Category: Safety (Page 5 of 9)

Your Help Is Needed For Lawrence’s Safe Routes to School Planning Initiative

September 3, 2014 /

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are sustained efforts by parents, schools and community leaders to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has been working in conjunction with Lawrence Public Schools, the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization to launch a SRTS planning initiative.

The project seeks to involve schools in Lawrence, both public and private, that serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The goal of the Safe Routes project is to develop a comprehensive, citywide SRTS plan that enables and encourages children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bike to and from school.

The public is invited to participate in two upcoming opportunities to learn more about the Safe Routes project and to get involved.

Why Safe Routes to School Matters: Public presentation by the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools
7-8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29
Community Health Facility, Second Floor Meeting Room, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence
Safe Routes to School National Course
Register at saferoutescourse.eventbrite.com
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30
Community Health Facility, Second Floor Meeting Room, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence

Join community leaders, school officials, public health workers, transportation and public works professionals, law enforcement officers, parents and neighbors for this opportunity for all elementary and middle schools in Lawrence, Kansas.

The course is offered free of charge, with refreshments, snacks and lunch provided.

Overview of course agenda:

Why safe routes to school matters: Safety, health and transportation issues
Field exercise of school campus and surrounding area
Perspectives from local stakeholders
Engineering strategies
Pick-up and drop-off area strategies
Identification and education strategies
Enforcement strategies
Action steps to develop a comprehensive, citywide SRTS Plan

Please register in advance at saferoutescourse.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Charlie Bryan at 785-856-7357 or [email protected].

Fall Community Bike Ride Set for September 20th

August 25, 2014 /

Lawrence Central Rotary Club is hosting the fall 2014 Lawrence Community Bike Ride on Saturday, September 20th, at the Haskell University stadium parking area and using the Burroughs Creek Trail .

The event is open to anyone and there is no cost to participate.

There will be a three mile ride along the Burroughs Creek Trail.

Other activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. include:

A Training Wheel Takeoff. Experts will help children who are ready to take off their training wheels in a safe environment.
Bike Rodeo. Kids can practice and improve their riding skills
Bike Helmet Fitting and Giveaway. Safe Kids with LMH will help outfit kids with helmets, while supplies last, along with providing cycling safety tips for kids of all ages – and for adults too!

“We hope more and more people discover cycling as a fun and healthy activity,” said Steve Lane, a member of Central Rotary Club. “This event is a great opportunity for families and individuals to enjoy cycling in a safe and scenic area of Lawrence.”

Participants should wear a bicycle helmet and they are encouraged to bring water and wear sunscreen. This is the third year for the Community Bike Ride. The first event in 2011 drew 50 participants, followed by 125 in 2012. Last year’s event was rained out.

If it is raining September 20th, the ride will be rescheduled for on Sunday, September 21, at 1PM.

Registration for the event is required and can be done before the event. For more information, visit ridelawrence.com.

Releases will be available at the event or you can download one HERE.

LCBR-Flyer-2014-2

2014 Lawrence Kids’ (Free) Bicycle Helmet Fair Scheduled for May 10

April 29, 2014 /

wheeledsports1 Bike helmets may be the “Gift of Life”. By choosing to wear a helmet, you will reduce your risk of a head injury from a crash by 85%!

To make that a reality for Lawrence children, on Saturday, May 10th, local businesses and organizations are sponsoring a free bicycle helmet fair and Family Fun Zone before the KU baseball and softball games. The events will be in the KU parking lot # 125 & 127 between the baseball and softball complexes.

wheeledsports2 The bicycle helmet fair will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Activities include a free helmet for children under the age of 14 who are accompanied by an adult, bike inspections and a safe ride course. Participants will learn about rules of the road, bicycle trail etiquette, booster seat safety, and bicycle and pool safety.

The Family Fun Zone will be open from noon to 2 p.m. and will include family-friendly inflatables, a face painter, Big Jay and Baby Jay, and music.

After the activities, you can cheer on KU’s baseball and softball teams at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Does Your Kid’s Helmet Fit Correctly?

April 23, 2014 /

Bike accidents are the second leading cause of serious injury in school-age children. Head injury is the leading cause of bicycle-related death and disability. The great news is that bicycle helmets can reduce these risks by 85%.

This video by Lawrence Fire Department helps citizens understand the importance and safety of wearing a helmet while riding a bike. It’s worth a look!

Support the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Act

December 5, 2013 /

Recently, a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced identical bills (HR 3494 and S 1708) — the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act — to help reduce the number of bicycle and pedestrian fatalities on American roadways. Review our resources on safety and learn more about how you can help support this important piece of legislation below. Here is League of American Bicyclists President Andy Clarke’s statement on the legislation.

“Dramatically reducing the number of people biking and walking who are killed and seriously injured on our roadways is critical for two very compelling reasons.

First, this is about much more than just statistics – every one of these fatal crashes robs a family, a community and our nation of a precious human life. The costs to society are huge, and these are usually very preventable crashes.

Second, bicycling and walking are healthy and enjoyable ways to get around that we should be doing everything possible to promote: we know that lack of safety is a major deterrent to people walking and riding more frequently, and we know exactly what we can do to improve traffic safety – not just for people riding bikes and walking but for everyone on our roads.

Establishing simple safety performance measures – holding ourselves accountable to eliminate these needless crashes – will prioritize roadway designs that are safe for all users, and encourage education and enforcement programs that rid our communities of the scourge of distracted driving, speeding, and drunk/drugged/drowsy driving. That’s good for everybody.

Bicyclists and pedestrians make up an increasingly large percentage of all roadway fatalities and serious injuries – and in a handful of states the issue is particularly acute. States such as Florida, California, New York and Texas need the backing of the Federal government to tackle this problem head-on, and every State in the nation can play a role in making biking safer and encouraging more people to ride.”

The League has compiled a media packet for advocates to spread the word and gather support for this vitally important piece of legislation:

·         Take Action: Tell your congressional lawmakers to support this bill.
·         More on HR 3494 and S 1708
·         Fact Sheet
·         Chart breaking down the numbers
·         Safety Resources and League ‘Rules of the Road’