Summer Jam - Sept. 9 - Bike "Rodeo" - FREE HELMETS FOR KIDS!

The Summer Jam at the Hyattsville Municipal Center on Sept. 9 will of course have music, good food and fun as well as the Police Open House.  There will also be a "Bike Rodeo" for kids.  Here is how that came about and why you should bring your kids (and their bikes) to the Summer Jam.

May 23, 2008 was a gorgeous day, perfect for biking.  I had been biking into work for about a year (16th & M) and had very little problems navigating the traffic of the city. 

On the way home, I made my way past Catholic University, over the bridge on Michigan Ave. and encountered an accident on 12th and Michigan.  I went around the accident and continued down Michigan towards Hyattsville.  I made it about one block when a car traveling the opposite direction must have seen the back-up due to the accident and made a quick left hand turn up a side road.  I saw him at the last second but it was too late to stop. 

The car hit me on the side and next thing I knew was that I was sliding backward on the pavement facing the driver’s side door.  After a few “choice” words for the driver and a quick check of the teeth (all there!), I made the call to my wife to tell her what happened.  I attempted to stand up but passerbys stopped their cars, ran over to help and told me to lie back down.  One even brought a blanket to put my head on. 

A trip to the hospital ER room revealed a bruised knee, cuts and scrapes and a broken ankle.  Not too bad all things considered!  When I got home, I looked at my helmet and there, from the front center of the helmet to about 4 inches back was a crack, not just of the outer shell, but the actual harder helmet part.  Had I not been wearing a helmet my injuries would have, without a doubt, been more severe if not fatal.

Fast forward a couple years to 2011.  After the legal wrangling was over, I got a little check for expenses related to ankle surgery (I’ll show you my scar if you ask!) as well for “pain and suffering”. 

I knew that I was only here because my helmet and wanted to get that word out to others.  I had brought my helmet to my children’s school to show them, but I wanted to do more.  I contacted my one-time neighbor, David Zuk who works with Trails for Youth.org (TFK).  I knew of the great work that this non-profit does educating children about bicycle safety as well as bringing them out on organized bike rides.  I offered to purchase helmets for TFK but they said that they have a lot  of helmets already.  They suggested a “Bike Rodeo” instead. 

The TFK instructors help children learn bicycle safety.  They bring helmets, bikes to borrow, cones, obstacles and loads of encouragement to help novice riders feel more comfortable, safe and knowledgeable as they ride.  To date, they have given out over 1,000 free bicycle helmets in these rodeos.  In order to have the Rodeo, a donation was needed which I was ready to give, but then thought; why not make this a community endeavor.   I sent out an email to the HOPE List Serve saying what I wanted to do and that I would match $1 for $1 up to $500 for any contributions.  It took no more than a couple weeks to raise everything needed!  Another feather in the hat of a great community! 

The next hurdle was "when and where."  It was suggested to have it somewhere that there are a lot of people and kids.  At first a school was mentioned, then came a suggestion of why not have it during a Summer Jam!  Music, food, drinks, Mandy the Clown and the closing of the street is usually enough to bring out folks in Hyattsville.  I pitched the idea to the City who ran with it and now we are all set.  The September 9th Summer Jam will feature a Bike Rodeo! 

So, bring your kids and their bikes – it’s free!  Need a new helmet?  Don’t have one?  Then that is the place to be!  Hyattsville’s own Arrow Bikes will be there helping out as well.  Please help to spread the word and make sure you come down to the Summer Jam on September 9th.