Not their first rodeo: 423rd SFS conducts bike safety event

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  The sound of crunching gravel underneath rubber tires was drowned out by the cheers and shouts of children at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom, May 14.

As the children pedaled their bicycles through a marked course, Airmen from the 423rd Security Forces Squadron provided them with helpful safety tips and guidance.

"Basically it's a bike rodeo," said Tech. Sgt. Justin Traylor, 423rd SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of pass and registration. "The kids come out, learn about bike safety - learn what to do and not do when riding."

The rodeo primarily focused on teaching children and parents how to properly size and wear a helmet as part of Police Week, which ran from May 12 to 16. In 2011, approximately 677 bicyclists were killed and 48,000 were injured. The U.S. Department of Transportation attributes many of these injuries and fatalities to bicyclists not wearing helmets or ignoring other safety guidelines.

"You never know what is going to happen when you ride a bike," said Traylor. "If you are prepared, you can safely stop, get out of the way or get off your bike."

In order to effectively emphasize bike safety to a younger audience, Traylor and other 423rd SFS Airmen divided the rodeo into several stations. After children passed through the helmet fitting and proper usage station they navigated through an obstacle course designed to instill good riding habits at an early age.

"If you start at a younger age, bike safety will become a repetitious learning experience," Traylor began. "When they are older, the kids will better understand the importance of safety."

Traylor said early lessons in bike safety can lead to life-saving habits later. He remembered an instance when a helmet saved the life of a motorcyclist who was struck by a vehicle and skidded 50 feet across pavement.

"The only thing that saved his life was that helmet," he said. "The numerous scratches and dents across his helmet showed investigators how many times his head actually struck the pavement and was protected by the helmet."

Stories of survival due to safe habits are what motivate Traylor to make safety a priority both professionally and personally.

"I have a son and daughter who hear on a daily basis how important bike safety and helmet wear is," Traylor said. "They fight me on it, but they always lose that battle and wear their helmets."