Wyandanch, NY – A pair of resolutions introduced by Legislator Jason Richberg aiming to help spread awareness of bicycle safety were approved by the Suffolk County Legislature at its general meeting on March 16.
“Countless residents of the county use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, as well as for recreational purposes, including many of our own children,” said Legislator Richberg. “There have been increased reports of reckless bicycling and traffic accidents in the county, and we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to make the public, especially young people, aware of the importance of bicycle safety. Many young people are never taught the rules of the road, and I believe these efforts will help to offset that issue. We encourage our kids to ‘go play outside’ and hopefully this initiative will provide parents some peace of mind and contribute to safer roads for all. Thank you to my colleagues for their support.”
IR1082-2021 establishes an annual “Bicycle Safety” campaign in public elementary schools throughout Suffolk County, inviting students to participate in a poster contest requiring a student’s interpretation of bicycle safety to educate both bicyclists and motorists. The winners could be incorporated into a publication on “Bicycle Safety” prepared by the Suffolk County Police Department.
Also in an effort to reduce reckless bicycling and the potential for serious accidents involving youth, IR1083-2021 establishes an annual video contest related to bicycle safety for middle and high school students that will serve to increase awareness of this critical safety issue among children and their parents and may help prevent bicycle accidents.
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