Beverly Police Look To Combat Bike Danger With Safety Rewards

BEVERLY, MA —The arrival of spring — and hopeful signs of easing coronavirus worries more than a year after the onset of the pandemic — brought a new concern to the streets of Beverly this March.

Daring bicycle stunts — including playing "chicken" with cars, riding without helmets and bullying other riders — were causing the potential for damage and injury to both drivers and children riding the bikes.

Beverly police said the problem has existed for the past year, but reports of more and more brazen bicycle behavior increased in recent months, as well as countermeasures from what they called "Facebook vigilantes" exposing the bike hijinks on social media.

"This behavior is completely unacceptable and dangerous," Beverly police said. "The department has heard your complaints and has done its best to address them by speaking with schools and parents."

This week, Beverly police are launching another effort to help combat the bad biking behavior as School Resource Officers Steve Fiore and Tim Mezza begin the Beverly Police Youth Bicycle Safety Initiative.

This initiative, which runs through the annual George Robertson Bike Rodeo during Beverly Homecoming on Aug. 4 through 8, includes Fiore, Mezza and members of the Community Impact Unit and Traffic Division handing out coupons for free ice cream, pizza and other discounts from local businesses to those exhibiting proper bicycle safety behavior.

That includes following the state law that requires helmets for anyone 16 years old and younger when riding a bike, skateboard, in-line skates, non-motorized scooters and any other "manually propelled vehicle."

As they hand out coupons, officers will ask for contact information to enter riders into a drawing for two 20-inch Nishiki Pueblo 7-speed mountain bikes courtesy of the Beverly Police Benevolent Association and the Beverly Police Superior Officers Association.

"Officers will be on the lookout for kids who demonstrate bicycle safety such as wearing a helmet that is buckled and fits properly as well as following the rules of the road," Beverly police said, "such as dismounting to walk their bike across a sidewalk, riding with and not against traffic, not riding on sidewalks through business areas, not Tik Tok-ing or using electric devices while riding.

"And, most importantly, no 'popping wheelies.'"

Any child in need of a need helmet can get one free of charge through emailing sfiore@beverlyma.gove or tmezza@beverlyma.gov.

Some free helmets are decorated by students from the Montserrat College of Art.

Cherry Farm Creamery, Panini Pizza Co., Freeda's Pizza and Calzones, Jersey Mike's Subs and McDonald's have all donated to this program.

"Without them, this wouldn't be possible," Beverly police said. "Thank you for your participation and here's to a happy, safe and fun summer."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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