the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, Chief Michael R. Pontillo and the members of the Westwood Police Department would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the growing number of complaints regarding unsafe and disruptive behavior by juvenile bicyclists in our community. These complaints vary in nature but have been occurring in the Central Business District and surrounding areas.
We want to be clear: while we fully support outdoor activity and youth independence, that must be balanced with responsibility and public safety. Reckless riding, disregard for traffic laws, and obstruction of roadways place both the juveniles and the public at serious risk.
Parents and guardians: we need your support and assistance. Please take time to speak with your children about proper bicycle safety, traffic awareness, and respectful riding behavior. Education begins at home and is essential in preventing dangerous situations before they happen and involve law enforcement.
Members of the community: we encourage you to report concerns about bicyclist behavior directly to the Police Department, rather than relying solely on social media. While community discussion is valuable, timely notification to our department allows officers to respond quickly, gather accurate information, and take appropriate action when necessary. Social media posts often lack context or may unintentionally spread misinformation, leading to confusion or unnecessary tension in the community.
Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo commented in a Facebook post, In speaking with my fellow Pascack Valley Mayors this is not an issue peculiar to Westwood youth. And the issue is not widespread among our youth. Rude behavior absent a statutory or local ordinance violation is not sufficient grounds for PD intervention.
WPD has been trying to fairly balance its approach.
However in light of increased complaints it will necessarily ratchet up enforcement of regulations and infractions that violate the rules of the road. Violators will be held accountable.
Parents please advise your children accordingly.
To protect all members of the community, the Police Department will be stepping up enforcement. Officers will be issuing citations for violations and may impound bicycles that are unsafe or not compliant with New Jersey Department of Transportation standards.
NJDOT Standards as well as relevant laws and regulations can be found in the Bicycle Manual in the link below.
https://www.nj.gov/…/commuter/bike/pdf/bicyclingmanual.pdf
Our intent is not to penalize—but to protect. Together, we can ensure our streets remain safe for everyone.
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate #currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories
Slash their tires…
Take away their bikes.
Oh my God, what should we do. Get a life people. Don’t you remember the 70s when everyone was riding bicycles everywhere. You make it sound like the hell‘s angels are coming through town.
Put the bikes away, stay indoors, eat processed food, and spend your time on social media with people you don’t like and buying things you don’t need on Amazon.
Be your parents!
Where’s Curtis Sliwa when we need him !
are they “teens” or regular kids ?
I was driving through Fairlawn about a week ago. A huge mb of young teens probably 13 or 14 years of age popping wheelies in the middle of traffic, some on electric bikes. Was really dangerous.
Racist picture… Why are they depicting Gangs of Terrorists as WHITE MALES ?
because white males are the biggest threat to this nation according to the democratic party haha
Racist comment. Because the kids on bikes were/are huuuuuuu-whyte? Just like the kids who were making a mess of the movie theaters a few weeks ago. And the kids who were tossing coins off the roof in the CBD. White.
Or do you think the kids in question rode their stolen bikes all the way to Westwood from Paterson?
not the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from China. Not the 100,000 violent criminals who entered our country illegally from 2021-2024. not the communists politicians and media pundits or the money changers.