BIKE RODEO: YOUNGSTERS GET POINTERS ON SAFE RIDING, HELMETS

Each year, almost 900 bicyclists are killed in collisions with motor vehicles. Another 300 bicyclists are killed in non-roadway collisions in parks, bike paths or driveways.

Three out of every four bicycle deaths are due to head injury. The most severe injuries are those that cause permanent damage to the brain.

Saturday's Bicycle Rodeo and the summertime Safety Village workshops teach kids the importance of bicycle safety in an attempt to battle such frightening statistics.

The rodeo is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Area Safe Kids Coalition, the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the VFW Post 3838 and its Ladies' Auxiliary.

Such events appear to be having an effect.

"We have seen an increase in smaller kids wearing helmets, mainly due to increased public awareness," said Cape Girardeau Police Officer Jeannie Dailey, who instructs the Village Safety program throughout the summer.

"We also see a lot of adults wearing helmets."

Dozens of children took part in the Bicycle Rodeo Saturday, held at the Village Safety site.

"This is a nice event because it gives the community the opportunity to see our complex and to let the kids ride the course," Dailey said.

"The rodeo also gave parents the opportunity to purchase bicycle helmets for their children from the Safe Kids Coalition, at a greatly reduced price."

People who never considered wearing helmets themselves or putting them on their kids are beginning to look at them differently.

"About one percent of all people who ride bikes wear helmets," said Sharee Galnore, coordinator of the community traffic safety programming at the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

"But we're starting to see more and more kids wear them. Now they're the cool.

"The helmets are not only for bicycle use," she said. "They are meant to be worn when riding skateboards, in-line skates or even horseback riding."

Studies have shown that using bicycle helmets can reduce head injuries by up to 95 percent. Helmets should be worn just above the eyebrows, level across the top of the head, with the chin-strap snugly fastened.

In addition to selling helmets, on Saturday the group also gave away three helmets in a drawing at the end of the day, and bicycle flags to the first 50 children who arrived. The VFW and the Ladies' Auxiliary gave away two $50 savings bonds.

At the summer Safety Village classes, each child is given a helmet and a bicycle flag.

The flags are far from just decorative.

"The bikes kids are riding are hard for motorists to see the kids are usually at about hood level," Dailey said. "The height and bright colors of the flags make them much more visible."

"The whole idea from the safety aspect is to make the kids visible on the streets and to make them understand traffic laws and respect traffic flow," added Galnore.

Saturday, Dailey was at the Safety Village to do safety checks on bicycles children had brought to the event. Safety Village is at Missouri Park, Lorimier and Park streets.

"We make sure that the seat is properly adjusted, tires are inflated properly, spokes are not broken, the chain is taut and well oiled and that the reflectors are in the proper position," she said. By city ordinance, any bicycle which is ridden at night must have a headlight or lamp on the front.

Safety Village is a comprehensive education program that introduces safety awareness and preventive procedures to children ages 6-9.

"All rules of the road apply at Safety Village," Dailey said. "We show them the proper way to stop and yield, the correct places to cross the street, hand signals, how to read road signs and their importance."

Children are taught not only bicycle safety, but also hear speakers on electric, railroad, fire, seat belt, school bus and pedestrian safety.

Each workshop is a week long. Classes meet from 9-11:30 a.m., starting with in-class time at Washington School, and then hands-on training on the bikes, provided by Safety Village.

A maximum of 120 children will be able to enroll in the workshops this summer.

Those wishing to enroll in Safety Village can do so from 1-7 p.m. May 19 at the Arena Building, or by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department. Registration is $10, which includes study materials, a helmet and a bicycle flag.

"Cape Girardeau has so much traffic on its streets that kids really have to learn good safety techniques for their own protection," Dailey said. "Bicyclists are considered motorists in many respects, and need to be aware of and obey traffic laws."