2008 Year in Review

Friends of the Parks Teach Fourth Graders About Safety

Deputy Andy Henson (left) passes out the free helmets, donated by Morrison's banks, to the fourth graders, as Friends of the Parks members Barb Benson and Bill McNeill look on.

McNeill leads the fourth grade students in a demonstration on
signaling a right turn.

by Aaron Drey, Whiteside News Sentinel

Bill McNeal and Barb Benson of Friends of the Parks, along with Whiteside County Sheriff's Deputy Andy Henson, gave the Southside School fourth grade students a bicycle safety program Friday, May 9.

The safety program was the first given by Friends of the Parks, a group who has caused the development of bicycle paths in Morrison. The group hopes to make the program an annual event.

McNeal told the fourth grade students they needed to obey traffic laws, just as automobile drivers do, including stopping at stop signs and signaling turns.

"You want drivers to know what you are doing,” he said. "You want to be a predictable bike rider."

McNeal added that as bicyclists, the students need to anticipate the actions of the drivers around them as well.

"You have to think, What is that car going to do? What do I need to do to be safe?'" he said.

McNeal also advised the students to wear bright clothing and to bike with traffic. And with most accidents occurring at dusk, McNeal reminded students that bicycles need to be equipped with a white light in front and a red reflector in back for night riding.

Deputy Henson provided the students with two bicycle safety booklets, one geared toward them and one for their parents. Morrison's banks also provided each fourth grade student with a bicycle helmet.

Elementary Programs and Services Coordinator Anji Garza stressed the importance of wearing a helmet, reminding the students that a Southside fifth grader missed roughly a week of school earlier this school year due to a bicycle accident. The student was not wearing a helmet.

"If the first and second graders see you wearing your helmet, they are more likely to wear one too," Garza said.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
May 16, 2008