Through education, enforcement, outreach, and legislation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and the Long Hill Township Police Department Bicycle Safety Program have set goals directed toward reducing bicycle-related fatalities and injuries, particularly for young riders under 16 years of age.  Additional goals include: Increasing the use of bicycle helmets, increasing awareness about sharing the road with cyclists and motorists and promoting safe bicycle practices.  This goal is being implemented through these programs:

• Conducting Bicycle Safety Programs
  • Bicycle Rodeos are held annually at the Central Middle School.  Experts focus on Bicycle safety, the importance of the helmet and proper helmet sizing.  A skill / agility riding course must be successfully completed by the bicyclist.  Bicycles are inspected, registered, and everyone receives a participation award.
  • School Lectures.  Each spring, elementary school students receive a presentation to stress the importance of bicycle safety  The presentation is an open forum which encourages students to ask questions regarding bicycle safety traffic laws.
• Purchasing Equipment and Safety Helmets.  The police unions (PBA and FOP) of Long Hill Township have vowed to purchase helmets for any child who does not have one after the proper notification is made to a parent or caregiver. 
• The Police Bicycle Patrol rides the streets of Long Hill Township promoting safe riding and rewards young cyclists who are wearing helmets and displaying good safety practices while riding.  Safe riders are rewarded with items such as police badges, key chains and erasers.
• Enforcement  Riders under the age of 14 who are not wearing a helmet and are stopped by a police officer are given a written warning.  The officer also places a phone call to the parent or care giver advising them that their child was riding without a helmet.  The second time a child is stopped a second warning is given and another phone call is made.  The third time the child is stopped he or she will be issued a traffic summons for failing to wear a bicycle helmet. 

 

 

 

 

Bicycle Rodeo On June 21, 2003 the Long Hill Township Police Department again will sponsor its annual bicycle rodeo at the Central School parking lot in Stirling. The event's purpose is to promote bicycle safety, stressing the importance of wearing a properly fitted and manufactured bicycle helmet.  A representative from High Gear Cyclery will be on hand to assist with the helmet sizing. Some of the events planned for the day were bicycle inspections, bicycle registration, helmet sizing, and an obstacle course.  Certified bicycle officers from the Long Hill Township Police Department were at the rodeo to provide basic bicycle safety instruction to the riders.     These participants were awarded bicycle helmets in 2002. There is no cost to participate in the event and gift certificates were awarded to each bicyclist after successfully completing the course.  If you have questions, please contact Corporal Mazzeo at 908-647-1800 ext. 234. Grades Pre-K - 1st 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Grades 2nd - 3rd 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Grades 4th - 5th 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM Grades 6th - 8th 11:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

Ask at the Police Department for a copy of the "Bicycle Safety" handout (Aetna).