FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Students at Washington Elementary School, 1015 W. Washington Blvd., will receive pedestrian and bike safety lessons Monday, April 25, in preparation for Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 4.
Fort Wayne Community Schools is partnering with the Fort Wayne Police Department and Parkview Trauma to make sure students are ready to celebrate National Bike to School Day. The event is also part of Kickstart Fort Wayne, a month-long community celebration of bikes, art, music and theater.
At 1 p.m. Monday, Bike Patrol Officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department will talk to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Washington about bike safety. Parkview Trauma will also provide and fit helmets to students participating in Bike to School Day. Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of bicycle-related head injury by about 80 percent, but most bike riders do not wear helmets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The safety lessons precede National Bike-to-School Day on May 4. That day, Washington students who walk or ride their bikes to school will be joined by Fort Wayne Police Bike Patrol Officers, FWCS officials, representatives from the Allen County Active Transportation Coalition and others to promote safely riding and walking to school.
In addition to teaching students how to travel safely and the importance of wearing a helmet, the event is also designed to build awareness in the community that there are many children who walk and bike to school, and adult drivers must be aware and patient as students make their way to and from school.
