Florida’s PUNTA GORDAThis weekend, families from Charlotte County came together at the Punta Gorda Charlotte Library for a community event centered around bicycle safety. Children were given free helmets and practical instruction.
Free Helmets and Riding Lessons
Together with Florida health officials, Charlotte County officers instructed kids on how to wear helmets correctly and ride safely. Trek Bicycle offered participants free maintenance, while community members contributed bikes for the occasion.
Katelin Deushanes, the event organizer, expressed her hope that the program will help young riders develop a culture of bike safety.
Deushane clarified, “I hope it’s a way that everyone knows how to stay safe on a bike, because that was what Ienvisioned for this program.”
Parents Stress Importance of Helmet Use
Many people grew up without the same direction, so parents applauded the emphasis on helmet safety.
Parent Shannon Powenski of Charlotte County explained why her family valued the program:
I want my kid to understand why we wear helmets and how to put them on correctly. We didn’t wear helmets very often when I was growing up. We learned very little about it. Given how crowded this region is becoming, I believe it’s critical that students understand how dangerous it is to get wounded.
Deputies Address Rising Bicycle Accidents
According to Charlotte County Deputy Lou Henyecz, the county is seeing an increase in both bike use and the number of incidents associated with it.
Bicycle accidents are regrettably increasing along with the use of bicycles. Our goal is to keep our kids safe and reduce the number of accidents.
He went on to say that speeding frequently contributes to children’s accidents and urged families to prioritize control over speed.
Speed isn’t the most crucial factor. The most crucial thing is to ride a bicycle safely. There are moments when slowing down is preferable.
Deputies set up an obstacle course to teach children evasive techniques, including dodging a car door that opens unexpectedly or a pedestrian crossing the road, in order to assist them acquire those skills.
Making Safety Second Nature
The ultimate goal, according to the organizers, is to instill bike safety in kids before they start riding on busier streets.
WINK News has coverage of the entire event.
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