Bike Rodeo to Teach Safety to Youths

“Blinky the Dancing Helmet,” gyrating traffic signals and frolicsome stop signs will attempt to inspire children to follow traffic laws and safety measures while biking, skateboarding or rollerblading on the streets Saturday in Van Nuys.

As part of the Safe Moves Bicycle Rodeo taking place at a local Toys “R” Us store, children and parents will be treated to a musical revue and stunt show designed to add color to important safety rules. If these rules are consistently observed, more than 1,000 deaths and 300,000 serious injuries resulting from bicycle-related accidents could be prevented annually, the event’s organizers said.

“If we can build an emotional relationship on behalf of children toward these symbols, we will be able to educate them by humanizing safety procedures,” said Pat Hines, founder of Safe Moves, a nonprofit organization working for bike safety in Los Angeles County since 1983.

“To see kids lay their cheeks on the dancing helmet is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen,” Hines said.

What’s not cute, she said, is that four of five bicycle accidents involve injuries to the head. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 2% of children under age 14 wear a helmet while cycling, which resulted in serious injuries to 20,000 children nationwide last year.

“Parents who do not require their kids to wear a helmet are guilty of child neglect, in my opinion,” Hines said.

Parents are encouraged to attend the rodeo so they can learn about safety and traffic violations they may be committing unwittingly.

Those participating in the rodeo will attempt to navigate an obstacle course that randomly duplicates hazards faced by bikers on an average commute.

Participants will be required to ride, skate or walk through the course that includes potholes, railroad crossings and a ferocious dog. They will be asked to follow the course without making mistakes such as entering into the street from a sidewalk driveway or crossing an intersection on a green light without first determining what nearby cars are going to do.

Those who successfully finish the course will be given discount meal coupons to Jack-In-The-Box Restaurants and free admission coupons for Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Children’s Museum.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Toys “R” Us, 16040 Sherman Way. Admission is free. For further information, call (310) 827-7896.