Sondra Hamilton, like many other MSU students, doesn’t wear a helmet when she is riding her bike.
“I don’t think I am going a far distance, so it isn’t really an issue,” the human biology sophomore said while riding her bike in downtown East Lansing.
But some bike safety advocates say wearing a helmet is important no matter where you go. To reinforce that idea, the Police Athletic League and the Lansing Police Department are sponsoring a bike rodeo.
The event, which will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Kroger, 921 W. Holmes St. in Lansing, will give away about 300 safety helmets and 90 bicycles, said Lisa Underhill-Dietz, executive director of PAL.
The bikes and helmets will be provided to children in low-income families.
“Some parents don’t realize how quickly and easily head injuries can happen,” she said. “The idea of this event is to push safety at 100 percent.”
Lansing police Lt. Ray Hall said bike safety is important for all ages, not just little kids.
“We’re using this event as an example to all bike riders that safety can save them a trip to the emergency room,” he said.
But Hamilton says putting on a helmet takes too much time.
“It is more like a time factor,” she said. “It is a lot faster to jump on your bike and go.”
Mickie Kreft, coordinator of Capital Area Safety Kids, said it is important for people to start wearing helmets early.
“We do have children that come in that are hit by cars,” she said. “Wearing a helmet would always prevent injury.”
Kreft also said the fit of the helmet is as important as wearing one.
“If it’s not fit properly it can do just as much damage,” she said.
Kreft said helmets need to fit snugly around the brow and the straps need to be secured an inch from the chin. Volunteers from Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital’s Trauma Services and the Lansing Area Safety Council will be available to assist in fitting children with helmets at today’s event.
Jack Foland, an office assistant in the Department of Mathematics, rides his bike every day and always wears a helmet.
“I wear it for bike safety,” he said. “I don’t want to get in an accident and crack my skull.”
Foland said people who ride bikes need to be careful and wear a helmet wherever they ride.
“Most people don’t wear helmets because they don’t think they can get in an accident,” he said. “They don’t think anything can happen to them.”
