Safe Kids
Since 2004, Flagstaff Biking Organization has been responsible for the Safekids Helmet Program and Rodeo Events in Coconino County. Run in collaboration with the Coconino County Safe Kids Coalition, Flagstaff Biking Organization recruits hundreds of volunteers each year to make this children’s safety program a success.
HELMET PROGRAM: The easiest way for a child to avoid serious injury in a bicycle related accident is to simply wear a helmet. In 2008, over 1,000 helmets have been distributed in Flagstaff to students K-6 representing a 500% increase since 2004!
BICYCLE RODEOS: In 2008, Flagstaff Biking Organization has presented 6 bicycle rodeos and health fairs in elementary schools in Coconino County. Geared for children ages 8-12, this event teaches kids safe riding skills while having fun! After viewing a bicycle safety video and shown the correct way to wear a helmet, (and the importance of wearing one!) children would come outside and have a first hand experience of road riding. Volunteers set up a “faux” road course complete with street signs and pedestrian crosswalks in an existing parking lot. Volunteers lead children through the course while teaching them proper hand signals and rules of the road. Flagstaff Biking Organization volunteers also show children (and adults) how to fit helmets to their head properly and give a short presentation on safety and the importance of safety gear (lights at night, etc.). While some children learned safety on their own bike, our program is able to offer 17 bicycles available for children who do not have one available for the Rodeo. In 2008, this bicycle safety education program has exposed over 500 children to bicycle safety.
Safekids 2008 Year Highlights:
- Over 800 children were taught bicycle safety skills by attending a Flagstaff Biking Organization sponsored Bicycle Rodeo.
- 972 Helmets were sold BELOW COST to children to ensure finances were not an obstacle to safety.
- 100 Helmets were given away FREE to children at our Bike Bazaar during Bike to Work Week due to a donation from a Flagstaff Biking Organization member, Kyle Norris, MD.
Upcoming Events:
May 4th: Bicycle Rodeo at Kinsey Elementary 9am-Noon
May 8th: Bicycle Rodeo at Thomas Elementary 9am-Noon
May 29th: Bicycle Rodeo at the Peaks School 9am-Noon
Why Flagstaff Biking Organization Supports a Helmet Law For Children
Recently the mayor of Flagstaff, Sara Pressler, has put forward the idea of adopting a bicycle helmet law for children. Flagstaff Biking Organization is in favor of this law. We currently give away or sell for the extremely low price of ten dollars, over 700 helmets every year to the children of Flagstaff. Also, over the past five years we have instructed over 6000 children in safe bicycle riding skills and helmet use through our bicycle safety rodeos in the schools and at events in the Flagstaff area. We feel that a helmet law would help us in our efforts to protect children from brain injury in the event that they are involved in a bicycle accident.
What we do support.
We are hoping that some sort of bicycle helmet law would accomplish several positive things. The existence of a law would allow parents to more easily convince children that wearing their bicycle helmets is not optional. “It’s the law” is a much bigger threat than “because I said so.” A law would help to raise community awareness of the importance and effectiveness of bicycle helmets. A law also allows police officers to contact children and parents to educate them on bicycle helmet safety. These contacts could be beneficial in providing opportunities to give free helmets to those in need.
What we don’t support.
Flagstaff Biking Organization does not want to see a helmet law as a premise for law enforcement to contact children for other reasons, nor are we concerned that this law would be implemented in that way. We also do not want to see parents who are already having a hard time making ends meet to be burdened with a fine, or be required to take time from work to go to court, for not purchasing helmets for their children. We definitely do not support any law that would discourage kids from riding bikes!
In summary, we see the existence of a bicycle helmet law for children as a positive tool to be used to help protect the health and safety of kids in Flagstaff. As the implementation of car seat and seat belt laws has shown, the use of these safety devices has become habitual for more and more people, thereby saving untold lives and injury. We are hoping that the long-term cultural impact of the existence of a helmet law would make the use of bicycle helmets a given for future generations and protect the lives and health of thousands of kids.
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