May is National Bike Month. It is a perfect time for our community to recognize and celebrate the benefits of bicycling, and to teach children to do so safely. Just in time for summer riding, on Friday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m., Friends of the Parks Foundation member William McNeal, an accomplished bicyclist, instructed 84 Third Grade students at Southside School, 100 Academic Drive, Morrison, IL, on the rules and regulations of safe bicycle riding [and] proper helmet fitting.
McNeal led them through a PowerPoint presentation. “We’ve been doing this program for years and years,” he noted. Also for years and years, Friends of the Parks have implemented their slogan, “Building a Bicycle Friendly City.” He illustrated, “We’ve changed [dangerous] street drains; set up stations to lock your bikes in the downtown area; initiated white striping to indicate a bike path; sometimes hosted Bicycle Rodeos; held Family Fun Rides to parks.”
He has given workshops since 2008, teaching the pre-ride ABC Quick Check, State and local riding laws, and “common sense” safety instruction, which might not be obvious to children. He stressed the ABC Quick Check should be performed before every ride:
- Air in the tires is the proper pressure
- Brakes are functioning
- Chain, crank, and cassette (gears) operate smoothy
- Quick release lever should be engaged (so wheels cannot be removed.)
State laws must be obeyed when bicycle riding on roads, even though these youngsters have never read the Illinois Rules of the Road that teens must obey before driving. Ride with the traffic. Stop at intersections. Indicate turns, slowing, or stopping with arm signals. Pedestrians have the right-of-way if you ride on a sidewalk, but people may not ride on Morrison downtown sidewalks. Night riders must have a front, white light that projects 500′ plus a rear, red light that projects 100′. No earphones are allowed while biking.
Wearing bright clothes and night reflective clothes was suggested to help drivers see riders. Riding in a straight line allows drivers to know your position. Keeping both hands on the steering wheel, while on a road, maintains control, and it allows for quick evasive moves, if there are rocks, cracks, pot holes, sewer drains, or animals ahead.
McNeal urged riders to “be extra careful at railroad crossings. “Bikers must never cross until the railroad gate arms are raised; they should cross perpendicular to the track.
A worrisome aspect for all ages of bikers is becoming a “defensive rider.” Children do not instinctively anticipate what someone might do that could harm them, such as opening a car door in their path, coming too close or too fast behind the biker, or turning in front of a bicyclist at an intersection.
As part of the yearly safety initiative, local members of Rotary International brought each child a red bicycle helmet. Merle Reisenbigler, right, told the children that funds raised from the Rotary Harvest Hammer pay for each child to have this crucial safety equipment. He added he sees lots of red helmets being worn in the days immediately following this annual presentation. However, he noted, as summer continues, fewer children remember to put the helmet on when they ride. He stated Rotary wants boys and girls to ride safely, and he urged them to wear the helmets all the time.
Chief Melton, left, explained the Morrison Police Safety Incentive program, which begins its tenth year of sponsorship by Bart and Ellen Smith, owners of DQ Grill & Chill, 200 N. Sawyer Road, Morrison. He explained, “Starting today, and through the summer months, any time a Morrison Police Officer observes a child between the ages of three and 16 safely riding their bicycle with their helmet on, the Officer will reward that child, with a coupon for free ice cream at DQ Grill & Chill in Morrison.” Melton continues, “We hope this program encourages our youth to wear their helmets and practice bicycle safety when riding.”
Rotarians Reisenbigler and Kathy Schmidt helped distribute the headgear, with Friends of the Parks members McNeal and Barb Benson and Morrison Chief of Police Brian Melton.
Third Grade teachers, left-to-right, stood along the wall: Mrs. Schipper, Mrs. Waninger, Miss Achs, and Mrs. Haskell.
Parents are encouraged to
- reinforce the Rules of the Road and ABC Quick Check procedure with children of all ages
- require helmets whenever children bike ride, to prevent head injuries.