Published on May 01, 2012

East Windsor Township Mayor Janice S. Mironov proclaimed May 2012 “Bicycle Safety Month” and announced a multi-month bicycle safety initiative, to be launched in three phases, with a kick-off on Tuesday, May 8. The bicycle safety program is underwritten by a $10,000 grant received from the New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Division.

Mayor Mironov announced that “Use Your Head”, a Bicycle Helmet giveaway program, will be kicked off on Tuesday May 8, with additional sessions held on Tuesday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 22, all from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the East Windsor municipal building. East Windsor residents ages 5 through 16 can receive a bicycle helmet at no cost. After viewing a brief 5 minute video on the importance of bicycle helmets and bicycle safety, participants will be measured and given a properly fitted bicycle helmet, along with safety literature.

Mayor Mironov stated, “This bicycle safety program, entitled ‘Use Your Head’ and geared to children under 17 years old, is intended to enhance safety by increasing awareness of the laws requiring helmet wear, promoting helmet usage and instructing on correct helmet usage and fit.” Mayor Mironov added “It is not only the law for young bicyclers, but it is good common sense for all people riding bikes to protect themselves by wearing a helmet.”

In future months, the Township will implement further components of this multi-month bicycle safety initiative. Phase 2 will begin on June 1 and run through July 31, during which Mayor Mironov and Council Members and Township police officers will distribute form summonses to youngsters. The summonses will recognize children wearing helmets and ask the young person to sign a pledge “to use a safety helmet when using a bicycle, skateboard or rollerblades,” which will enable them to be entered in a drawing for prizes, which will take place on Tuesday August 7 at the Township “National Night Out”.

Finally, Phase 3, entitled “Bike At Night, Use a Light”, geared to safe biking at night, will be a directed effort, through public education, personal contact and ultimately police enforcement to get bicyclers to use proper lighting at night. During this phase, which will run from August 1 until September 1, the Township will be distributing the required pair of lights and safety information literature through the police building. New Jersey law requires that bicycles be equipped with a white light on the front and a red light on the rear when in use during nighttime hours. Mayor Mironov noted that, “Those who bicycle at night without proper lights are a danger not only to themselves, but to motorists using the roadways.”

Mayor Mironov underscored the program goals stating, “I believe it is a worthy goal of our Township to launch a full public program to focus on and improve the safe use of bicycles within the Township by undertaking a pro-active education and outreach campaign.”