Bicycle Education and Awareness - Round 2

The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance (WWBPA) held a very successful Hispanic Outreach Program at the Hightstown Memorial Branch of Mercer County Library on Tuesday, October 2, the eve of International Walk to School Day. The Program is aimed at providing bicycle education and awareness to the local Hispanic population. Victor Fernandez, who teaches an ESL class at the library, hosted the session and ensured a large turnout by posting flyers and inviting his entire class. Nearly 40 people attended.

(above: attentive students with a variety of 'study' aids)

Research indicates that male Hispanics are overrepresented in bicycle crashes and Hispanic bicyclists 21-29 years old are overrepresented in bicycle related fatalities. As a result, the focus of the presentation was on the importance of abiding by NJ Traffic Laws, understanding the ‘Rules of the Road’ and the importance of wearing helmets. Each person signed an affirmation stating (in English and Spanish): “As a bicyclist, I agree to obey all traffic laws and wear a helmet.”

Members Chris Scherer and Lenora Kandiner conducted the interactive session in English and Spanish. The class had a lot of great questions which helped to ensure a good understanding of the content and the key messages: bicyclists are “granted all the rights and subject to all of the duties of the motor vehicle driver” and wear a helmet (NJ law requires children 17 and under to wear helmets).

(above: explaining how bicyclist behavior and wearing a helmet can prevent accidents)

(below: Lenora helps with proper helmet fit)

The WWBPA donated the following items to people who attended the session:

- 50 reflective ankle bands
- 40 copies of our bilingual bike/ped map of West Windsor, which contains information about NJ Traffic Laws and bike/ped safety
- 35 bicycle helmets
- five front and rear bicycle light sets
- reflective tape for use on bicycles and helmets
- numerous copies of bilingual brochures and flyers from the US Department of Transportation about bicycle and pedestrian safety
- several copies of Bicycle Safer Journey, an interactive CD that offers a virtual journey designed to increase awareness of bicycle safety

We ran out of a few supplies, but were able to get names of people who did not get each item. Victor will distribute the remaining supplies after we drop them off at the library.

(above: those reflective ankle, er, wrist bands really do work)

Linda Cholewiak, branch manager at the library, generously donated $50 on behalf of the Hightstown Library Association. The WWBPA will use the donation to offset the cost of the various supplies given to program participants.

(above: 35 more people with the knowledge and equipment to ride safely)
Posted by: Chris Scherer