HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Statistics from a New York City-based study show that 74% of fatal crashes involving bicycles included some form of head injury. Nearly all of the cyclists who died in the incidents studied were not wearing a helmet. The National Institutes of Health says that among children, only about 35% of kids surveyed say they wear a helmet for all or most trips.
It's with those troubling statistics in mind that Huntsville Parks & Recreation held a "Bicycle Rodeo" on Saturday for children ages 6-12. Those who attended were treated to fun and informative lessons about bicycle safety - which goes beyond the helmet.
"It's a great way for everybody to come out here, get their bike checked over, and know that they're moving forward in a safe way," said Sunset Bicycles owner Brandon Pinke.
Safety gear and proper fitting of that gear was discussed, but organizers also held demonstrations on proper bike maintenance and safety skills such as hand signals when turning. A course of cones was set up for kids to ride around and practice yielding, stopping, and paying attention to traffic.
"That's the first thing they need to learn," noted Pinke.
For children who love to ride bikes, the rodeo was an opportunity to showcase their skills on two wheels and to pump up their skills on riding in a safer manner.
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