Safe Kids West Michigan Celebrates Bike to School Day on May 9
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Holly Alway
May 2, 2018
231.672.4910
alwayh@mercyhealth.com
Safe Kids West Michigan Celebrates Bike to School Day on May 9
Schools Nationwide Promote Bike Safety
May 2, 2018 – (Muskegon MI) – On May 9, 2018, Safe Kids West Michigan will join Ross Park Elementary School and the League of Michigan Bicyclists to celebrate Bike to School Day at Ross Park Elementary School 121 Randall Rd, in Norton Shores . This event brings together children, parents, educators, bicyclists and law enforcement to raise awareness about bike safety.
Events planned for Bike to School Day include the Community Bicycle Safety for Law Enforcement training, hosted by the League of Michigan Bicyclists. The course will cover basic safe bicycling skills, Motor Vehicle Code, and the role of law enforcement in bicycle safety. More details and registration information are available at www.lmb.org
Bike to School Day will conclude with a Bike Rodeo to be held from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Students and families are encouraged to attend the event to learn and practice riding skills to help keep them safe.
Bike to School Day will be celebrated in hundreds of communities across the United States as part of National Bike Month. All events will promote biking to school as a safe and fun way to travel, while highlighting important bike safety information, like wearing a helmet.
“It’s important for bicyclists to wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash,” said Holly Alway, Injury Prevention Coordinator at Mercy Health Muskegon. “But many children still do not wear them. We have a simple saying, ‘Use your head. Wear a helmet.’”
More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport. Bike to School Day is an important opportunity for students to learn how to safely bike to and from school.
Safe Kids West Michigan reminds families to follow these tips when biking:
- Tell your kids to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay to as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals. Stop at all stop signs and stoplights.
- Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers to make sure drivers are paying attention and are going to stop before they cross the street.
- When your kids are riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening, make sure they use lights – and make sure their bikes have reflectors as well. It’s also smart to have them wear clothes and accessories that have retro-reflective materials to improve visibility to motorists.
- Actively supervise children until you’re comfortable that they are responsible to ride on their own.
For more information, contact Safe Kids West Michigan at 231.672.4910 or alwayh@mercyhealth.com