Post by stffgpr2003 on Sept 27, 2007 8:08:41 GMT -5
Freehold police prepared to teach bicycle safety
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Bicycle safety in Freehold Borough is taking on added importance as more residents use bicycles as a means of transportation to get around town.
In an effort to increase public awareness about bicycle safety, the Freehold Borough Police Department will sponsor a Bicycle Safety Seminar on Sept. 30 from 1-3 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Rose of Lima Church off Lincoln Place.
Police officers will discuss rules of the road for bicyclists. The event will be geared toward parents and children.
Freehold Borough police Lt. Glenn Roberts said there has been a significant increase in the number of people riding bicycles in town over the last few years. He said many bicycle riders "clearly do not understand the do's and don'ts of bicycle safety and borough ordinances. We want to offer this seminar to provide bike riders with the information they need to ride safely in town."
He said the officers will review motor vehicle laws and emphasize that bicycle riders must respect and adhere to those laws.
The officers will use an obstacle course to demonstrate proper riding technique. Riders will learn about how to use hand signals to indicate turns, how to properly steer a bicycle and how to control a bicycle in different situations.
Pamphlets and brochures will be available in English and Spanish.
A representative from Freehold Bicycles, Route 33, will offer advice on how to maintain a bicycle and how to recognize when repairs are necessary, especially items that concern safety issues.
"This is a community event," Roberts said. "We want children to become safe and responsible bicycle riders."
Information provided by Roberts indicated that 784 bicyclists died on America's roads in 2005 - 92 percent of those victims died in crashes with motor vehicles. The information stated that up to 88 percent of bicyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet.
Roberts said the event will make clear the importance for people under 17 to wear a helmet while riding, as well as the need to use reflectors and illumination on a bicycle. Bicycle reflectors will be provided to participants.
The seminar will be presented in English and Spanish.
In addition to children, the borough's bicycle-riding population also includes immigrant day laborers.
Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine expressed his ongoing concern about bicycle safety at the council's Sept 17 meeting. Le Vine and Frank Argote- Freyre of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey joined forces to present the first Bicycle Safety Day in July 2006.
Le Vine said although he is pleased that police will address the issue of bicycle safety with children at the upcoming event, he would like to see the initiative extended to adults.
"I would like to see this effort move to the adult population, many of whom are still riding bikes on sidewalks and who are not wearing light-colored clothing or using reflectors, as our ordinance requires," Le Vine said. "I'm afraid someone will get hurt or worse, and I am also worried about someone who might be responsible for an accident because the bike rider could not be seen."
Le Vine said he would like to see bicycle laws enforced more aggressively according to the borough ordinance. He said that for two years police have been using a positive approach and issued warnings, not tickets, to people who disregard the laws regarding bicycle riding.
"That ordinance was put in place to keep people from harm," Le Vine said. "People will either pay attention to it or accept the fact that they will be penalized if they do not adhere to the laws."
Argote-Freyre said the Latino Leadership Alliance is supporting the police department's bicycle safety initiative.
He agreed with Le Vine that a bicycle safety program for day laborers would be a good thing and expressed concern that the upcoming event may miss a segment of the population who could benefit from additional safety training.
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Bicycle safety in Freehold Borough is taking on added importance as more residents use bicycles as a means of transportation to get around town.
In an effort to increase public awareness about bicycle safety, the Freehold Borough Police Department will sponsor a Bicycle Safety Seminar on Sept. 30 from 1-3 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Rose of Lima Church off Lincoln Place.
Police officers will discuss rules of the road for bicyclists. The event will be geared toward parents and children.
Freehold Borough police Lt. Glenn Roberts said there has been a significant increase in the number of people riding bicycles in town over the last few years. He said many bicycle riders "clearly do not understand the do's and don'ts of bicycle safety and borough ordinances. We want to offer this seminar to provide bike riders with the information they need to ride safely in town."
He said the officers will review motor vehicle laws and emphasize that bicycle riders must respect and adhere to those laws.
The officers will use an obstacle course to demonstrate proper riding technique. Riders will learn about how to use hand signals to indicate turns, how to properly steer a bicycle and how to control a bicycle in different situations.
Pamphlets and brochures will be available in English and Spanish.
A representative from Freehold Bicycles, Route 33, will offer advice on how to maintain a bicycle and how to recognize when repairs are necessary, especially items that concern safety issues.
"This is a community event," Roberts said. "We want children to become safe and responsible bicycle riders."
Information provided by Roberts indicated that 784 bicyclists died on America's roads in 2005 - 92 percent of those victims died in crashes with motor vehicles. The information stated that up to 88 percent of bicyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet.
Roberts said the event will make clear the importance for people under 17 to wear a helmet while riding, as well as the need to use reflectors and illumination on a bicycle. Bicycle reflectors will be provided to participants.
The seminar will be presented in English and Spanish.
In addition to children, the borough's bicycle-riding population also includes immigrant day laborers.
Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine expressed his ongoing concern about bicycle safety at the council's Sept 17 meeting. Le Vine and Frank Argote- Freyre of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey joined forces to present the first Bicycle Safety Day in July 2006.
Le Vine said although he is pleased that police will address the issue of bicycle safety with children at the upcoming event, he would like to see the initiative extended to adults.
"I would like to see this effort move to the adult population, many of whom are still riding bikes on sidewalks and who are not wearing light-colored clothing or using reflectors, as our ordinance requires," Le Vine said. "I'm afraid someone will get hurt or worse, and I am also worried about someone who might be responsible for an accident because the bike rider could not be seen."
Le Vine said he would like to see bicycle laws enforced more aggressively according to the borough ordinance. He said that for two years police have been using a positive approach and issued warnings, not tickets, to people who disregard the laws regarding bicycle riding.
"That ordinance was put in place to keep people from harm," Le Vine said. "People will either pay attention to it or accept the fact that they will be penalized if they do not adhere to the laws."
Argote-Freyre said the Latino Leadership Alliance is supporting the police department's bicycle safety initiative.
He agreed with Le Vine that a bicycle safety program for day laborers would be a good thing and expressed concern that the upcoming event may miss a segment of the population who could benefit from additional safety training.
