Cell Phones and Bikes

A recent Newton Tab article discussed traffic enforcement for bikers. Bikers could also help enforce traffic rules for cars as follows: when a motor vehicle is illegally parked in a bike lane, bikers could stop, take out their camera phones, take a photo of the offending vehicle with license plate showing, and phone the picture to a city traffic enforcement phone number. Offending motor vehicle drivers could receive a friendly warning on a first offense, with steeper penalties for multiple offenders. When Newton gets bike lanes, the city should consider setting up such a system.