violations related to bicycle operations. This is a reminder of the existing state law regarding the operation of bicycles because we want your children to remain safe. We are asking you to discuss these laws with your children and remind them of their responsibilities as bicyclists.

Both the Matawan and Aberdeen Police Departments are committed to our children’s safety as they travel on our streets. Together, let’s do our part to make it as safe for our children as possible.