Borough Park

Felder launches ‘Wear a Helmet’ campaign for bike safety

August 24, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
State Sen. Simcha Felder tells students in a yeshiva summer day camp program that it’s important to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. Photo courtesy of Felder’s office
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In response to a recent report which labeled the 66th Police Precinct in Borough Park as the second most dangerous precinct in the city for bike riders, state Sen. Simcha Felder has launched a “Wear a Helmet” campaign with a health care organization called BINA Stroke and Brain Injury Assistance.

Felder (D-Borough Park-Midwood) is taking his safety message to children, visiting day camps to talk about the importance of wearing helmets while bike riding.

The Auto Insurance Center, an online company, recently conducted a study of the number of bike-related accidents taking place on New York City streets and found that the 66th Precinct, which covers Borough Park and includes parts of Midwood and Kensington, had the second highest total in the city, at 5.1 cyclist injuries per 100 collisions.

The most dangerous precinct for bike riders, according to the study, is Brooklyn’s 88th Precinct, which covers Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. The study found that the 88th Precinct has 7.7 injuries per 100 collisions.

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During one visit to a day camp, Felder listened as one little boy told the class about how a helmet had saved his life. The child had gotten into a bike accident and even though the helmet he was wearing was cracked and he received stitches on his chin, his head was protected and he was saved from serious injury.

In an effort to get his point across, Felder distributed coloring books that carried a message of bike safety to the kids.

“I was excited to talk to the children personally about helmet safety, and to hand out colorful activity books to them,” Felder said. “It was so refreshing to be able to discuss the importance of wearing a helmet in a way that was enjoyable and educational.”

The activity books were co-sponsored by BINA, an organization that provides guidance and assistance to survivors of stroke and brain injury.

Many of the victims BINA helps are children who whose lives have been unexpectedly shattered by a brain injury. BINA addresses offers rehabilitation referrals, case management, crisis intervention, support and education, allowing brain injury survivors to achieve their goals while on the road to recovery.

Felder is also using ice cream to get his message across to children during the “Wear a Helmet” campaign.

From Sunday, Aug. 30, to Friday, Sept. 4, any child or teenager wearing a helmet while riding a bike may pick up a coupon for a free Klein’s ice cream from the following participating neighborhood toy stores: Toys 4 You at 4510 13th Ave.; Linicks at 4811 13th Ave.; Double Play at 4115 14th Ave.; Tree House at 5210 16th Ave; Toys 2 Discover at 5504 18th Ave.; and Totally Toys at 1435 Coney Island Ave.

The coupons can be redeemed at an event called the Safety Sunday Extravaganza, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 6 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Borough Park Ice Cream House, at 2 Church Ave. 

The event will feature entertainment and appearances by the New York Police Department, Fire Department, the Hatzolah volunteer ambulance and Shomrim, the citizen patrol group. Children will get to see a magician along with clowns. Kids will be given balloons and prizes.

For a free copy of the coloring book, call Felder’s office at 718-253-2015.

 


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