Mike Morsch, Regional Editor
East Windsor will offer a bicycle safety program, to be launched in two phases over two months, called “Use Your Head,” a proactive safety initiative focused on proper use of bicycle helmets., “Use Your Head” is a bicycle helmet giveaway program, with sessions on Wednesday, May 10, Wednesday, May 24 and Wednesday, June 7, all from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the East Windsor municipal building. East Windsor residents ages 5 through 16 can receive a bicycle helmet at no cost., After viewing a brief five-minute video on the importance of bicycle helmets and bicycle safety, participants will be measured and given a properly fitted bicycle helmet, along with safety literature., “This program is intended to enhance safety by increasing awareness of the laws requiring helmet wear, promoting helmet usage and instructing on correct helmet usage and fit,” said East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, who along with council members proclaimed May as “Bicycle Safety Month” in the township., “It is not only the law for young bicyclers, but it is good common sense for all people riding bikes to protect themselves by wearing a helmet. The statistics are profound as to the results of wearing bicycle helmets on reductions in injuries and fatalities,” said the mayor., The township will follow up with the implementation of a further component of the initiative. Phase II will begin on June 7 and run through July 31, during which Mayor Mironov, council members and township police officers will distribute mock summonses to young people. The summonses will positively recognize children wearing helmets and ask them to sign a pledge “to use a safety helmet when using a bicycle, skateboard or rollerblades.” That will enable the children to be entered in a drawing for prizes, to take place at the township’s “National Night Out” on Tuesday, Aug. 1., “I believe it is a worthy goal of our township to launch a public program to focus on and improve the safe use of bicycles within the Township by undertaking this proactive education and outreach campaign,” said Mayor Mironov.
