The Injury Free Coalition for Kids® of Salt Lake City is proud to announce the launch of our bicycle safety program. Based on the Los Angeles Injury Free sites' "LA Youth Bikers", we will partner with the Salt Lake City Boys and Girls Club to provide a six-week bicycle safety class, which enrolls up to fifteen children 8-12 years of age. We will provide three of these six week programs, one in spring, summer, and fall. During each six week block, we will have two programs running for a total of 30 participants. By reviewing data provided by the Trauma Center at Primary Children's Medical Center, we have determined which areas have the highest incidents of bicycle and pedestrian injuries and will focus our efforts on those areas.
Participants will be required to show proficiency in safe cycling techniques that include turn signals, knowledge of state laws for bicyclists, and helmet use. Each student in the course will receive a membership card, and helmet, and will be entered in a raffle to win a new bike.
Outside of the obvious safety benefit, the bicycle program will provide participants with a safe after-school environment, and positive role models.
We are also planning adult education to increase awareness of children on the roads.
