BICYCLE SAFETY COURSES READYING FOR SUMMER CLASSES

JACKSON -- The streets of Safety City U.S.A. were bare Saturday morning because the rain washed out the parade of young bicyclists scheduled to cruise the course.

But starting next Saturday, the Jackson Noon Optimists are set to begin a third year of bicycle safety classes at the mini-city in the Jackson city park.

The classes are open to children who have completed kindergarten through those in the fourth grade. This year, the group hopes to instruct about 250 children in bicycle safety.

"We focus on rules of the road for bicyclists and pedestrians, but also touch on other safety issues with the kids," said Carolyn Pickens, chairman of the project for the club. "We try to give the kids a little bit of everything, but really stress the bike safety."

Safety City U.S.A. was built a little more than three years ago through the donated money, time and efforts of area citizens and businesses. Its course includes street signs, crosswalks and buildings.

"The course is open year-round for children to come up and practice their bicycle safety skills and to have a good time," said Pickens. "We've made it as realistic as possible on a child-sized scale."

The two-hour classes will include a video tape of bicycle safety, a short lecture, an appearance by a Jackson police officer and then plenty of time for practice in Safety City itself.

Each child who goes through the course will receive a bag full of safety information, coloring books and other goodies and a multicolored safety helmet.

"The first year we did Safety City, we saw the kids riding around on their bikes wearing their helmets," said Pickens. "As we had more classes, we saw more kids using helmets.

"Helmets are starting to get to be real popular with the kids," she said. "We're at least making an impression upon the little ones. I suppose that's where you have to start."

There are still spaces available for June 11 and June 18 classes in the sessions from noon-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.. Those wishing to enroll should call Pickens at 243-7964.

While Jackson's bicycle safety program gets under way, Cape Girardeau is readying its course -- Safety Village -- for the season.

The Travelers Protection Association of Cape Girardeau plans to spend a weekend repainting the white lines along the "traffic lanes" of the course. The Cape Girardeau course was built on an abandoned tennis court near Old Lorimier Cemetery, and is only open for bicycle safety classes and for classes held for special groups.

Sharee Galnore, a representative of the Community Traffic Safety Committee, said all the Big Wheels used for smaller people taking the course will be replaced this year as the bicycles themselves are repaired.

Children who take the weeklong Safety Village class will receive a helmet, a T-shirt, a workbook and an informational package dealing with bicycle and other areas of safety. About an hour each morning will be spent at Washington School for classroom lessons, and the remaining time the children will spend practicing what they have learned.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department will speak to each class about fire safety and a representative of the railroads will talk about the dangers of the rail system. The class itself is taught by Cape Girardeau police officer Jeannie Dailey.

"This year we've budgeted for a pavilion to be built at the site to give kids a place to get out of the sun," said Galnore.

"We've found that this is a program that is very beneficial and well supported in this community," she said. "It really is a neat program. It's something that has become part of summer for us."