May is National Bike Safety Month, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is staffing a Bike Patrol that teaches community members, particularly children, about bike safety.
“With the weather warming up and biking becoming more prevalent, we’re seeing more bike accidents,” Deputy Kevin Neal said. “We can’t stress enough the importance of wearing a helmet as well as checking for loose chains, flat tires and improperly adjusted seats.”
The Sheriff’s Office’s Bike Patrol was created to better patrol the county’s 12 parks. The team is made up of 13 deputies, each fully equipped with their own bicycle and riding equipment. Each of their patrol vehicles also have special mounts to enable deputies to take the bicycle on patrol.
“Our goal is to provide the public and youth with a more personable outlook of the police,” Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush said. “Being out and about on bikes makes our deputies far more approachable by the public. You’ll often see them at county parks, on public trails and at special events.”
Deputies also teach kids the basics of bike safety at bike rodeos hosted at area schools and churches.
“Most kids don’t know a thing about how to bicycle safely,” Neal said. “This gives us the opportunity to take the kids through some biking drills, through cones and such. We talk to them about the importance of wearing a helmet and how to put it on properly.”
For more, visit hamiltoncounty.in.gov/602/Special-Interests.
