The Town of Frankford recently held its second annual Bike Rodeo, for kids to learn bike safety, buy helmets at a reduced cost and, as an added bonus, meet Sherman, the Shorebirds mascot.
The Neighborhood Watch team organized a similar event last year, but this year they had reinforcement from their new police chief, Bill Dudley. Dudley talked with the group of about 30 children about bike safety, as did representatives from the Sussex County Paramedics Bike Unit and Mike Love of the Community Safety Traffic Program of the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.
Dudley offered the kids some basic rules of riding, such as always wearing a helmet, exercising caution if they have to ride at night and equipping bikes with a headlight and rear reflectors and, perhaps most importantly, always assuming that cars do not see you.
Dorothy Fisch, children’s librarian at Frankford Library, added that it is important for children to be aware of parking lots and exits, such as the one at the library, when riding on the sidewalk.
“Yes,” reiterated Dudley. “Be aware of parking lots, where the road dips down, be aware of them, the town hall, the library, the fire company, because someone could be coming out. Always make eye contact or wave, etc.”
Dudley also went over basic rules, such as riding a bike in the same direction as cars and riding with only one person on a bike at a time. He noted that the law will soon be that anyone younger than 18 will have to wear a helmet when riding a bike.
The representatives from the Sussex County Paramedics Bike Unit then assisted the children with the rodeo so they could practice some of the rules they had learned, firsthand.
Each of the children who did not already have a helmet received one and had to swear on a Bible that they would always wear it when riding. Helmets were offered for a $5 donation, but children could get one even if they couldn’t afford to pay.
“The key is we want them to wear it,” said Dudley, “so they’ll get one regardless of if they can afford it or not.”
The rodeo started last year, but this was the first year the rules could actually be enforced, thanks to the new police chief, said Neighborhood Watch representative Marla Daisey. “Now that we have a police officer, it can be fully enforced,” said Daisey. She also expressed appreciation for all of those involved: the police, the fire company, the library, the Sussex County Paramedic Bike Unit, University of Delaware and Delaware Appliances, for sponsoring Sherman’s visit.
Dudley said he was pleased with the turnout and cooperation, and is hopeful the message got across.
“It really came together,” he said. We are really pleased with the turnout, and Sherman was an added plus! The message really can get through when it’s hands on, and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.”