To the Editor:

The painting of “Share the Road” symbols on roads clearly shows that Princeton is anxious to promote the safety of cyclists. May I suggest that there are a number of other factors to which attention should be paid?

• New Jersey law specifies that bikers under 17-years-old-must wear helmets. A five-minute stroll on our streets reveals that many cyclists are unaware of that rule.

• Bikes are vehicles and must ride on the right-hand side of the road, Yet lots of cyclists apparently do not know that.

• Night-time bikes must have lights and reflectors.

• Bikes are required to have a bell or some other non-siren device. Who knows that?

• Failing to dismount on using a crosswalk is dangerous and illegal. Yet it seems to be a common practice.

• Some cyclists do not take seriously the obligation to observe one-way traffic flows.

• How widespread is awareness that bikers have the same obligation to stop for crosswalks as do drivers?

• Are bikers aware of the requirement to make hand signals?

• The state has commendably emphasized drivers’ obligations but no effort seems to be spent on impressing cyclists on a local level with their responsibilities, let alone enforce them.

I wonder if the schools ever raise the matter, or if the police ever issue any warnings or advice — or is everybody simply content to acquiesce in the prevailing anarchy?

John Frederick

Chestnut Street